Severson and Werson

James Werson has been a member of Severson & Werson since 1946, and currently serves as the firm’s President. Before joining the firm, he was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, where he served in Washington, Newark, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.

Mr. Werson has spent his career representing financial institutions in licensing problems, loan documentation, loan workouts, legislative matters, and related issues. He has represented insurance premium finance companies in all aspects of their business, and assisted in the drafting and enactment of California’s Premium Finance Act.

Mr. Werson has served as a member and leader of countless professional and community organizations, including:

• American Bar Association (Member, Business Section; Vice-Chairman, Consumer Bankruptcy Committee; Member, Consumer Financial Services Committee; Member, Senior Lawyers Division)
• California Department of Corporations (Member, Consumer Lenders Advisory Committee)
• American Financial Services Associaton (Former Chairman, Law Committee; recipient of Distinguished Service Award)
• Associates National Bank (Director, 1981-1986)
• National Corporation for Housing Partnerships (Former Director)
• Big C Society, University of California (Director, Former President)
• Richmond County Country Club (President & Director, 1972-1978)

Mr. Werson provides general advice to commercial and consumer finance companies and banks and other financial institutions.

Mr. Werson's specific experience includes:

Financial Institutions: Representation of financial institutions in licensing problems, loan documentation, loan workouts, legislative matters, and related problems.

Insurance Premium Financing: Representation of insurance premium finance companies in all aspects of their business. Assisted in the drafting and enactment of California’s Premium Finance Act.

Biographical Information:

Employment History: President of Severson & Werson and a member since 1946. Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 1942 1946, serving in Washington, D.C., Newark, NJ, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA.

Education: B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1938. J.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1942.

Admitted to Practice: California state courts and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1945.

Professional Affiliations: Member of the American Bar Association, Business Section; vice chairman of the Consumer Bankruptcy Committee; and a member of the Consumer Financial Services Committee; member Senior Lawyers Division. Was a member of the Consumer Lenders Advisory Committee for the Department of Corporations of the State of California. Former Chairman of the Law Committee of the American Financial Services Association, the national trade association of the consumer financial services industry; recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of that organization. Former director, Associates National Bank, Walnut Creek, CA, 1981 to 1986. Former director of National Corporation for Housing Partnerships, Washington, D.C.

Professional Activities: Lecturer for the California Continuing Education of the Bar and the Bank Counsel Seminar of the California Bankers Association on consumer loan problems. Civic & Community Involve¬ment: Director and former president of the Big C Society of the University of California, the men's alumni athletic society. Former President and Director, Richmond Country Club, 1972-1978.