News, Publications & Events

California MBA Regional Networking Series Presents: San Francisco After Hours - A FREE Networking Event for Bay Area Real Estate Professionals. Date and Time: March 21, 2019, 5-7pm Location: Severson & Werson's San Francisco Office Click here to access the registration form.   Please feel free to contact Jarlath Curran at jmc@severson.com or Reeti Jaiswal at rj@severson.com if you have… Read More

On March 27, 2019, Genevieve Walser-Jolly spoke about the sweeping protections and compliance concerns of the new California Consumer Privacy of Act of 2018. Read More

On March 25, 2019, Genevieve Walser-Jolly spoke about the new California Consumer Privacy of Act of 2018, including its application to employers. Read More

Under both the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA), before obtaining a credit report on a job applicant, an employer must first give the applicant a “clear and conspicuous” written disclosure in a document consisting “solely” of the disclosure that the employer may obtain a credit report. Though the two laws’ requirements… Read More

View the SW Winter 2019 Newsletter Since its founding over 70 years ago, Severson & Werson has gained a reputation for providing specialized advice, legal services, and expertise to financial institution clients. The services we provide run the gamut from litigation to regulatory matters to client counseling, legislative affairs, and formulating and implementing nationwide strategies for consumer class action defense. The… Read More

Severson & Werson is proud to have co-sponsored the inaugural Women in Consumer Finance event, December 10-12 in Baltimore, MD. Member Kristin Walker-Probst spoke and Member Mary Kate Sullivan attended this inaugural and the first-ever event focusing on Women in Leadership in the industry. The event was full of inspiring women, practical advice and relationship-based networking. For more information, click here.… Read More

Hungry for Change: An Overview of California Waste and Donation Legislation  Read More

Master service agreements for design and construction professionals are bad for business – for lawyers!  For the design professional, construction manager, or other construction professional, master service agreements are almost always a great business opportunity and an even better risk management tool. The Severson & Werson Construction Group explored multiple and overlapping reasons for this along with "Knowing Your Limitations: A… Read More

On December 3, 2018, Genevieve Walser-Jolly presented on TCPA developments in 2018 at the California Mortgage Bankers Association: Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference in Orange County, California.  The presentation addressed regulatory, legislative, and case law updates from 2018 and what to expect heading into 2019. Read More

On November 15, 2018, Kalama M. Lui-Kwan delivered a presentation to the Consumer Financial Services Committee of the California Lawyers' Association's Business Law Section.  Mr. Lui-Kwan's presentation, "The 2018 Financial Services Landscape: Regulatory and Legislative Developments," provided an overview of the OCC's FinTech Charter, key legislation pending before the U.S. House of Representative's Financial Services Committee and the U.S. Senate's… Read More

On November 7, 2018, Severson & Werson co-sponsored the Women, Diversity & Change Summit in San Francisco, California. Members Kristin Walker-Probst and Mary Kate Sullivan attended and moderated a panel on Unconscious Bias and Discrimination and Succeeding in Male-Dominant Environments respectively.   For more information, click here. Read More

On November 5, 2018, Elizabeth Holt Andrews and Andrew W. Noble presented an MCLE titled “2018 Banking & Financial Services Appellate Roundup” to the San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association monthly luncheon, which sparked a lively discussion with many questions and comments from the audience. They provided an overview of this year's most important appellate decisions in the banking and financial… Read More

Severson & Werson co-sponsored the Fall Conference of The Conference on Consumer Finance Law (CCFL) held in Fort Worth, Texas on November 5-6, 2018 through Scott Hyman's membership on the CCFL Executive Committee.  Severson & Werson shareholder Kristin Walker-Probst spoke on "Trying a Consumer Case," and David Hungerford presented on Cyber-insurance and Privacy.   For more information, click here. Read More

The Basics: Mortgage Servicing Compliance 101 – 2 Credits Everything starts with the fundamentals. Fitting for the professionals new to the industry or seasoned servicers for the reinforcement of basics learned long ago, this course offers the participants the chance to lay down a foundation of knowledge surrounding servicing and loan ownership transfers, account maintenance, escrow accounts, force-placed insurance, and… Read More

Michael B. Murphy spoke on “The Producing Broker’s Role in Response to Assured’s Report of Catastrophic/Mass Tort Event” at TechAssure’s International Members’ Conference, Baden, Baden Germany October 14-17, 2018. Read More

On Friday, October 5, 2018, Kristin Walker-Probst, David A. Berkley, and Scott J. Hyman presented “Current Developments in Automobile Finance Law” at the California Financial Services Association’s 78th Annual Convention in Laguna Niguel, California.  This is the 11th year that Severson & Werson has been asked to present at CFSA’s Annual Conference. Read More

Any person who “causes” an employee to be paid” less than the minimum wage set by state or local law is liable for a civil penalty as is any person who “causes to be violated” laws governing overtime pay.  The civil penalties can be serious:  for first time intention violations:  $50 or $100 per underpaid employee per pay period; for… Read More

On October 11, 2018, Michael B. Murphy will be presenting “California Wildfires and Inverse Condemnation” at the 8th Annual Bermuda Insurance Market Conference of the Bermuda Insurance Institute, Hamilton, Bermuda. Click here for more information. Read More

Full article on Law360 here. "Law360 (September 25, 2018, 9:01 PM EDT) -- A split Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of homeowner class litigation over force-placed insurance, saying the litigation violated a doctrine that prohibits challenges to regulator-approved rates. The appeals court on Monday affirmed, 2-1, the tossing of litigation filed by homeowners whose home insurance, mandated by their lenders,… Read More

Worldwide Effort Brings Together Volunteers from the Legal Profession to Support More Than 80 Community-Based Organizations Ford Motor Company’s Legal Alliance for Women (LAW) is launching an inaugural Global Day of Service on Sept. 27, focusing on servicing organizations who support the well-being of women and girls Severson & Werson employees will volunteer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden… Read More