As a partner at Reed Smith, Maria Earley advises and represents financial services companies in enforcement, examination, litigation, transactional and counseling matters. She is a former CFPB enforcement attorney with broad knowledge of federal and state consumer financial laws. Earley leverages her experience to help her clients navigate the complex and unique issues that often arise when interfacing with the CFPB.
During her tenure at the CFPB, Earley led a number of enforcement matters involving a variety of federal consumer financial laws and emerging legal theories regarding the scope and application of the CFPB’s Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive Acts and Practices authority. She participated in several financial institution examinations, as well as the CFPB’s extensive mortgage rulemaking process.
Prior to joining the CFPB, Earley focused on the defense of financial institutions in complex civil litigation matters.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAD TO OVERCOME TO SUCCEED IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I had to overcome a fear of failure to succeed in my career and personal life. Failure has been both an opportunity and a gift. It has taught me humility, responsibility, courage, and faith. My biggest failures have simply been stepping stones on the path to something greater.
