Former Supervising Deputy Attorney General Joins Stroock's Financial Services Litigation and Government Relations Practice Groups

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, a national law firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC, announced today that Benjamin Diehl has joined the Firm's Financial Services Litigation and Government Relations Practice Groups in the Los Angeles office, effective immediately.

Mr. Diehl joins Stroock after 11 years with the California Attorney General's Office, where he was a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Law Section responsible for overseeing civil prosecutions brought by the Attorney General's Mortgage Fraud Strike Force and also participated in other investigatory matters regarding a range of issues and industries.  Most recently, Mr. Diehl played an integral role in negotiation of the National Mortgage Settlement and drafting of revisions to the California Foreclosure Process (dubbed the "Homeowner Bill of Rights" by the California Attorney General's office).  Additionally, he has handled numerous predatory lending matters, including the Household Finance and Ameriquest Mortgage Company multi-state settlements as well as the landmark 2008 lawsuit the California Attorney General filed against Countrywide Financial Corp.  He also was involved in the multi-state Attorney General settlement with Trilegiant Corporation.  Mr. Diehl was awarded the 2007 Attorney General's Award for Excellence and the 2008 and 2011 Attorney General's Award for Excellence as a Team.

"Ben has been a key figure in some of the most important regulatory and litigation matters facing financial services companies across the country," said Julia Strickland, managing partner of the Los Angeles office and chair of the Financial Services Litigation Practice Group.  "His practical experience and first-hand insight into the current regulatory landscape will be invaluable to our clients."

"Stroock was an obvious choice for me," said Mr. Diehl.  "Julia's team is nationally recognized as experts in consumer class actions and financial services regulation, and their client base is second to none.  I am looking forward to working with the firm's leading financial institution clients to help them better navigate the complex regulatory and legislative changes enacted since the financial crisis."

Mr. Diehl's arrival was also lauded by former New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, who leads Stroock's Government Relations Group.  "Financial institutions are increasingly facing multi-state actions from Attorneys General throughout the country, and they need law firms that can think and act on a national scale.  Ben's specific experience with these types of matters is both unusual and essential in today's regulatory climate."

Stroock's Financial Services Litigation Practice Group is nationally recognized as a leader in the representation of financial institutions and financial services companies in the full range of compliance, regulatory and litigation matters.  Our clients include the full range of financial services companies, including commercial and consumer banks, residential lenders, student lending companies, automobile lending and leasing companies, credit card issuers, payment processors, investment banks and insurance companies.

Stroock's Government Relations Practice Group represents clients in their interactions with government agencies and officials, including investigations and settlement of matters brought by state attorneys general throughout the nation, involving issues such as predatory lending, the student loan industry, health care reimbursement rates and allegations of false advertising.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Mr. Diehl was a staff attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, where he specialized in real property and predatory lending matters along with related areas of consumer law.  He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1997.  He earned his undergraduate degree at Pomona College.  Additionally, Mr. Diehl has taught consumer law at the UCLA School of Law.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is a law firm providing transactional and litigation guidance to leading multinational corporations, investment banks and private equity firms in the U.S. and abroad.  Stroock's emphasis on client service and innovation has made it one of the nation's leading law firms for 130 years.  Stroock's practice areas include capital markets/securities, commercial finance, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, private equity, private funds, derivatives and commodities, employment law and benefits, energy and project finance, entertainment, environmental law, financial restructuring, financial services litigation, insurance, intellectual property, investment management, litigation, national security, personal client services, real estate, structured finance and tax.  For more information, please visit Stroock's website at www.stroock.com.

SOURCE Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP