Leading Financial Services Expert Joins Morrison & Foerster

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Thomas J. Noto, a noted expert in financial services law, has joined the Firm's nationwide Financial Services regulatory, litigation, and transactional practice as a partner.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Mr. Noto was an Associate General Counsel at Bank of America responsible for legal support to Bank of America Home Loans. He had broad responsibilities relating to mortgage and home equity lending, as well as fair lending and neighborhood lending. Early in his career, he served for five years as a staff attorney at the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs where he was responsible for regulations under the Truth in Lending, Equal Credit Opportunity, Home Mortgage Disclosure, Electronic Fund Transfers and Expedited Funds Availability Acts. Following his tenure as a partner in a private law firm, in 2002 he served as General Counsel for several mortgage lenders, including Ameriquest Mortgage. He is a frequent speaker on regulatory compliance and enforcement issues.

"Tom brings his extensive background in regulatory and enforcement matters related to financial services, and mortgage lending in particular. We are fortunate to be able to work with Tom on the high-stakes matters facing our clients in this area," said Michael Agoglia, Managing Partner of the San Francisco office and a financial services litigator.

"Tom has broad knowledge of the many issues affecting mortgage lenders and mortgage servicers in the current fast-changing environment, including the mortgage regulations that have flowed from Dodd-Frank," said Rick Fischer, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster's Financial Services group. "Our firm objective is to provide clients with market leading capability in all phases of bank regulatory activity -- consumer and wholesale, domestic and global."

"A core element of our firm strategy is the continued growth of our already preeminent financial services regulatory practice. The addition of Tom Noto, following on the additions of Charles Horn and Dwight Smith in our Washington, D.C. office, is an important aspect of that strategy," said Keith Wetmore, Chair of the firm.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of one of the finest financial services practices in America. I've known and respected these partners for many years and look forward to building on the great work they have done, particularly in this time when mortgage lenders are witnessing unprecedented regulatory expansion and the steady increase in enforcement actions," said Tom Noto.

Mr. Noto received his J.D. from Catholic University and his B.A. in Philosophy from Clark University. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Morrison & Foerster Financial Services Ranked by Chambers USA 2011

Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance): National

Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations): National

Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance): National

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PLC Which Lawyer? Global Portrait observes "regarded as one of the US' innovative finance teams, Morrison & Foerster has a comprehensive banking and finance practice."

U.S.News -- Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms 2011 ranks the firm as one of the leading Banking and Finance firms nationally

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SOURCE Morrison & Foerster