Kershaw, William A.

Sara Kelsey is a counsel in the Regulatory and Government Affairs Department, and a member of the Financial Institutions Practice Group and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Working Group. She joined the firm in 2009.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Kelsey was the General Counsel of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where she advised the Chairman, senior management and the FDIC Board on all issues relating to the FDIC’s statutory responsibilities. From 1998 to 2007, she was Deputy Superintendent and Counsel to the New York State Banking Department. As Deputy Superintendent, she assisted the Superintendent in formulating policy and managing the Department, coordinating the Department’s supervisory activities with those of other state, federal and international banking regulators, and civil and criminal enforcement authorities. As Counsel, she headed the Legal Division’s representation of the Department and advised the Superintendant and the Department’s Board of Directors. She also has experience with BSA and anti-money laundering matters and has supervised and engaged in all of the Department's enforcement and litigation.

Ms. Kelsey worked for JPMorgan Chase Bank as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (1987-1995) and Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel (1995-1997). She provided counsel on the impact of banking rules and regulations on business operations and structured and implemented numerous mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate reorganizations. She was also responsible for transaction-related bank regulatory, antitrust and CRA issues.

Ms. Kelsey began her career at the Federal Reserve Board (1976-1987), specializing in bank holding company and bank matters, including applications and affiliate transactions.

Practice

Ms. Kelsey's practice focuses on the regulation of US and foreign financial institutions doing business in the United States. Ms. Kelsey advocates on behalf of these clients in legislative and rulemaking matters and advises on Federal and State legislative and regulatory developments and their impact on client business models and operations, most recently focusing on the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act. Her practice includes advising on: acquisitions of financial institutions, including troubled and failed institutions and distressed assets; FDIC-related issues arising in the bankruptcy of debtors affiliated with banks; enforcement matters; and compliance with the rules, regulations and guidance of Federal and State financial institution regulatory agencies.

Professional Activities

Ms. Kelsey is a lecturer for the Banking Law Basics course jointly sponsored by the Boston University's Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law and the American Bar Association. She is a past Adjunct Professor of Banking Law at the Morin Center and St. John's University School of Law. Ms. Kelsey is a Director at Large of the Exchequer Club of Washington, DC and is a  member of the Banking Law Committee of the American Bar Association. She is a past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Subcommittee on Legislation and Regulation (of the Banking Law Committee) and a past member of the Banking Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.