On Tuesday, Hudson Cook added two nationally recognized collections attorneys as partners to support the firm in creating a new practice group. That Hudson Cook segment will focus on lender oversight and regulatory compliance for third-party debt collectors, debt buyers, collections law firms and creditors collecting their own debts.

The two newest partners are Gary Becker and Barbara Sinsley.

Becker is an attorney and entrepreneur who has worked in the collections industry for nearly 30 years. He is the former chief executive officer, chairman and general counsel of national collection agency DCM Services; a founding partner of Balogh Becker, one of the nation’s largest collection law firms; and a founding board member of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys.

“Gary is an innovator in the application of technology to collections and a recognized leader in applying legally compliant customer-centric approaches in collections and recovery,” Hudson Cook said.

The firm highlighted Sinsley is considered one of the nation’s leading attorneys in the area of debt sales and consumer collections regulatory preparedness and compliance with more than 24 years of experience.  She previously served as general counsel of DBA International (formerly the Debt Buyers Association).

Over the course of her career, both as an outside attorney and in-house counsel, Hudson Cook mentioned Sinsley has assisted dozens of large and small collections businesses in coming into compliance with state and federal  laws, and has represented numerous industry members before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general and in the courts.

Hudson Cook noted Becker and Sinsley will be joining several current firm attorneys, including Joel Winston (former head of the FTC’s debt collection enforcement program), Chuck Dodge, Ron Gorsline, Eric Johnson, Blake Sims and Tom Buiteweg in a group that focuses on compliance as it relates specifically to the regulated aspects of lenders’ collection and recovery; creditor supervision of third-party debt collection by agencies and law firms; and the sale of consumer debt.

“Gary and Barb bring to the table a wealth of experience and knowledge, allowing us to increase the breadth and depth of our collections and debt buying practice,” Hudson Cook chairman Tom Hudson said. “They will develop and offer broad-based solutions, including compliance audits, for businesses trying to ‘stay ahead of the curve’ as the government increases its enforcement and regulatory efforts in this area. 

“By leveraging new technologies, we can provide these services in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible,” Hudson continued. “In addition to counseling businesses on the specific concerns they face, we believe we best serve our clients by helping them be prepared in advance, if and when the regulators come calling. We are very pleased to welcome Gary and Barb to the firm.”