Hudson Cook partners Patty Covington and Eric Johnson got to switch from litigators to educators again this week when they led the 2026 Compliance Champions Workshop hosted by the National Automotive Finance Association.

While many compliance professionals, legal experts and auto-finance leaders made the trip to Irving, Texas, for the event, multiple participants also joined virtually during the two-day workshop.

Presented in partnership with Hudson Cook, the event combined timely legal and regulatory insights with candid peer-to-peer discussion and practical strategies designed to help auto finance companies navigate an increasingly complex compliance environment.

“Compliance professionals are being asked to keep pace with a regulatory environment that continues to shift and evolve,” NAF Association executive director Jennifer Martin said in a news release. “This workshop gives them something particularly valuable with the opportunity to hear from experienced attorneys while also learning directly from peers who are navigating many of the same challenges.

“The conversations and willingness to share experiences are what make this program so impactful,” Martin added.

Covington and Johnson guided discussions throughout the program and provided legal and regulatory perspective on emerging issues affecting the auto finance industry, including:

—Timely updates on federal and state regulatory and enforcement developments affecting auto finance.

—Educational sessions addressing evolving compliance risks and practical considerations for finance companies.

—Small-group discussions centered on real-world challenges and issues emerging throughout the workshop.

—Opportunities for compliance professionals to exchange ideas, approaches and experiences in a candid peer setting.

—Perspectives from industry partners on tools, trends and developments shaping compliance operations.

—A hybrid format that expanded access to educational sessions for professionals unable to attend in person.

“The real value of the NAF Association’s Compliance Champions Workshop is bringing compliance professionals together for candid conversations about the issues we are all dealing with,” Johnson said in the news release. “Sharing experiences and working through practical solutions with peers gives everyone ideas they can take back to their offices and put to work.”

The Compliance Champions Workshop is one part of NAF Association’s broader commitment to year-round compliance education for the auto finance industry.

The association offers compliance programming designed to support professionals at every level, from foundational education for front-line staff to advanced training and timely updates for experienced compliance leaders. Programs include live and on-demand educational sessions, webinars, workshops and resources available through NAF’s Learning Library.

NAF also offers its Compliance Roundtable Program, a peer-driven forum designed specifically for compliance professionals to discuss emerging legal and regulatory developments, share experiences and explore how other organizations are responding to common challenges.

Facilitated in partnership with Hudson Cook, the roundtable combines targeted federal and state regulatory updates with candid peer discussion and practical exchange among participants.

Together, these programs are designed to help organizations build and sustain a strong culture of compliance while giving industry professionals ongoing access to timely information, expert perspective and a trusted network of peers.

“While the CFPB has pulled back in overseeing and regulating consumer financial services companies, other regulators have not,” Covington said in the news release. “In particular, the FTC and state attorneys general have stepped up their efforts and are flexing their enforcement muscles.

“NAF continues to give their members opportunities to stay current with legal and regulatory developments. The Compliance Champions Workshop is a prime example of this. It delivered the most pertinent and recent developments in a concise and engaging format,” Covington went on to say.