About a month after elevating two of its current attorneys to be partners, Hudson Cook added to its portfolio legal expertise by welcoming a new partner and two new associates this week.

Brought in to reinforce the firm’s litigation and government investigations practice areas, Hudson Cook hired Julia Whitelock as a new partner and Gabriela Chambi and Kristen Yarows as new associates.

Hudson Cook highlighted through a news release that Whitelock joins the litigation and government enforcement practice groups, representing businesses facing individual and class action litigation and arbitration arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and other federal and state consumer protection laws.

The firm said Whitelock has successfully enforced arbitration clauses, defeated class certification, and obtained favorable resolution of consumer claims on individual and class bases.

Whitelock was most recently a partner with a large national firm where she represented businesses across many industries in consumer, complex commercial and intellectual property litigation and arbitration.

Hudson Cook litigation partner Mark Rooney praised Whitelock’s experience, noting that she has argued consumer litigation class action cases in both state and federal appellate courts.

“Julia brings a wealth of consumer litigation defense experience to Hudson Cook,” Rooney said in the news release. “She routinely litigates in Virginia, Maryland, and DC and will help the firm meet our clients’ growing litigation needs in those jurisdictions and beyond.

“Her work with consumer data solutions providers, including background screeners and mortgage data analysts, and debt collectors adds new depth to our already robust capabilities in those areas,” Rooney continued.

Hudson Cook noted that Chambi primarily represents consumer finance companies and other clients in litigation and government investigations and enforcement actions.

Originally from Bolivia, the firm highlighted Chambi is a bilingual attorney fluent in English and Spanish. Her practice includes translating and analyzing documents in Spanish, and she is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Before entering private practice, Chambi clerked for the District Court of Maryland in Montgomery County.

Hudson Cook Yarows joined the firm’s Washington D.C., office from the Partner Enforcement and Consumer Protection Directorate at the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid.

Yarows investigated institutions of higher education for violations of state and federal consumer protection laws. She primarily represents clients in government investigations and enforcement actions, according to Hudson Cook.

“We are thrilled to welcome Julia, Gabriela and Kristen to Hudson Cook, expanding our capabilities in the litigation and government investigations practice areas with these talented lawyers,” Hudson Cook managing partner Chuck Dodge said in the news release. “Whether defending our clients in government investigations or in private consumer litigation, our growing team is able to leverage our comprehensive understanding of both federal and state consumer financial services regulatory matters to find the ideal defense strategy.

"As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we look forward to leveraging Julia’s, Gabriela’s and Kristen’s unique skills for the benefit of our clients and are proud to add them to our team,” Dodge went on to say.