Donna Bates

About Donna Bates

Donna is the Vice President, Assistant General Counsel of Litigation at Cenlar FSB. Prior to entering her current position as in-house counsel, Donna gained extensive experience in private practice, concentrating on complex civil litigation and consumer finance litigation and regulatory matters involving several large lending institutions, national banks, and loan servicers. Donna also served as a Deputy District Attorney at the District Attorney\'s Office, Fourth Judicial District, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She also served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in various roles, including protocol officer, flight commander, and section commander. Donna is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where she received academic distinction and served in several cadet leadership positions. Donna attended law school at Fordham School of Law, where she was the ADR & the Law editor for the Fordham University School of Law International Law Journal.

Experience

1. Vice President, Assistant General Counsel - Litigation

   Cenlar Fsb

   Apr 2018 — Present · Ewing, NJ, US

   Serves as In-house Counsel for the leading mortgage loan subservicing company in the country and successfully services portfolios representing billions of dollars in residential mortgages for clients. Manages all facets of high-level, high-risk litigation and class actions involving consumer lending and mortgage servicing claims, including claims under the CARES Act, TCPA, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA and state consumer protection statutes – oversees CFPB and OCC regulatory responses. Effectively manages multi-jurisdictional outside legal counsel, and determines and oversees case strategy, including controlling litigation budgets and costs and working toward achieving successful outcomes. Directly communicates with and negotiates settlement of pre-litigation matters with opposing counsel. Responsible for interfacing with Cenlar\'s operational departments to meet corporate goals. Authors case analysis legal memorandums and presents same to Cenlar’s executives with recommendations for case settlement to effectively control risk and manage legal spend. Manages completion of monthly detailed client reports and regularly briefs clients on litigated matters. Directly supervises 3 Associate General Counsels and mentors all department counsel and paralegals.

Education

• United States Air Force Academy

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Legal Studies

  1988 — 1992

• Fordham University School of Law

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)

  2001 — 2004

Skills

• Appeals
• Civil Litigation
• Trials
• Program Management
• Westlaw
• Supervisory Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Legal Writing
• Management
• Case Management
• Defense
• Legal Research
• Courts
• Litigation
• Commercial Litigation