Norman H. Roos

(he/him/his)

Of Counsel

  • Overview

    Biography

    Norman Roos, a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group, concentrates his practice on transactional, regulatory, and technology matters relating to the financial services and real estate industries.

    Financial Transactions

    Norm represents banks, insurance companies, diversified financial service companies, and other publicly and privately held entities on a broad range of matters involving consumer and commercial credit transactions with a special focus on mortgage banking. He handles corporate and contract matters, and his experience includes bank acquisitions, all varieties of traditional bank lending, student lending transactions, timeshare finance, and commercial real estate financing. He also serves as an outside general counsel for financial institutions and a state trade association.

    Norm has extensive experience with large-scale and complex financial transactions. He assisted a major lender with the establishment of a nationwide manufactured home construction loan program. He has also represented banks and mortgage companies in the acquisition and disposition of performing and nonperforming loan portfolios. In addition, Norm assists clients, including card issuers, payment processors, and merchants, on payment processing matters and contracts.

    Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement

    Norm counsels banks and other financial institutions on compliance with a wide variety of regulations promulgated by federal and state banking regulators. He has worked with a number of leading national mortgage lenders as outside regulatory counsel. Norm has counseled financial service providers on a wide variety of legal and regulatory matters involving, among other laws, the Truth-in-Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and state licensing laws. He also provides guidance on capital requirements, payment processing, anti-money laundering, and virtual currency matters.

    Norm also advises clients facing enforcement actions by regulatory agencies. He has obtained positive outcomes for clients in enforcement actions, including preserving his clients’ licenses in a number of significant administrative proceedings.

    Data Privacy, Cybersecurity and FinTech

    Norm advises financial institutions concerning data privacy and security matters, particularly in relation to policy planning and implementation. He provides legal advice related to new financial products and delivery methods, including online and mobile banking services. He also counsels financial services clients on the development and implications of data breach incident response policies. He has represented national mortgage lenders in connection with privacy, data security, incident response, and information management policies and procedures. He is a member of the firm's Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and he regularly contributes to the firm’s blog, Data Privacy + Security Insider.

    Norm is counsel to the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association, Inc., and is a Past President of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, where he also served on the Board of Regents. A member of the Connecticut Bar Association, he is Past Chair of the Financial Institutions Law Section and the Consumer Law Section. He has served on a number of Connecticut Law Revision Study Committees including those on the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, Electronic Communications, Mortgagor Liability, and Electronic Recording of Land Records.

    Norm writes frequently about financial matters. He is the author of The CMBA Handbook on Connecticut Mortgage Statutes: An Analysis and Compilation of Connecticut Legislation Affecting Residential First Mortgage Lending and the editor of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys newsletter (the ACMA Abstract). His articles have appeared in The National Law Journal, Real Estate Finance Journal, The Banking Law Journal, Mortgage Technology, and National Mortgage News, among other publications. Normalso is a frequent lecturer at bar and trade association programs on mortgage lending and consumer credit.

    He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Banking and Finance Law and Financial Services Regulation Law since 2012. He also has been listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® from 2006 to 2022.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Provided ongoing counsel to numerous local, state, and national institutions as to federal and state regulations affecting licensing, foreign branching, "doing business," loan product development, credit advertising, loan origination, and loan servicing, including the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Equal Opportunity Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, fair lending, Fair Credit Reporting Act and anti-money laundering, privacy and data security law.
      • Counseled numerous institutional and non-depository mortgage lenders on documentation, disclosure and other regulatory requirements applicable to a wide variety of residential first and second lien mortgage products including home equity lines of credit and home equity conversion mortgages (reverse mortgages).
      • Worked with a number of leading national mortgage lenders as outside regulatory counsel.
      • Assisted lenders and technology services providers in establishing and enhancing their Internet presence on the World Wide Web.
      • Representation of national bank in connection with OCC-mandated self-assessment of foreclosure management practices.
      • Negotiation of bulk and flow purchase and sale servicing and participation agreements relating to the origination, sale and servicing of residential mortgage loans on behalf of financial institutions and non-depository mortgage lenders.
      • Assisted a major national lender to establish a manufactured home construction loan program.
      • Representation of national mortgage lender in connection with privacy, data security, incident response and information management policies and procedures.
      • Representation of mortgage lender in defending counterclaims by borrower alleging violation of Truth-in-Lending laws, the Credit Repair Organizations Act, and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
      • Representation of mortgage lender and servicer in defending consumer action alleging violations of state and federal debt collection practices laws, striking all claims from case related to lender's reporting of credit information to agencies.
      • Representation of a national bank regarding the sale of a pool of assets for $65 million, including performing and nonperforming mortgage loans and foreclosed real estate.
      • Representation of a special purpose bank holding company formed to acquire a controlling interest in a national bank.
      • Representation of U.S. subsidiary concerning its accession to its parent corporation's restructured global credit facilities.
      • Represented industry leaders in connection with the workout of resort construction and time-share receivable loan portfolios.
      • Represented a leading international cruise line in negotiation of co-branded credit card program relationship, including associated privacy, data security and other matters.

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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American College of Mortgage Attorneys
      Immediate Past President and Executive Committee Chair (2020 - 2021)
      President (2019 - 2020)
      President-elect (2018 - 2019)
      Treasurer (2017 - 2018)
      Secretary (2016 - 2017)
      Connecticut State Chair (1996 - 2010)
      Board of Regents (2006 - 2010)

      Connecticut Bar Association
      Consumer Law Section
      Chair of Financial Institutions Law Section (2006 - 2010)

      Connecticut Law Revision Study Committee on Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act and Real Property Electronic Recording Advisory Committee and Real Property Electronic Recording Committee

      Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association
      General Counsel

      Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation
      Board of Directors
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© as Hartford Lawyer of the Year in the area of Banking and Finance Law for 2013 and 2023

      Inaugural Inductee to the New England Mortgage Bankers Conference's Hall of Fame

      AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated in Martindale-Hubbell™ in the area of Finance Law (Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings is a trademark. AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc.)

      Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Banking and Finance Law and Financial Services Regulation Law since 2012.

      Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2006 from 2022.

      Presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune, 2022

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "Financing Your Home…. Without Leaving It: The Potential for Remote Online Notarization to Transform the Mortgage Closing Process," published in The Abstract, co-authored with Jeremy D. Potter, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Spring 2018)
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      "It Is Time For the Mortgage Industry and Its Regulators to Move On and Leave the Crash Behind," published in Hartford Courant, featured in the HomeFinder supplement (5/13/2016)
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      "A Career Spent in Compliance," published in The Commercial Record, an interview that highlights Mr. Roos's long career along with his reputation "as one of Connecticut banks' most trusted advisors when it comes to regulations and compliance" (11/27/2014)

      "New Regulations Put a Crimp in Mortgage Industry," published in The Hartford Courant (4/13/2012)

      "New in 2010: Disclosure Rules for Mortgage Lenders," published in The Hartford Courant, Real Estate Supplement (1/2010)

      "Environmental Risk Management in Real Estate Lending: A Time to Reassess How to Avoid or Better Manage Toxic Assets," published in The Abstract, co-authored with Pamela K. Elkow and Richard M. Fil, American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Spring 2009)

      "2008 Connecticut Laws Enable Homeowners to Obtain Mediation in Foreclosures: Some Basic Information Concerning the Mediation Process," published in Hartford Courant, Real Estate Supplement (12/2008)

      "The Subprime Mortgage Meltdown: A Simple Explanation...and Some Not-So-Simple Solutions," published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Fall 2007)

      "A Borrower's Best Interests: Subjective "Tangible Net Benefit" Test Leaves Residential Mortgage Lenders in a Quandary," published in The Abstract, co-authored with Elizabeth M. Smith, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (Fall 2006)

      "Navigating the Waters of Contractor-Friendly Laws: What Lenders Need to Know to Protect Their Own Interests in Privately Funded Construction Projects," published in The Abstract, co-authored with Gregory R. Faulkner (4/2005)
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      "Turning the Key to E-Commerce: E-Sign and Federal Preemption," published in The National Law Journal, co-authored with William W. Bandon, III (11/2000)

      "E-Commerce Is Here - Can E-Mortgages Be Far Behind?" published in Real Estate Finance Journal (Summer 2000)

      "Internet Mortgage Banking: Legal and Business Considerations for Mortgage Banking Pioneers," published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (1999)

      "Ten Things Commercial Lenders Should Know About Regulatory Compliance," co-authored with Travis R. Searles, published in Connecticut Banking magazine (Second Quarter 2012)

      The CMBA Handbook on Connecticut Mortgage Statutes: An Analysis and Compilation of Connecticut Legislation Affecting Residential First Mortgage Lending (2008)

      "Understanding the Government Bailout Plan," Aspator's Special Report, coauthor (2009)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Legislative Update," as moderator at the New England Mortgage Expo (1/12/23)
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      "2022 Legislative Update," at the CT Mortgage Bankers Association inaugural "CMBA Showcase" event (5/24/2022)
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      "Legislative Panel," as part of the New England Mortgage Expo (1/13/2022)
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      "2021 Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association, Inc. Legislative Update," (9/14/2021)
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      "CMBA 2020 Legislative Update," during the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's webinar. (11/5/2020)
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      "The Mortgage Industry and ‘Climate Change’ – How the Changing Political, FinTech and Financial Climate Will Impact Our Industry," presented at the New England Mortgage Expo 2020 (1/17/2020)
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      "What Connecticut Mortgage Banking Industry Participants Need to Know About New and Emerging Legislative, Regulatory and Industry Developments," moderator, as part of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Annual Mortgage Law Forum, held in New Britain, Connecticut (8/28/2019)
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      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA) Legislative Panel," moderator and panelist during the New England Mortgage Expo at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut (1/18/2019)
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      "What You Need to Know About New and Emerging Legislative, Regulatory and Industry Developments," moderator, as part of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Annual Mortgage Law Forum, held in New Britain, Connecticut (9/6/2018)
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      "The CMBA Presents: Keeping Up with Shifting Priorities—What Do Mortgage Lenders and Other Mortgage Industry Participants Need to be Aware of in the Coming Year—Insights from Industry Insiders as to recent developments in CT, MA and RI," moderator, at the New England Mortgage Expo at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut (1/12/2018)
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      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's Annual Mortgage Law Forum," moderator, held in New Britain, Connecticut (9/7/2017)
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      "CMBA Legislative Update—The CMBA Presents: Coping with the Aftermath of 'Dodd-Frank' While Contemplating the 'Age of Trump'—The Mortgage Industry in a State of Flux?" moderator, at the New England Mortgage Expo at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut (1/13/2017)
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      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's (CMBA) Annual Legislative Update Seminar," moderator, held in New Britain, Connecticut (9/8/2016)
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      "CMBA Legislative Update Panel: What's in Store for the Mortgage Industry 2016," co-presented with Jeremy Potter, general counsel and chief compliance officer at Norcom Mortgage, presented at The New England Mortgage Expo at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut (1/15/2016)
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      "TRID Update with CMBA," moderated program at the CT Realtors Leadership Conference, held at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut (10/7/2015)
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      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's (CMBA) Annual Legislative Update Seminar," moderator, held in New Britain, Connecticut (8/27/2015)
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      "Federal Bank Regulatory Developments Affecting Commercial Real Estate Lending," moderated and also presented at this regulatory panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (9/19/2014)

      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's Legislative Update Seminar," moderator, held in New Britain, Connecticut (8/20/2014)

      "2014 Connecticut Legislative Update," a webinar, moderated with Fritz Conway of Gaffney Bennett & Associates (6/11/2014)

      "What’s in Store for the Mortgage Industry 2014," at The New England Mortgage Expo in Ledyard, Connecticut, moderated the CMBA legislative panel; in addition, presented a "Connecticut Legislative Update" (1/17/2014)

      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's Legislative Update Seminar," moderator (10/24/2012)

      "Commercial Lending and Regulatory Compliance: What Lenders Need to Know," webinar through Lorman® Education Services (1/17/2012)

      "The Changing Regulatory Environment," at Housing 2011, the annual conference of the Connecticut Housing Coalition, co-presented with Keisha S. Palmer (10/19/2011)

      "The Changing Regulatory Environment," at Housing 2011, the annual conference of the Connecticut Housing Coalition (10/19/2011)

      "Loan Originator Compensation – New Regulation Z Rules," at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Meeting at Webster Bank in New Britain, Connecticut, co-presented with Catherine Moreton Gray; attorneys from Bankers Advisory, Inc., and Webster Bank (12/7/2010)

      "Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's Legislative Update Seminar," moderator (10/26/2011)

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • March 25, 2022

        Connecticut Law Tribune to Honor Eight Robinson+Cole Lawyers During Connecticut Legal Awards

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      • July 1, 2021

        Norman Roos Quoted in CQ Roll Call on Setback to New York State Financial Regulator's Lawsuit

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      • January 21, 2021

        Norm Roos Quoted on Regulators’ Approach to Fintechs in CQ Roll Call Article

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      • June 18, 2020

        Norm Roos Quoted on Industrial Loan Companies in Article Published in CQ Roll Call

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      • January 25, 2019

        Norm Roos Moderates Annual New England Mortgage Expo Panel

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      • October 18, 2018

        51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • September 7, 2018

        Norm Roos Is Moderator at the CMBA Annual Connecticut Mortgage Law Forum

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      • August 20, 2018

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

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      • April 20, 2018

        Norm Roos Authors Article on Electronic Closings Published in The Abstract

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      • January 19, 2018

        Norm Roos Presents at Annual New England Mortgage Expo

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      • September 18, 2017

        Norman Roos Moderates 2017 CMBA Annual Mortgage Law Forum

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      • January 18, 2017

        Norman Roos Moderates Legislative Update Panel at New England Mortgage Expo

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      • October 3, 2016

        Norman Roos Moderates 2016 CMBA Legislative Update Seminar

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      • May 24, 2016

        Norman Roos Writes Article for Hartford Courant's HomeFinder Supplement

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      • January 19, 2016

        Norman Roos Presents at New England Mortgage Expo

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      • October 23, 2015

        Norman Roos Moderates TRID Seminar at CT Realtors Leadership Conference

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      • September 9, 2015

        Norman Roos Moderates 2015 CMBA Legislative Update Seminar

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      • April 1, 2015

        Norm Roos Edits ACMA Publication

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      • January 23, 2015

        Finance Lawyer Comments on 2015 Prospects of Connecticut Housing Recovery

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      • December 5, 2014

        Norm Roos Profiled in Commercial Record

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      • November 20, 2014

        Norman Roos Quoted in Commercial Record

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      • September 29, 2014

        Norman Roos Moderates, Speaks at ACMA Annual Meeting

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      • September 1, 2014

        Norman Roos Moderates 2014 CMBA Legislative Update Seminar

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      • June 30, 2014

        Norman Roos Moderates CMBA Legislative Webinar

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      • March 11, 2014

        Norman Roos Presents at New England Mortgage Expo

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      • December 23, 2013

        Norman Roos Speaks at Mortgage Servicing Compliance Forum

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      • December 4, 2013

        Norman Roos Writes Article for Hartford Courant

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      • October 8, 2013

        Norman Roos Moderates CMBA Legislative Update Seminar

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      • February 20, 2013

        Norman Roos Authors Article in the Hartford Courant

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      • February 1, 2013

        Norman Roos Moderates and Speaks at The New England Mortgage Expo

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      • January 22, 2013

        Norman Roos Quoted in Connecticut Post

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      • December 4, 2012

        Norm Roos Delivers Presentation on Electronic Recording and Mortgage Licensing

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      • September 12, 2012

        Norman Roos Talks with the Commercial Record About New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Disclosure Rules

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      • July 19, 2012

        Attorneys Advise Commercial Lenders on What They Need to Know

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      • April 30, 2012

        Finance Partner’s Article on SAFE Act and Truth in Lending Act Published in Hartford Courant

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      • April 9, 2012

        CFPB Issues Bulletin on Application of Compensation Rules to "Qualified Plans" - Payments to Qualified Plans Permitted

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      • March 19, 2012

        Landmark Settlement Reached with Nation’s Five Largest Residential Mortgage Loan Servicers

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      • February 8, 2012

        Norm Roos Presents Webinar on What Lenders Need to Know About Regulatory Compliance

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      • November 17, 2011

        Finance Partner Moderates at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Legislative Update Seminar

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      • November 4, 2011

        Bankers Want Feds to Lay Off is the Message at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Forum

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      • October 28, 2011

        Finance Attorneys Discuss Dodd–Frank and SAFE Acts at Affordable Housing Conference

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      • December 15, 2010

        A Look at New Regulations for Loan Originator Compensation

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      • November 8, 2010

        Program Examines Impact of the Dodd Frank Act on Non-financial Businesses

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      • October 29, 2010

        Training Course Prepares Mortgage Brokers for Newly Mandated Licensing Exam

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      • October 21, 2010

        Mortgage Banking Lawyer Comments on Proposed Freeze on Foreclosures in State Courts

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      • October 13, 2010

        Timeshare Financing Transactions Will Not Bear Full Brunt of Dodd-Frank Act

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      • August 5, 2010

        Norman H. Roos and James R. Kinyon Present on Mortgage Lending Laws

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      • March 30, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Quoted in The Commercial Record on Bank Efforts to Raise Cash

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      • September 25, 2009

        Robinson & Cole Attorneys Address Legislative Developments Before the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association

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      • November 14, 2008

        Robinson & Cole Gains Over 30 Former Thelen Attorneys in Hartford, Connecticut and New York City

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      R+C News Releases

      • October 11, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in 2022 Super Lawyers®

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      • October 14, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 19, 2021

        65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

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      • October 15, 2020

        47 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in Super Lawyers®

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      • August 20, 2020

        61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

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      • October 19, 2019

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • September 11, 2019

        Norm Roos Elected President of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

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      • August 15, 2019

        57 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

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      • October 15, 2018

        Norm Roos Elected President-elect of American College of Mortgage Attorneys

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      • June 11, 2018

        Robinson+Cole Honored by Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation as a “Leader for Justice”

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      • October 17, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • September 22, 2017

        Norm Roos Elected Treasurer of American College of Mortgage Attorneys

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      • August 15, 2017

        Fifty-Nine Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018

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      • October 14, 2016

        Norm Roos Elected Secretary of American College of Mortgage Attorneys

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      • August 15, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017

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      • August 18, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016

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      • December 17, 2014

        Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation Recognizes Robinson+Cole for a Century of Support

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      • August 19, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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      • August 16, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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      • October 22, 2012

        Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

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      • October 18, 2012

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Norman Roos Receives Inaugural NEMBC Hall of Fame Award

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      • September 14, 2012

        Ten Robinson & Cole Attorneys Selected as “Lawyers of the Year”

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      • August 28, 2012

        Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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    • Legal Updates/Newsletters

      Legal Updates/Newsletters

      "New York’s Landmark Cybersecurity Regulation Amendment Proposed, Deadlines Looming" co-authored with Linn F. Freedman, Benjamin C. Jensen, Scott N. Siedor and Carrie C. Turner (2/15/2018)