
Overview
Kristopher Knabe is Of Counsel in the Financial Services - Investigations, Regulatory, and Litigation group at Paul Hastings, and is based in the firm’s Chicago office. His practice focuses on representing institutions and individuals in a wide range of legal proceedings, including government enforcement actions, class action litigation, regulatory examinations, and internal investigations. He has represented banks, non-bank lenders, fintech companies and other financial services providers in enforcement matters before various federal and state agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); the Department of Justice (DOJ); federal and state bank regulators; the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and state attorneys general.
Mr. Knabe also advises clients on compliance with various federal and state banking and consumer finance statutes, including the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Fair Housing Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), unfair or deceptive acts or practices (UDAP), unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP), and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Education
- Loyola University Chicago, J.D., 2011
- George Washington University, B.A., 2004
Representations
Mr. Knabe’s representations, many of which are non-public, have included:
- Numerous banks and non-banks in CFPB examinations, investigations, and enforcement actions relating to business lines, which include mortgage origination and servicing, student lending and servicing, deposit products, and auto finance, including matters which were closed without further action
- A large lender, with numerous affiliates performing related services, in parallel investigations by several federal government agencies and a large group of state attorneys general
- Several banks and non-banks in fair lending investigations initiated by the DOJ, CFPB, and HUD
- Representing a major credit reporting bureau in a CFPB enforcement action alleging UDAAP and FCRA violations
- Representing banks and non-banks in CFPB investigations, enforcement action, and escalated supervisory matters alleging UDAAPs in the sale, marketing, and/or servicing of ancillary products
- Representing non-bank servicers in consumer protection investigations and enforcement actions brought by state attorneys general, including multistate groups
Matters may have been completed before joining Paul Hastings.
Insights
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Tuesday April 1, 2025 - April 1st, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Monday March 31, 2025 - March 31st, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Friday March 28, 2025 - March 28th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Thursday March 27, 2025 - March 27th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Tuesday March 25, 2025 - March 25th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Monday March 24, 2025 - March 24th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Friday March 21, 2025 - March 21st, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Wednesday March 19, 2025 - March 19th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Tuesday March 18, 2025 - March 18th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Monday March 17, 2025 - March 17th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Friday March 14, 2025 - March 14th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Thursday March 13, 2025 - March 13th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Tuesday March 11, 2025 - March 11th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Monday March 10, 2025 - March 10th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Friday March 7, 2025 - March 7th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Wednesday March 5, 2025 - March 5th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Tuesday March 4, 2025 - March 4th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Monday March 3, 2025 - March 3rd, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Friday February 28, 2025 - February 28th, 2025
- Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Thursday February 27, 2025 - February 27th, 2025
Engagement & Publications
- “House Party: Trends in Mortgage Origination and Servicing”, Paul Hastings Consumer Financial Services Webinar Series, March 14, 2024
- “Stated Priorities: Focal Points for State AGs and State Regulators”, Paul Hastings Consumer Financial Services Webinar Series, February 20, 2024
- "Loan servicing in a rising risk environment", National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, 2019 Bloomberg BNA
- “What's Driving Regulation of Auto Ancillary Products”, 2016 Consumer Financial Services Answer Book
- “Telemarketing and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act” (2015 and 2016 editions)