Jim Howicz
Partner at Richards Rodriguez & Skeith LLP- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Law License
State Bar of TexasSep, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Law License -- Inactive
State of IllinoisDec, 1991- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Richards Rodriguez & Skeith LLP
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United States
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Law Practice
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1 - 100 Employee
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Partner
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Jun 2015 - Present
Focusing on general corporate matters, negotiating commercial transactions, drafting contracts, financial services, and employment issues. Representing small and mid-sized businesses as an outside general counsel. Handles a wide variety of matters for banks and lenders with a focus on credit and collections. Helps clients with various issues before state and federal regulators. Began serving as the firm's Managing Partner in January 2022. Focusing on general corporate matters, negotiating commercial transactions, drafting contracts, financial services, and employment issues. Representing small and mid-sized businesses as an outside general counsel. Handles a wide variety of matters for banks and lenders with a focus on credit and collections. Helps clients with various issues before state and federal regulators. Began serving as the firm's Managing Partner in January 2022.
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Best Egg
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United States
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Financial Services
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300 - 400 Employee
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General Counsel
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Jan 2014 - Apr 2015
Chief legal counsel for all corporate matters for startup personal loan company. Chief compliance officer. Responsible for legal, compliance, licensing, corporate and administration. Advise corporate executives on all aspects of business. Selected Contributions: Launched closed end loan product for start-up personal loan company. Implemented the disclosure and compliance programs. Lead legal team effort to implement flexible funding scheme for sales of loans to investors that could be leveraged or securitized. Facilitated over $500M in funded loans within its first year. Show less
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NewComLink
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vice President and General Counsel
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Sep 2011 - Jan 2014
Chief legal and compliance counsel for consumer credit technology provider. Responsible for legal, compliance, human resources, intellectual property and administration. Negotiated complex sales agreements. Advise corporate executives on all aspects of business. Selected Contributions: Launched and maintained retail credit aggregation platform. Instrumental in platform design. Implemented standardized recruiting, interview, and onboarding programs. Negotiated employee benefits agreements. Show less
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Dell Technologies
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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700 & Above Employee
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Executive Legal Director
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Feb 2002 - Sep 2011
Leader of Global Financial Services Legal Team. Provide practical legal and strategic advice to Global Payment Solutions, Dell Financial Services, Global Financial Services, Treasury and Corporate Finance Teams. Collaborate with regional attorneys on financial services matters and litigation globally. Lead attorney for financial services regulatory matters, and payment solution vendor negotiations. Mediate high profile legal and business disputes, and resolve high-risk customer complaints. Recruit, supervise and manage attorneys supporting multiple fraud, customer care, cash services, risk management, financing sales and marketing, financial services IT and operations teams. Oversee regulatory and SOX compliance programs. Selected Contributions: Facilitated flagship consumer credit product launch. Leg legal initiative to expand through acquisitions into Canada and Europe Settled major multistate Attorney General litigation. Settled major government investigation without publicity or monetary penalty. Negotiated major collections outsource agreement projected to save $200 in opex. Finalized two major securitizations transactions. Led legal initiative to comply with the Credit CARD Act of 2009 and Dodd Frank Act. Moved consumer credit program from CIT Bank to WebBank. Resolved major funding shortage in Brazil with creative solution. Launched consumer financing solution in the United Kingdom. Created consumer account agreements. Established consumer privacy compliance program. Structured key compliance and transactional polices. Earned Cross-Functional Contributor Award twice. Earned 2009 Dell Legal Excellence Award. Show less
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Wells Fargo
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United States
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Financial Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Assistant General Counsel
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Jun 2000 - Feb 2002
750 branches in 48 states. Assistant General Counsel Provided tactical-level legal oversight for state and national operations, including administration, new product development, marketing, operations, customer service, collections, compliance and regulation. Oversaw legal operational issues for credit card and private label retail credit banks. Advised branch management on practical legal and business issues. Granted branch policy exceptions. Drafted and revised mortgage, finance, insurance, and telemarketing contracts. Reviewed and approved marketing campaigns and materials. Forged profitable partnership marketing arrangements. Fostered trust-based relationships with government auditors and regulators. Show less
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Discover Financial Services
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United States
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Financial Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Assistant Counsel
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Aug 1997 - Jun 2000
DISCOVER CARD; Oversaw corporate, banking, credit, contract, e-commerce, and trademark law. Supported all aspects of business operations. Collaborated on new marketing initiatives. Approved advertisements and marketing materials. Reviewed telemarketing scripts. Formulated contracts for marketing promotions, including sweepstakes. Drafted software licensing and service contracts. Structured credit and account agreements, consumer disclosures, and diverse legal contracts. Maintained consumer privacy policies. Show less
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Mercury Finance Company
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Lake Forest, IL
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Senior Attorney
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Jan 1997 - Aug 1997
Delivered branch-level compliance and operational legal support. Delivered branch-level compliance and operational legal support.
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Wolters Kluwer UK
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United Kingdom
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Information Services
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400 - 500 Employee
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Attorney / Manager
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Oct 1992 - Jan 1997
Hired, trained, and managed cross-functional team including seven attorneys, editors, and production staff. Served as managing editor of numerous legal, business, tax, and financial services guidebooks. Hired, trained, and managed cross-functional team including seven attorneys, editors, and production staff. Served as managing editor of numerous legal, business, tax, and financial services guidebooks.
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Minsky, McCormick & Halligan
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Chicago, IL
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Associate Attorney
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May 1992 - Oct 1992
Represented clients before INS and Immigration Court in matters relating to immigration and nationality law. Drafted business visa and consular documents. Represented clients before INS and Immigration Court in matters relating to immigration and nationality law. Drafted business visa and consular documents.
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U.S. Department of Justice
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United States
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Law Enforcement
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700 & Above Employee
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Judicial Law Clerk
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Sep 1991 - May 1992
Served as Law Clerk for five U.S. Immigration Judges, selected through the Justice Department's Honor Graduate Program. Served as Law Clerk for five U.S. Immigration Judges, selected through the Justice Department's Honor Graduate Program.
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Education
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1988 - 1991
Tulane University Law School
JD, Law -
1984 - 1988
University of Chicago
AB, Geography
Community
