Experience

Park Avenue Finance

• United States
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head Of Legal

  • Apr 2022 - Present

  Park Avenue Finance is a financial product innovation company. We thrive on providing creative solutions to challenges that are routinely faced by businesses as they negotiate complex regulatory and economic environments. Our first-generation products create efficient solutions for challenges that arise in inefficient markets and unlock measurable value for counter-parties ranging from top-tier financial firms to small businesses and high-net worth individuals. Park Avenue Finance is a financial product innovation company. We thrive on providing creative solutions to challenges that are routinely faced by businesses as they negotiate complex regulatory and economic environments. Our first-generation products create efficient solutions for challenges that arise in inefficient markets and unlock measurable value for counter-parties ranging from top-tier financial firms to small businesses and high-net worth individuals.



Dirt Days

• Co-Founder

  • May 2018 - Present

  Since 2018, Dirt Days has been leading off-road adventure tours in California and Baja Mexico. We offer guided group tours, personalized individual adventures, and customized corporate events. Our off-road adventures include anything from a day of high-speed desert running to exploring hidden desert sights to going off the grid for days. Since 2018, Dirt Days has been leading off-road adventure tours in California and Baja Mexico. We offer guided group tours, personalized individual adventures, and customized corporate events. Our off-road adventures include anything from a day of high-speed desert running to exploring hidden desert sights to going off the grid for days.



Mitchell Sandler LLC

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner

  • Jun 2022 - Aug 2023

  We are a women-managed, majority-women-owned boutique financial services and financial technology-focused law firm. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., our lawyers include some of the most well-recognized and well-respected financial services regulatory, enforcement, and litigation attorneys in the country. We offer high-quality and cost-efficient legal services through practical advice and innovative approaches to billing, while deploying cutting-edge legal and regulatory technology solutions in support of our clients’ needs. Show less



Luther Burbank Savings

• United States
• Financial Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

  • Jun 2014 - May 2022

  Liana served as a key member of the executive leadership team of Luther Burbank Corporation and Luther Burbank Savings, a publicly-traded community bank with a focus in commercial and residential real estate lending. There she led the legal, compliance, fair and responsible banking, BSA, third party risk, and human resources departments. During her tenure, she oversaw all legal aspects of Luther Burbank’s IPO; conceived, designed, and launched one of the first compliant cannabis banking programs at an FDIC-insured institution; chaired the bank’s ESG Council; and led the bank through compliance with a U.S. Department of Justice fair lending settlement to an “Outstanding” CRA rating. Show less



Buckley LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Counsel

  • Nov 2009 - May 2014

  Liana was counsel in the New York office of BuckleySandler LLP. Liana joined the Washington, DC office of the firm as an associate in 2009 shortly after its formation. Liana represented financial services industry clients in a wide range of litigation matters, including government enforcement actions and matters before federal courts. Liana also counseled clients regarding investigations by federal banking regulators and achieving compliance with outstanding regulatory orders. Liana’s representations include the following: - A number of community banks in redlining examinations and enforcement actions by the DOJ, HUD, the OCC, and the FDIC. - A number of large bank indirect auto lenders in preparation for, and during the course of, CFPB fair lending examinations. - A major bank mortgage lender in connection with a DOJ investigation into alleged fair lending violations. (United States v. SunTrust Mortgage, Inc.3:13-00397 (E.D. Va.)) - A state-chartered bank in a successful challenge to a FDIC temporary cease and desist order and the related administrative proceeding. (Advanta Bank v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., 684 F. Supp. 2d 17 (D.D.C. 2010)) - A large-scale data review and analysis project for a non-bank mortgage servicer in connection with a CFPB examination. - Fair lending reviews of two credit card lenders in anticipation of CFPB examinations. - A federal savings bank in a challenge to the OTS’s appointment of a receiver. (United Western Bank v. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency et al.) - A community bank in connection with a DOJ investigation into alleged fair lending violations. (United States v. Luther Burbank Savings, 2:12-07809 (C.D. Cal.)) - A large bank in an investigation by a federal bank regulator into alleged UDAAP violations. - Directors of failed institutions, both pre- and post-failure, in defense of potential FDIC professional liability suits. Show less



Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

• United States
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee

• Trial Attorney

  • Oct 2006 - Nov 2009

  Liana was a Trial Attorney in the Enforcement and Compliance Division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, where she conducted investigations of national banks and bank insiders and litigated administrative actions involving mortgage fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering, among other financial law matters. Her experience includes being the sole staff attorney assigned to a long-term investigation of one of the largest national banks. The investigation uncovered unsafe or unsound practices and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and resulted in over $150 million in consumer restitution and a substantial civil fine. Liana was also involved in a number of other investigations involving potential violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Show less



Office of the New York State Attorney General

• United States
• Law Enforcement
• 700 & Above Employee

• Law Clerk

  • 2006 - 2006

  Interned in the State Counsel Litigation Bureau, defending claims against the state by prisoners alleging violations of their constitutional rights. Interned in the State Counsel Litigation Bureau, defending claims against the state by prisoners alleging violations of their constitutional rights.



U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Intern

  • 2005 - 2005

  Interned in the International Narcotics Trafficking Unit. In addition to performing legal research and writing, served as translator for wire taps in connection with high-profile international drug smuggling investigation. Interned in the International Narcotics Trafficking Unit. In addition to performing legal research and writing, served as translator for wire taps in connection with high-profile international drug smuggling investigation.



Kings County District Attorney's Office

• Legal Intern

  • 2004 - 2005

  Interned in the Rackets Division, with a focus on long-term political corruption and drug dealing investigations and prosecutions. Interned in the Rackets Division, with a focus on long-term political corruption and drug dealing investigations and prosecutions.


Musolino & Dessel
• Paralegal

  • 2001 - 2003