Josh Burlingham

Josh Burlingham is an associate in Goodwin’s Financial Services practice and co-editor of the firm’s Financial Services Weekly Roundup, specializing in Fintech and Consumer Financial Services to counsel incumbent and emerging banks, non-depository financial institutions, and fintech clients on consumer financial laws, compliance, and transactional matters.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Josh was an integral part of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he played a pivotal role in the Office of Supervision, Enforcement & Fair Lending (SEFL).  He led examinations at some of the nation’s largest banks and financial institutions, ensuring their adherence to federal consumer financial laws, including the Truth in Savings Act (TISA); Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA); Truth in Lending Act (TILA); Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA); Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA); Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA); Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA); and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) regarding unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP).  Josh also assessed institutions’ compliance management systems, consisting of board and management oversight, policies and procedures, training, monitoring and audit, consumer complaint response, and service provider oversight, providing supervisory recommendations and prescribing required corrective action.

Currently, Josh specializes in helping clients who are or may become subject to federal consumer financial laws to navigate these laws and related supervisory processes.  He works closely with clients to develop and implement tailored compliance management systems and risk mitigation strategies and to prepare for and manage examinations.  Josh also offers guidance on UDAAP risk in product development and advertising, as well as state compliance requirements, licensing, and interactions with state authorities concerning consumer financial products and services, including lending, loan brokering, and loan collection and servicing.

Additionally, Josh negotiates and advises on bank partnerships, third-party service provider agreements, and consumer financial regulatory risk in M&A transactions, ensuring that clients are well-informed and protected.

Josh received a Client Advocacy Award in 2016 for his work on behalf of clients applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and more recently received two awards at the CFPB in recognition of exceptional performance or service.

• Author, “Consumer Finance Cos. Must Seriously Consider Complaints,” Law 360, October 2023