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Laurence E. Platt

Practice Area Leader — Financial Services
Washington DC
+1.202.778.9034
Fax +1.202.778.9100

Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • J.D., George Washington University Law School, 1982, (with honors)
  • B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1976, (with honors)

Admissions

  • Bar of District of Columbia
  • Biography Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work

Mr. Platt is a Practice Area Leader of K&L Gates' Financial Services practice and serves on the firm's Management Committee. 

Mr. Platt has a national practice, concentrating in a range of matters related to real estate finance, mortgage banking and consumer finance in both the primary and secondary markets.  This includes:

  • Drafting and negotiating agreements concerning (i) mergers and acquisitions of companies in both asset and stock transactions, (ii) loan broker, loan correspondent and whole loan purchase agreements, (iii) servicing rights purchase and sale agreements, and (iv) servicing and sub-servicing agreements.
  • Counseling clients on federal and state consumer credit laws.
  • Defending companies in connection with federal and state governmental audits, investigations and enforcement proceedings.
  • Assisting in litigation involving consumer class action lawsuits and commercial claims.
  • Advising clients on public policy issues related to housing finance issues.

Professional Background

The 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Chambers USA ranked Mr. Platt as a top lawyer (Band 1) practicing Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Financial Services Regulation.  Mr. Platt was listed in the 2012 Best Lawyers in America in the area of banking and finance law. In 2006, Mr. Platt received an inaugural Mortgage Excellence Award from Home Equity News in recognition of his service and contributions to mortgage lenders and the mortgage lending industry.  In September 2002, Lending Intelligence magazine named Mr. Platt as one of Washington's ten most influential people on lending issues.  He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc.  From 1989 to 1997, he was on the Board of Directors for Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt owner and developer of affordable housing in Montgomery County, MD.  He helped found and for over 15 years was a pro bono lawyer for The Unitarian Universalists Affordable Housing Corporation.  From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Platt was a board member and Counsel to the Board of Trustees at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland.

Speaking Engagements

Governmental Testimony

  • Laurence Platt provided oral testimony on behalf of the Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) to the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance on February 16, 2011 at a hearing on “Financial Guaranty Insurance and Representations and Warranties is Securitized Debt Transactions.” 
  • Laurence Platt provided testimony on March 11, 2009 on Capitol Hill to the House Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit hearing entitled “Mortgage Lending Reform: A Comprehensive Review of the American Mortgage System.”
  • “Evaluating the Governor's Program Bill to Address Mortgage Foreclosures and Subprime Lending Practices in New York State,” presented to the New York State Senate Banks Committee, by Laurence E. Platt, May 12, 2008.
  • “Accelerating Loan Modifications, Improving Foreclosure Prevention and Enhancing Enforcement,” presented on Capitol Hill to the House Committee on Financial Services, by Laurence E. Platt, December 6, 2007.
  • MetLife Bank: Purchase of mortgage origination and mortgage servicing platforms of First Tennessee Bank, along with subservicing agreement.
  • LaSalle Bank: Sale of capital stock of ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc., including $240 billon in mortgage servicing rights.
  • Washington Mutual Bank: Sale of $140 billion in mortgage servicing rights to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
  • Barclays Bank PLC: Purchase of mortgage servicing business of HomEq Servicing Corporation, including $40 billion in servicing rights.
  • TD Banknorth, N.A.: Negotiation of "private label," origination outsource arrangement with PHH Mortgage Corporation.
  • KB Home: Sale of substantially all of the assets of mortgage company subsidiary to Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., along with execution of long term joint venture for future origination of mortgage loans.
  • GMAC Mortgage Corporation: Purchase of substantially all of the assets of a wholesale mortgage lender, Pacific Republic Mortgage Corporation.
  • The Principal Financial Group, Inc.: Sale of capital stock of Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.
  • Merrill Lynch Mortgage Capital: Purchase of capital stock of loan servicer,  Wilshire Credit Corporation.
  • Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Corporation: Purchase of servicing platform of GE Capital Mortgage Services, Inc., with a separate subserving platform, and purchase of approximately $35 billion in servicing rights from First Union Mortgage Corporation.
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