Scott E. Wortman

Biography

Scott E. Wortman focuses his practice on financial services litigation, including individual and class action defense, regulatory proceedings, and administrative investigations. Additionally, he regularly works with financial institutions and their boards to provide guidance on compliance and corporate government issues. Scott has worked extensively with clients to design and implement compliance programs, and to monitor and to improve corporate and regulatory compliance procedures. Scott is also a member of the firm’s Blockchain Technology & Digital Currencies group, and serves as a strategic and regulatory adviser to FinTech companies and other innovative and nontraditional financial services and technology firms.

Scott has successfully litigated and resolved matters involving claims brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”), Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), related consumer torts, associated state consumer protection laws, and enforcement actions, with particular proficiency in disputes involving current and emerging technologies.

Scott is a frequent speaker on topics of interest to the financial services industry.

Experience

  • Served as lead counsel in successfully representing a number of large creditors in a federal class action lawsuit seeking to invalidate the creditors’ assignments and related state court judgments.
  • Advised non-bank lenders and their service providers on properly designing and launching online lending platforms and businesses operating on a national basis.
  • Obtained dismissals in a series of nationwide putative class actions, alleging violations of the TCPA and FDCPA against purchasers of distressed receivables.
  • Successfully defended creditor against various consumer protection claims, and prosecuted claims against the plaintiff’s attorneys for filings that were eventually forwarded to the Committee on Grievances for the Eastern District of New York.
  • Advised the board of directors and general counsel of a major telecommunications and software company in drafting and implementing privacy and consumer security policies, and complying with federal and state requirements.

News & Views

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Recognitions

  • 2018, New York Metro “Rising Star” in Consumer Law, listed in Super Lawyers
  • AV Preeminent®, listed by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • New York Area’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2015, listed in New York Magazine

Affiliations

Memberships

  • New York State Bar Association
  • ACA International, Attorney Division
Professional Activities

Scott is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, serving as Chair of the Banking Law Committee and on the Executive Committee for the Business Law Section. In addition, he serves as Vice Chairperson on the board of directors for the Center for Behavioral Health Services. Scott previously served as chairperson for RMA International’s (f.k.a. DBA International) New York State Legislative Committee (August 2011–December 2015).

Credentials

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court - Western District of New York
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin

Education

  • New York Law School, JD
  • CUNY Queens College, BA