Allison Schoenthal

Allison Schoenthal is a partner in the firm’s Financial Industry group, Co-Chair of the Banking and Consumer Financial Services practice and Head of the Consumer Financial Services Litigation practice in New York. With over 20 years of experience, Allison leads a national team representing banks, lenders, loan servicers, government-sponsored enterprises, private equity firms, and other financial institutions in litigation, government investigations, and enforcement actions involving all types of consumer loans. 

Widely recognized as a leader in her field, Allison has been ranked nationwide by Chambers USA in Consumer Finance Litigation (2017–2025), where clients have described her as “pragmatic in problem-solving litigation” and possessing “a wealth of knowledge in the consumer finance space.” She has also been honored by The Legal 500 US as “one of the best litigators and thought leaders” in consumer finance and “on the regulatory regime where she is the absolute best,” and named a Benchmark Litigation “Litigation Star” (2024-2025), a Law360 MVP for Banking (2018), and one of Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Law (2022). She has been recognized annually by Super Lawyers as a top New York attorney, and was elected a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers in 2022, reflecting her contributions to the practice, leadership, and scholarship in consumer finance law. 

Allison brings deep experience navigating complex regulatory frameworks, managing high-stakes disputes, and providing strategic counsel. She has successfully defended clients in more than 1,000 individual or class actions involving claims under RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, TCPA, HOEPA, FCA, DPA, and UDAP statutes.  She has also defended clients against enforcement actions by state and federal regulators including the CFPB, HUD, OCC, NYDFS, and State Attorneys General’s offices, among others.

Allison’s representative experience includes:

• Represented national banks in numerous putative class actions involving overdraft, NSF, ACH, wire, and/or convenience fees
• Successfully compelled arbitration and obtained dismissal of class claims in a putative action asserting breach of contract and unfair competition claims
• Defended a national mortgage lender in class action challenging the implementation of COVID-19 forbearance plans under various state laws
• Secured dismissal of a putative class action against a national bank alleging violations of RICO
• Defended a nationwide mortgage lender and servicer in a consumer class action arising from a cybersecurity breach
• Represent lenders and servicers in class actions related to the calculation of pre-judgment interest in New York foreclosure proceedings
• Granted summary judgment dismissing class action complaint related to property inspection fees 
• Successfully defended numerous actions brought under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and related state consumer protection laws
• Defended a loan servicer in parallel CFPB and state regulatory investigations focused on loss mitigation practices
• Successfully resolved multiple HUD investigations into discrimination complaints 
• Secured key rulings in favor of mortgage lenders and servicers in New York state and federal foreclosure litigation
• Affirmed in Second Circuit dismissal of FDCPA class action involving debt validation notices*
• Achieved precedent-setting wins in automatic renewal and late-fee class actions*
• Obtained dismissal of a qui tam complaint against loan servicer asserting violations of the retaliation provisions of the False Claims Act and Dodd Frank Act*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Allison was most recently a partner at Hogan Lovells in New York, where she built and led the firm’s Consumer Financial Litigation practice.

Allison serves on the Governing Committee of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law (CCFL) and is an active member of the New York City Bar Association, where she was appointed to the New York Foreclosure Task Force. She previously served on the E-Discovery Working Group and the Committee on Professional Ethics at the NYC Bar Association, the Law360 Banking Editorial Advisory Board, and the boards of non-profits CASA-NYC and AJC New York.

For nine consecutive years, Allison has been Chambers USA-ranked nationwide for Consumer Finance Litigation. Chambers USA notes that Allison is “very talented and highly competent,” “pragmatic in problem-solving litigation,” and “prides herself on providing the absolute best client service. That means understanding the client’s business to determine the best outcome for the client both legally and business-wise." In 2023-2025, Allison was selected as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 US. She has also been recognized as one of Crain’s Notable Women in Law and by Law360 as an MVP for Banking. Allison was also selected to the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers. Allison has also been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as Litigation Star – Commercial in 2024 and 2025.

Allison is a sought-after speaker and commentator on regulatory trends, litigation developments, and consumer finance enforcement. She has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, Law360, and the New York Law Journal, and is a regular contributor to legal publications and industry conferences.

Allison’s recent publications and speaking engagements include,

• Co-Author, “The Evolving Landscape of AI Regulation in Financial Services,” JDSupra, June 16, 2025
• Speaker, “Decoding the Rise of Deregulation in the U.S.” Vixio Regulatory Intelligence, June 11, 2025
• Speaker, “Key State Cases and Trends,” MBA Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance Conference, May 16, 2025
• Quoted, “Trump’s First 100 Days Sow Regulation Uncertainty for Companies,” Bloomberg Law, April 30, 2025
• Speaker, “Major Litigation Trends” MBA Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance conference, May 6, 2024
• Co-Author, “JAMS Release Mass Arbitration Procedures Following AAA’s Lead,” Goodwin Client Alert, June 10, 2024
• Speaker, “Cocktails & CLE in Charlotte, NC," January 25, 2024
• Co-Author, “Proactive Measures While NY Foreclosure Law is in Limbo,” Law360, October 19, 2023
• Speaker, “Major Litigation – What Compliance Professionals Need to Know,” Compliance and Risk Management Conference, Sept 11, 2023
• Co-Author, “Expect CFPB Scrutiny on AI in Lending,” Law360, July 17, 2023
• Quoted, “CFPB's 'Disturbing' Data Breach Sparks Ire, Credibility Doubts,” Law360, April 26, 2023
• Quoted, “CFPB ‘Repeat Offender’ Registry Sparks Concerns of Overreach,” Bloomberg Law, December 21, 2022
• Co-Author, “State Enforcement in Mortgage Lending,” The Review of Banking & Financial Services, October 24, 2022
• Quoted, “What Buy Now/Pay Later Fintechs Can Expect Next From the CFPB,” American Banker, October 3, 2022
• Speaker, “UDAAPs: What Are They and How can you spot them?” August 1, 2022
• Speaker, “State Law and Enforcement Trends,” MBA Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance Conference, May 24, 2022
• Quoted, “Chopra Is Going After Fintechs Now,” Payments Compliance, April 27, 2022
• Quoted, “Dormant’ Dodd-Frank Powers Eyed to Boost Fintech Oversight,” Bloomberg Law, April 25, 2022
• Quoted, “California Watchdog Takes Spotlight in Mortgage Scam Settlement,” Bloomberg News, January 19, 2022
• Quoted, “Rohit Chopra-led CFPB cracking down early on data, automation,” Compliance Week, October 28, 2021
• Speaker, “Consumer Financial Services Enforcement Outlook Webinar,” Goodwin Webinar, October 28, 2021
• Quoted, “Chopra to Tackle Stacked CFPB Agenda After Winning Confirmation,” Bloomberg Law, September 30, 2021 
• Co-Author, “Supreme Court Partially Blocks New York’s Eviction Moratorium; Block of Federal Eviction Moratorium Likely to Follow,” JDSupra, August 17, 2001
• Speaker, “Insights into today’s CFPB” Conference on Consumer Finance Law, August 12, 2021
• Quoted, “Warren’s Brainchild CFPB Finds Footing After Decade of Pushback,” Bloomberg Law, July 21, 2021 
• Co-Author, “CFPB's New Foreclosure Limits Will Be Tough On Servicers,” Law360, July 1, 2021 
• Quoted, “With a Reinvigorated CFPB, What’s Next for the NYDFS?” HousingWire, June 18, 2021 
• Co-Author, “COVID Eviction Bans May not Continue to Survive in Court,” Law360, April 30, 2021
• Quoted, “Financial Watchdog Hit with Deluge of Covid-Related Complaints,” Bloomberg Law, April 12, 2021
• Quoted, “NY High Court Resolves Foreclosure Timeliness Issues,” Law360, February 22, 2021
• Quoted, "Progressives Fret Over Biden’s Pick to Oversee National Banks," Bloomberg Law, February 5, 2021
• Quoted, “COVID-19 Response to Drive Biden’s CFPB in Early Days,” Bloomberg Law, November 12, 2020
• Quoted, “CFPB Enforcement Sees Highest New Case Volume In 5 Years,” Law360, October 14, 2020
• Co-Author, “How Tolling Orders May Complicate NY Mortgage Collections,” Law360, July 22, 2020
• Co-Author, “COVID-19 Relief Efforts Heighten Fair Credit Reporting Risks,” Law360, July 2, 2020
• Quoted, “States Try to Help Borrowers Left Out of Federal Forbearance Plans,” American Banker, June 4, 2020
• Co-Author, “Coronavirus Crisis Will Spark Consumer Protection Enforcement Actions,” Bloomberg Law, May 7, 2020
• Co-Author, “Financial Cos. Face CARES Act Litigation, Enforcement Risks,” Law360, May 7, 2020
• Quoted, “Attorneys Predict Rent Cancellation Defense, Challenges,” Law360, March 31, 2020
• Author, “Past Crises Model Virus Response For Mortgage Industry,” Law360, March 26, 2020
• Quoted, “Agencies Move To Halt Foreclosures, Evictions Amid Outbreak,” Law360, March 18, 2020
• Quoted, “Banks Raise Hackles as CFPB Enforcement Ramps Up,” Bloomberg Law, March 13, 2020
• Quoted, “CFPB Unveils Whistleblower Award Plans, Guidance Program,” Law360, March 6, 2020
• Co-Author, “Consumer Finance Poised For Greater Scrutiny From States,” Law360, February 18, 2020
• Quoted, “CFPB's 'Abusiveness' Policy Seen As Missed Opportunity,” Law360, January 28, 2020
• Quoted, “CFPB Limits Its Own Powers Against Abusive Conduct in New Policy,” Bloomberg Law, January 24, 2020
• Quoted, “In Rebuke of CFPB, States Look to Get Tough On Debt Collectors,” American Banker, January 15, 2020