Paul Hastings Bolsters Government Relations Capabilities with Hire of K-Street and Congressional Banking Committee Veteran

April 03, 2017

Washington, D.C. – Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, bolsters its government relations and financial regulatory experience with the announcement today that Dina Ellis Rochkind, an experienced lobbyist and Capitol Hill veteran, has joined the firm as of counsel in the Fintech and Payments practice, based in Washington, D.C. She joins Paul Hastings from the office of Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), where she served as Washington Director. Prior to setting the legislative agenda and political strategy for Rep. Coffman, she served as Vice President of Federal Government Affairs for Quicken Loans and Director of Government Affairs for Chrysler Group.
“Dina is unmatched in her ability to draft and navigate complex financial legislation, and she brings with her a level of technical expertise that will be a tremendous resource for our fintech and financial services clients,” said Chris Daniel, Chair of the firm’s Fintech and Payments practice. “Government relations continues to be an important, if not critical, area for our clients, many of whom are transforming their business models to adapt to evolving statutory and regulatory obligations and the technological revolution currently remaking financial services. Adding Dina to our team will allow our group to continue to provide thought leadership on the most critical issues facing our fintech and financial services clients,” he added.

Ellis Rochkind brings extensive government relations experience, with senior policy roles on the staff of Senator Pat Toomey, including Majority Counsel to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs and Senior Financial Institutions Counsel to the House Committee on Financial Services. As Staff Director for the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, she was the lead Senate staffer on the JOBS Act, and conducted oversight of Dodd-Frank implementation regarding Systemically Important Financial Institutions, the Volcker rule, and derivatives legislation. She also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs & Community Policy at the Treasury Department under President George W. Bush

While with Chrysler, she successfully lobbied for the inclusion of auto finance companies and auto loans in H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, ensuring that Chrysler received TARP monies rather than face liquidation during the financial crisis.
“I’ve spent my career working on both sides of government policy – both as a legislative staffer on Capitol Hill and at Treasury and in the private sector,” said Ellis Rochkind. “I’m looking forward to putting that experience to good use at Paul Hastings to help grow the firm’s government relations practice with a strong group of lawyers whom I have long admired,” she added.

The Fintech and Payments practice at Paul Hastings is a transactional and regulatory practice. We represent clients before every U.S. federal banking agency and state banking department as well as with the principal financial regulators in major markets around the world in matters involving licensing, changes of control, regulatory initiatives, statutory and regulatory implementation, internal investigations and enforcement actions. The practice is at the forefront of the rapidly evolving world of fintech and payments systems, and also regularly provides counsel on the legal implications of innovations such as virtual currency and mobile wallets, global payments system product development, consumer compliance, and strategic transactions, investments, and acquisitions in the fintech and payments space.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.