Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Robert S. Niemi has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor for Financial Services, working from the firm’s offices in Charlotte and Washington, D.C.

“We are pleased to welcome Bob to the firm, working from Charlotte and in Washington, D.C., on behalf of our clients throughout all of Bradley’s offices,” said Bradley Charlotte Office Managing Partner Dana C. Lumsden. “Bob’s extensive lending career and experience as a regulatory leader offers a great resource to our clients in helping them to understand and navigate changing mortgage regulations, as well as develop, modify and manage their business and compliance practices.”

Haydn Richards, a partner in Bradley’s Washington, D.C., office, said, “Whether in his previous role as Deputy Superintendent or in his positions in the mortgage industry, Bob is a proven leader that will provide significant value to our financial services clients. We are privileged to have him join the Bradley team.”

A mortgage leader and industry advocate for more than 25 years, Mr. Niemi has extensive experience in all facets of the lending industry. Prior to his current role as a regulatory compliance advisor, he served as the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) Ombudsman, providing industry users of NMLS and other interested parties with a neutral venue to discuss issues or concerns regarding NMLS use and policies. As deputy superintendent for the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Financial Institutions, Mr. Niemi previously served as Ohio’s chief lending regulator.

Mr. Niemi, who is not an attorney, most recently was a financial services regulatory and compliance senior advisor at Baker & Hostetler LLP in Columbus, Ohio. He has served in numerous leadership roles, including executive director, with the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association and is a past board president for the Columbus Mortgage Bankers Association.

In addition, Mr. Niemi is a frequent speaker for trade and regulator associations and events including state and local Mortgage Banker Association (MBA) chapters, national MBA events, the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, NMLS Annual Conference, North American Collection Agency Regulatory Association, Money Transmitter Regulators Association and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. He often presents on the coordinated regulatory activities of state and federal government.

A Certified Mortgage Banker through the MBA, Mr. Niemi received his Bachelor of Business from Western Illinois University.

About Bradley

Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s over 500 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including financial services, healthcare, life sciences, real estate, construction, technology, energy, insurance, and entertainment, among many others.