Joseph & Cohen Nabs DFI’s Ken Sayre-Peterson

Feb. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA -  Joseph & Cohen, Professional Corporation, announced today it has expanded the depth and scope of its bank regulatory, financial services and legislative practice with the addition of Kenneth Sayre-Peterson as Of Counsel.  Sayre-Peterson elected to join Joseph & Cohen following his retirement from the California Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), where he served in various legal capacities during a lengthy career, most recently having acted as the DFI’s General Counsel.

Kenneth Sayre-Peterson acted as the General Counsel for the California Department of Financial Institutions from June 2007 until his retirement in November 2011.  His final position with the DFI was the culmination of 22 years of service that began in 1988.  Prior to joining the legal staff of the California DFI, Mr. Sayre-Peterson practiced tax law for four years as a staff counsel with the California State Board of Equalization. Before entering state service, he spent two years in private practice, specializing in appellate work and lobbying.

“We are extremely pleased that Ken Sayre-Peterson is teaming up with Joseph & Cohen. Ken is one of the preeminent financial institutions lawyers in California.  His many years of bank and credit union regulatory expertise and financial services legislative skills  coupled with the firm’s well regarded financial services practice, deepens and expands Joseph & Cohen’s ability to offer complete legal solutions to banks, thrifts, money transmitters and other financial institutions,” said Jonathan D. Joseph, Joseph & Cohen’s Managing Partner.

Joseph added “Ken’s insider perspective from more than two decades with the California Department of Financial Institutions allows the firm to provide an unprecedented level of legal services  to money center, regional and community banks in connection with their most complex acquisitions, transactional and regulatory imperatives while also lending unparalleled strength to our existing team that advises troubled banks and defends officers and directors of failed banks in all types of enforcement proceedings.”

Ken Sayre-Peterson stated “I’ve known Jonathan Joseph since my early days with the CA DFI. From my vantage point in the Department I’ve admired the quality, integrity and tenacity of his lawyering in matters before the DFI.  Consequently, I am delighted to step back into private practice with Joseph & Cohen and believe that we will achieve significant synergies through our respective talents.”

Throughout his career at the California Department of Financial Institutions, Mr. Sayre-Peterson practiced general financial institutions law which resulted in an intimate knowledge of the banking, credit union, money transmitters, securities, and trust laws of California, as well as the pertinent and corresponding federal laws.  Additionally, Mr. Sayre-Peterson was the attorney responsible for assisting the DFI’s Legislative Section.  In that position, Ken spearheaded the recent revision and restatement of California’s Banking Law as newly codified in the California Financial Code, and drafted all legislation necessary to complete that four year project. While serving as the DFI’s General Counsel, Ken also played a major role in the policy making process, influencing both the direction and scope of the DFI’s examination and enforcement program.

Ken Sayre Peterson became a member of the State Bar of California in1983 after graduating from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, with distinction.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1977.

Joseph & Cohen, Professional Corporation, is an AV® rated law firm headquartered in San Francisco, California.  The firm emphasizes complex banking, corporate, regulatory, securities, employment, litigation and transactional matters for financial institutions, small businesses, investors and venture capital firms.  Joseph & Cohen is known for sophisticated expertise, extraordinary commitment to clients, relationship-based services, and a range of specialized capabilities typically found only in the largest American law firms. The Firm's core areas include advice related to banking and financial services law; directors and executives; regulatory and legislative matters; mergers & acquisitions; securities offerings; SEC disclosure matters; employment litigation; D & O insurance coverage; money transmitters; bank operations; and regulatory agency enforcement proceedings.
 
For additional information, visit the firm’s website at http://www.josephandcohen.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/josephandcohen.
 
Contact:

Jonathan D. Joseph:   jon@josephandcohen.com or 415.817.9200,  ext. 9.
Kenneth Sayre-Peterson:   ken@josephandcohen.com or 916.204.2053.