Hinshaw Adds Experienced Financial Services Partners Joseph Sanders and Leslie Meredith in Chicago and D.C.

Joe and Leslie bring significant experience in government enforcement and regulatory compliance.

September 16, 2025

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP today announced that the firm has continued the strategic expansion of its nationally recognized Consumer Financial Services Practice Group with the addition of partners Leslie Meredith in Washington, D.C., and Joseph (Joe) Sanders in Chicago. Leslie and Joe bring complementary practices that will boost the firm’s already deep and powerful bench of financial services attorneys nationwide.

Joe previously served as Senior Litigation Counsel at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Leslie joins Hinshaw from Orrick, Herrington, Sutcliffe LLP. The pair closely followed the arrival of J. Logan Rappaport, who joined the group in August in the New York office.

“Leslie and Joe add depth to our financial services team in key geographic markets,” said Brian McGrath, co-leader of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. “The federal and state regulatory landscape is currently experiencing historically significant shifts, and our clients will benefit from the perspective that Joe and Leslie bring to managing the resulting uncertainty and compliance risks. We are thrilled that they have both joined the firm.”

Joe has a long history of handling a wide range of consumer protection issues in his roles at state and federal regulatory agencies. Prior to joining the CFPB, he was a supervising attorney in the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, enforcing Illinois’ Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAAP) statute and collaborating with other state attorneys general on national multistate investigations. Joe also has a deep knowledge of higher education, serving as Illinois’ first Student Loan Ombudsman and as General Counsel for the Illinois Board of Higher Education, where he oversaw the authorization of colleges and universities in Illinois. He decided to join Hinshaw because of the firm’s reputation as a leading legal financial services provider and his long-time working relationship with Hinshaw partners Vaishali Rao and Akeela White.

“I worked with Vaishali and Akeela in the Illinois Attorney General’s office and have a high regard for what Hinshaw has done in the financial services sector,” Joe said. “The firm offers me a great place to build out my private law practice. I’m really excited to join this stellar team, help continue the growth of the practice, and leverage my inside knowledge of government enforcement and regulatory compliance on behalf of firm clients.”

He received a B.A. in economics and international relations from Tulane University and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Leslie has represented clients across the consumer financial services industry for more than a decade, providing advice on a wide range of regulatory compliance matters and defending government enforcement actions by state and federal regulators. She has represented clients in high-profile investigations involving the federal banking regulators, CFPB, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, state regulators, and attorneys general. She also has extensive experience guiding clients through civil litigation, supervisory examinations, and internal investigations. The firm’s strategic vision for expanding its financial services practice and national platform was among the many reasons Leslie decided to join Hinshaw.

“Hinshaw has a clear vision for providing value and top-level service to meet clients’ needs,” she said. “The firm’s strong commitment to growing its financial services practice and the depth of experience on the team make this the right fit for my practice. I am thrilled to join such a talented and collaborative team and expand our footprint in D.C.!”

Prior to joining Orrick, Leslie practiced at Buckley LLP (formerly Buckley Sandler). She received a B.A. in history from Washington College and a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law.

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Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a U.S.-based law firm with offices nationwide. The firm's national reputation spans the insurance industry, the financial services sector, professional services, and other highly regulated industries. Hinshaw provides holistic legal solutions—from litigation and dispute resolution, and business advisory and transactional services, to regulatory compliance—for clients of all sizes. Visit www.hinshawlaw.com for more information and follow @Hinshaw on LinkedIn and X.