International law firm McDermott Will & Schulte announced that Teresa Kosmidis has joined as a partner in its Transactions Practice Group, based in Washington, DC. Having most recently served as Senior Counsel at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Teresa brings extensive experience in consumer financial services regulation, compliance, enforcement, and litigation.

“Teresa’s combination of CFPB and FTC experience is extraordinarily powerful for our clients,” said Harris Siskind, Global Head of McDermott’s Transactions Practice Group. “She understands how regulators think, how they sequence decisions, and how enforcement and supervision interact behind the scenes. Her ability to translate that insight into practical, actionable guidance will be invaluable for companies navigating increasingly complex regulatory and enforcement landscapes.”

Teresa counsels financial institutions, payments companies, fintechs, and other consumer-facing enterprises on complex federal and state regulatory matters and high stakes interactions with government agencies. She brings end-to-end regulatory experience shaped by significant roles at both the CFPB and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where she worked across rulemaking, supervision, enforcement, and litigation.

At the CFPB’s Offices of Regulations, Enforcement, and Supervision, Teresa helped formulate and draft federal consumer financial regulations, advised senior leadership on regulatory strategy, and served as a subject matter expert on key statutes and rules, including the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act of 1978 and Regulation E, and the Truth in Lending Act of 1968 and Regulation Z. Prior to her role at the CFPB, Teresa served as an attorney in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, where she represented the agency in federal court litigation and investigations involving nonbank financial institutions.

“I’m thrilled to join McDermott, whose strength in financial services and robust global platform make it an ideal place for my practice,” Teresa said. “Financial services firms are operating in one of the most dynamic regulatory environments we’ve seen in years. I look forward to collaborating with a team of market-leading lawyers advising innovative, fast-growing clients in payments, fintech, and financial services.”

Teresa’s arrival follows that of Leel Sinai to the firm’s Bank Regulatory platform in New York earlier in 2026. McDermott’s Bank Regulatory Group helps clients create value at the complex intersection of financial services and private capital; this includes assisting financial institutions in establishing or investing in private funds, as well as helping private funds with their investments in financial institutions. The group’s interdisciplinary approach brings together the experience of former banking regulators, M&A dealmakers, investment management lawyers, and other practitioners to help clients achieve business objectives.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.