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Mercedes Kelley Tunstall
Partner Corporate & Finance
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
When companies are navigating financial services, emerging technology, and data‑driven innovation and need a lawyer who sees the full regulatory landscape — they turn to Mercedes Kelley Tunstall.
Mercedes combines decades of regulatory experience, hands‑on banking knowledge, and sophisticated technology insight to guide clients through the evolving landscape of financial services and emerging tech. She is known for connecting the dots across consumer finance, payments, digital assets, AI, privacy, and cybersecurity, helping clients design and deploy innovative products and operational solutions while meeting applicable regulatory expectations.
Financial institutions face a regulatory environment that demands deep regulatory expertise. At the same time, technology is continuously shifting financial markets, creating new opportunities and regulatory challenges. Mercedes sits at the intersection of these forces. She advises clients on compliance and enforcement with federal banking regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state attorneys general and represents companies in high‑stakes investigations and enforcement actions involving these regulators. Drawing on her experience as a former FTC lawyer and as bank in‑house counsel, Mercedes brings a uniquely practical perspective to client matters, utilizing her ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable, business‑aligned strategies that allow clients to innovate confidently in rapidly evolving markets.
Her work spans the full range of financial products — including mortgages, deposits, credit cards, prepaid cards, auto finance and personal loans — as well as emerging products such as stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and AI‑driven financial tools.
Mercedes is consistently recognized by The Legal 500, IFLR1000, and Citywealth for leadership in consumer financial services, fintech, and digital assets. She is also a frequent writer and speaker on financial innovation, AI governance, and regulatory trends.
Recognition
- The Legal 500 US – Consumer Financial Services Regulation Mentioned in 2025 for both FS Regulation – Banking and FS Regulation – Consumer Finance
- Lawdragon – 500 Leading Dealmakers in America – Financial Regulation (2025, 2026)
- IFLR1000 – Leading Practitioner, Financial Services and Regulatory (2023) 2025 - Women Leaders, 2024 – Highly Regarded, 2023 – Notable Practitioner
- Citywealth – Top 20 Crypto Power Women (2022)
- Citywealth – Top 50 Fintech/AI Lawyer (2024)
- JD Supra – Readers’ Choice Award, Top Author (2024)
Representative experience
Advise clients on bank-fintech partnership concerns, including negotiating program agreements and addressing true lender concerns.
Advise clients on payments laws, including EFTA/Reg. E, card network rules, and the UCC, covering debit and prepaid cards, ACH, wire transfers, person-to-person and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL).
Advise clients on web accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act and WCAG.
Advise financial institutions on deposit networks, bank deposit agreements, FDIC insurance and the Truth In Savings Act/Regulation DD.
Advise mortgage originators and servicers on compliance with RESPA/Regulation X, HMDA/Regulation C, and the Fair Housing Act.
Advise on the regulatory landscape for digital assets, including the GENIUS Act, stablecoins, Real World Asset Tokens (RWA), crypto wallets and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT).
Counsel clients on auto loans, retail installment contracts and sales agreements, the Consumer Leasing Act/Regulation M, and state licensing for motor vehicle financing.
Counsel clients on product innovation, including online and mobile banking, and tokenized deposits.
Counsel organizations on privacy and data protection obligations under Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLBA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and PCI-DSS.
Negotiate branded credit card program agreements, as well as credit and prepaid card program agreements.
Provide guidance on state money transmission licensing to fintechs, cryptocurrency exchanges and prepaid card program managers.
Provide regulatory guidance on first and second mortgages, HELOCs, reverse mortgages, and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).
Represent businesses in Federal Trade Commission consumer protection investigations involving UDAP and FTC regulations, such as the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
Represent clients in CFPB investigations and enforcement actions involving unfair, deceptive or abusive practices, as well as regulation violations, especially the Truth In Lending Act/Reg. Z.
Work with clients on advertising law compliance matters and represent clients in National Advertising Division (NAD) disputes.
Work with structured finance and capital markets teams to assess risks on small business loans and consumer receivables, including credit cards, solar loans, home improvement, and personal loans.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School
- B.M., DePauw University
Bar admissions and qualifications
- Illinois
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia