In the Media

Ex-BMW Financial Atty Joins McGlinchey’s Compliance Team

June 23, 2021

The following article was published on Law360 on June 23, 2021, and is reprinted with permission.

McGlinchey Stafford PLLC has added as an Ohio-based member a former BMW in-house attorney who spent the last five years with the auto manufacturer’s financial services unit, the firm announced.

Jason Bichsel joined McGlinchey’s Cleveland office earlier this month as part of the firm’s consumer financial services compliance team. Bichsel told Law360 on Wednesday that he chose to join the firm because he’s had positive experiences in the past working with its attorneys. He also cited the ability to broaden and expand his practice, both with automotive finance and other fields like credit reporting and privacy law.

“Having known these folks for a number of years, it’s a great team of people,” he said. “I left a great team at BMW, and I wouldn’t have left to join a team that wasn’t made up of folks that I enjoyed practicing law with.”

Another aspect Bichsel said influenced his decision to join McGlinchey was the firm’s flexibility regarding remote work. Because he and his family live in Columbus, Ohio, Bichsel said he was very happy to learn that he wouldn’t need to relocate to Cleveland and could do most of his work from home.

“One of the things that attracted me to McGlinchey in particular was the firm’s willingness to support work and the technology that would allow me to maintain a nationwide practice while remaining based where I am,” he said.

Bichsel, a graduate of Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, focuses his practice on advising such clients as banks, online lenders and other finance companies regarding a variety of compliance issues within the automotive industry, including federal credit law, bankruptcy compliance and allegations of unfair or deceptive trade practices.

“Jason’s deep knowledge in the area of auto finance, informed by his years of industry experience, will benefit our clients tremendously,” McGlinchey’s consumer financial services compliance chair Mark Edelman said in a statement. “We look forward to adding his valuable perspective and pragmatic approach to our team of compliance attorneys serving clients nationwide.”

During his time at BMW, Bichsel focused on emerging business areas, most notably mobility and subscription services such as vehicle subscriptions, short-term leasing and ride-sharing. He helped clients navigate the various challenges posed by both state and federal regulations as they attempt to enter these developing industries.

“Having an understanding of how those laws might limit or impact the business decisions of finance companies will be valuable for my clients,” he said. “Having experience handling state and federal regulatory examinations and sitting in that in-house seat, I think I can bring an appreciation for the limitations that companies might have in implementing the conservative or perfect solutions.”

Bichsel is the latest addition to the McGlinchey ranks this year, with the firm having hired labor attorney Christine Tenley as a member in New Orleans last month. McGlinchey has also added of counsel and associates in Boston; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Irvine, California; and New York City.

McGlinchey Stafford has more than 150 attorneys in 15 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C., according to the firm.