HANOVER, Md. — Hudson Cook LLP announced the addition of four new partners. A few are known for their work with the auto industry.

The new partners include Emily Marlow Beck, Catherine Brennan and Lisa DeLessio in the Hanover, Md., office.

Moreover, the law firm named Michael Goodman of the Washington, D.C., office as a partner as well. 

According to officials, these former associates bring significant academic and professional experience to their new roles.

Beck's area of expertise includes matters related to federal compliance for dealers. She is a well-known speaker at a plethora of auto conferences throughout the nation. Dealers regularly ask her questions about their business practices.

She is also a co-editor of CARLAW F&I Legal Desk Book — The Answer Book for Finance and Insurance Professionals, in addition to frequently writing and lecturing on compliance issues.

Prior to beginning her legal career, Beck spent years working in a family-owned dealership in Virginia.

Her specialty focuses on consumer credit due diligence on behalf of investors of mortgage loan companies, mortgage loan servicers, Internet lenders, consumer finance companies, title loan companies and payday lenders.

Before joining Hudson Cook, Brennan served as an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore City with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, prosecuting property owners with properties in violation of the Baltimore City Building, Housing and Zoning Codes.

As for DeLessio, in her time before coming on board with Hudson Cook, she worked as an associate in the commercial litigation department of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, representing individuals and corporate clients in business and employment disputes. She also served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ann S. Harrington in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Md. 

Goodman served as a staff attorney in the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection prior to joining Hudson Cook in 2005. His insights into the approved red flag rules have been featured in SubPrime Auto Finance News.

In that position, officials said Goodman helped draft regulations governing various marketing methods and litigated consumer protection enforcement actions in federal court.  In 2004, Michael received the FTC's Stephen Nye Award, which recognizes outstanding work by a junior attorney.

"Every day our clients ask to understand how federal and state laws and regulations govern the consumer financial services business. All four of these new partners have been a major part of our ability to do this successfully," said Tom Hudson, firm chairman.

"We are delighted to welcome them as partners in this effort, where we help our clients understand the law, as well as the trends likely to mature into real issues tomorrow," he added.

Jean Noonan, who manages the firm's Washington, D.C., office, also noted that, "Mike Goodman has added depth to our Washington, D.C. office, especially in the area of marketing law, where his extensive experience with telemarketing rules and electronic marketing has been especially important to our clients."