Ari Karen
Ari Karen
- Regulatory Compliance
- Litigation & Enforcement
- Labor & Employment
- Mortgage Regulatory
Biography
Ari represents businesses and financial institutions in litigation matters, government investigations, and advises clients on regulatory compliance matters. He is widely praised for his business-friendly style of representation that combines aggressive advocacy with a sensitivity to practical business considerations. Ari’s approach looks at the impacts of legal strategy in real life scenarios, allowing his clients to remain both compliant and competitive.
His practice is diverse, covering subject matters including banking regulations, consumer protection regulations, Dodd-Frank financial reform laws, contractual disputes, employment and labor statutes, wage-hour class actions, employment discrimination and fair lending matters, whistleblower complaints, and non-competition claims. This combination of expertise in employment, litigation, and regulatory matters allows him to develop and implement multifaceted strategies drawing from diverse experiences that provide his clients an edge in litigation and competitive environments.
Ari litigates before state and federal trial and appellate courts nationwide. He has won precedent-setting decisions against the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, blocking the EEOC’s efforts to establish that employers could be held liable for violations of Title VII dating back to its passage in 1964. He has also counseled mortgage banks and financial services firms on their development of cutting-edge employment policies and procedures, as well as developing creative but compliant business strategies. These procedures have allowed institutions to solve legal and regulatory challenges without disrupting proven business models or undermining competitive advantages.
Previous Experience
Offit Kurman, P.A.
Venable LLP
Cohen Milstein
Fun Facts
Favorite Apps
Peloton. He is part of “Robin’s wolfpack” and according to him, “if you get, you get it.” He enjoys the exercise and mental break because he believes it’s a great way to stay in shape and release all the stress of the day.
Superpower
Go Big or Go Home. From being a father to fantasy football, Ari doesn’t have the ability to give less than 100% to anything.
Favorite Thing to Binge Watch
He’s a “Trekkie.” Anything Star Trek – original, the movies, the sequels, Discovery.
Passions
Ari loves to cook, work out, and enjoy nature and the outdoors. He also loves time out on the water – for him, there is nothing better than watching a sunset from the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.
Thought Leadership
Ari has written and spoken extensively on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Independent Contractors, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, among other statutes.
His speaking engagements include talks to members of CMLA, Lenders One, the Empire State Mortgage Bankers Association, and mortgage groups and associations in Texas, California, the Carolinas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Maine, Ohio, Maryland, Kansas, Arizona, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Ari writes frequently for leading publications within the mortgage banking industry.
Ari speaks with human resources groups, and his work as a labor lawyer has been cited in Dealer’s Edge Car Magazine, Employment Law360, Washington SmartCEO, Baltimore SmartCEO, MBA NewsLink, and Employee Benefit Plan Review.
Education
J.D., Emory University School of Law, with distinction
B.A., University of Maryland, cum laude
Admissions
District of Columbia
Georgia
Maryland
*New York (pending)
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Featured Publications
