Michelle R. Rodriguez
AttorneyBiography
Michelle R. Rodriguez joined Wright, Finlay & Zak’s Compliance, Licensing and Regulatory Division in 2022. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rodriguez was general counsel and chief compliance officer of Woodland Hills Mortgage Corporation, a mortgage lender, and R.C. Temme Corporation, a mortgage servicer for over 17 years, dealing with DRE & DFPI audits, identifying and resolving title issues, drafting standard and custom contracts, escrow instructions, lender disclosures, and private placement memoranda. During that time, Ms. Rodriguez handled licensing issues, and creation and oversight of compliance programs, policies, procedures and checklists, for state and Federal origination and servicing regulations, such as CA civil code mortgage laws, DRE regulations, ECOA, FDCPA, FCRA, RESPA, TILA, HMDA/Holden, GLB, CCPA, SAFE Act, Homeowner Bill of Rights, TRID/KBYO, HOEPA, cannabis-related lending issues, and CFPBs mortgage servicing rules.
Ms. Rodriguez is licensed as an attorney in California and is also a licensed real estate broker. In addition to holding a Juris Doctor degree, Ms. Rodriguez also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Rodriguez is a member of the board of directors of the California Mortgage Association and is chairperson of that organization’s Education Committee. She is a regular presenter at that organization’s educational seminars and has presented educational topics for other mortgage trade associations including the national Mortgage Bankers Association, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, and the United Trustees Association. She is co-author of the 2019-2022 versions of the textbook entitled Professional MLO Education for MLO’s for Duane Gomer Education.
Areas of Practice
Loan Documentation: Documentation of Simple to Complex Business Purpose Loans & Loans Secured by Commercial Real Estate
Hard Money Lender Representation & Private Money Lender Representation Licensing, Compliance, and Reporting
Fund Formation and Compliance: The Largest Fund Creator in California
Securities Architects of Mortgage Pools, Real Estate Funds, REITS, and Opportunity Zone Funds
Consumer Credit: Dodd-Frank
Laws and Regulations Governing Cannabis Lending
Education
Hamline University School of Law
J.D.
University of Saint Thomas
M.B.A.
University of Wisconsin
B.A., Business Administration & English