David Harmer

Current

First Vice President & Assistant General Counsel at Washington Mutual Bank

Past

Attorney at Riddle & Associates
Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives at Friends of Dave Harmer
Bradley Resident Fellow at The Heritage Foundation

Administrative Assistant at U.S. House of Representatives
Campaign Manager at Enid '94
President at Excellence through Choice in Education League (ExCEL)
Associate at O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Fellow, College of Public Interest Law at Pacific Legal Foundation
Counsel at United States Senate

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Education

Brigham Young University—J. Reuben Clark Law School
Brigham Young University

Recommended

9 people have recommended David

Connections

342 connections

Industry

Law Practice

Websites

David Harmer’s Summary

Summary of Experience:

• Broad experience spanning government, public-interest, large-firm, and in-house legal work – including service at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
• Over eleven years of focused experience in consumer financial services.
• Published author; engaging and persuasive speaker and writer.
• Prudent, independent, ethical, mature.

Current Responsibilities:

• Support Washington Mutual’s Card Services division (12 million MasterCard and Visa customers; $27 billion in managed receivables).
• Contribute critical perspective and counsel to senior managers and executives, helping the credit card business achieve ambitious performance goals while minimizing legal and reputational risk.
• Cultivate a comprehensive understanding of bank regulation, consumer-protection legislation, credit card lending, and the broader consumer financial services industry, in order to provide accurate and actionable legal advice and protect the bank’s interests in a dynamic competitive environment.
• Provide guidance for functions spanning the entire credit relationship – from the beginning (credit policy, modeling, underwriting), through the middle (customer service, payment processing, disputes), to the end (collections, fraud, asset sales).

David Harmer’s Specialties:

• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidance concerning bank safety and soundness.
• Ensure compliance with consumer protection laws and regulations, including:
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act / Regulation B
- Electronic Fund Transfer Act / Reg. E
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act / Reg. P
- Fair Credit Billing & Truth in Lending Acts / Reg. Z
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Federal Trade Commission Act
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act

David Harmer’s Experience

First Vice President & Assistant General Counsel

Washington Mutual Bank

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; WM; Banking industry)

September 2001 — Present (7 years 1 month)

Positions Held:
Washington Mutual Bank
• First Vice President & Assistant General Counsel: Feb 2007 – present
• First Vice President & Senior Counsel: Jan – Feb 2007
• First Vice President & Legal Counsel: Oct 2005 – Dec 2006
Providian Financial Corp. (acquired Oct. 1, 2005)
• Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel: Jul 2004 – Sep 2005
• Vice President & Deputy General Counsel: Jul 2003 – Jul 2004
• Legal Counsel: Sep 2001 – Jul 2003

Functional Contributions:
• Collaborate in simplifying and strengthening internal processes and controls to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
• Advise on customer communications, business initiatives, and external transactions through formal Legal & Compliance Review process.
• Support corporate vendor management group in negotiating and drafting contracts.
• Manage consumer and commercial litigation and arbitration.
• Engender trust; foster culture of compliance.
Attorney

Riddle & Associates

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Law Practice industry)

April 1997 — May 2001 (4 years 2 months)

• Managed law firm’s national collection practice.
• Terminated over 80% of the firm’s client relationships.
• Re-engineered collection strategies and procedures.
• Refocused the firm’s marketing; participated in closing major sales.
• Tripled annual revenues from under $3m to over $8m.
• Counseled on legal issues with a hands-on understanding of business realities.
Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives

Friends of Dave Harmer

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Political Organization industry)

January 1996 — June 1996 (6 months)

After a spirited campaign, narrowly lost the nomination to represent Utah’s 2nd congressional district.
Bradley Resident Fellow

The Heritage Foundation

(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Think Tanks industry)

September 1995 — January 1996 (5 months)

Researched and advocated market-oriented approaches to education and training.
Administrative Assistant

U.S. House of Representatives

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Legislative Office industry)

January 1995 — May 1995 (5 months)

Organized transition and headed staff for freshman member of the 104th Congress.
Campaign Manager

Enid '94

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Political Organization industry)

February 1994 — November 1994 (10 months)

Managed a successful challenge to an incumbent member of Congress.
President

Excellence through Choice in Education League (ExCEL)

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Political Organization industry)

January 1992 — November 1993 (1 year 11 months)

• Coordinated drafting of Prop. 174, the Parental Choice in Education Initiative.
• Coordinated signature-gathering effort to qualify the initiative for the ballot.
• Promoted passage in interviews, speeches, and debates throughout California.
Associate

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

(Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Law Practice industry)

October 1990 — December 1991 (1 year 3 months)

Participated in complex litigation involving intellectual property, real estate development, and financial services.
Fellow, College of Public Interest Law

Pacific Legal Foundation

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Law Practice industry)

October 1989 — October 1990 (1 year 1 month)

• Advocated First and Fifth Amendment rights through appellate litigation.
• Submitted amicus curiae briefs to the California and U.S. Supreme Courts.
Counsel

United States Senate

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Legislative Office industry)

September 1988 — September 1989 (1 year 1 month)

• Minority Counsel to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights & Trademarks, Committee on the Judiciary.
• Advised U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch on legislation and nominations before the Committee.
• Specialized in constitutional law, with some work on intellectual property issues.

David Harmer’s Education

Brigham Young University—J. Reuben Clark Law School

Juris Doctor, Law, 1985 — 1988

Cum laude

Activities and Societies:

Natural Resources Law Forum, Moot Court, Men's Chorus
Brigham Young University

B.A., English, 1979 — 1984

Magna cum laude

Activities and Societies:

Honors Program, Oratorio Choir

Additional Information

David Harmer’s Websites:

David Harmer’s Interests:

• Treasurer, Windemere Ranch Middle School Education Fund. • Coach, recreational division, San Ramon Soccer Club (2004-present). • Organist for local and regional church congregations (2002-present). • Merit badge counselor for six local scout troops. • Member of board of directors and choir, Utah Chamber Artists (1992-1997). • Instructor, Department of English, Brigham Young University (1987). Taught undergraduate grammar and composition course. • Boatman, Holiday River Expeditions, Green River, Utah (1985-1986). Guided whitewater rafting trips throughout Colorado and Utah. • Missionary, Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1981-1983). Attained fluency in Spanish.

David Harmer’s Groups:

• State Bar of California, 1989-present
• Utah State Bar, 1994-present
• Massachusetts State Bar, 2000-present (inactive status)
• American Bar Association, Section of Business Law: Member, Committees on Banking and Consumer Financial Services; Subcommittees on Debt Collection Practices, Electronic Banking, Payment Systems, Preemption, and Truth in Lending. Presented “Good Debt Gone Bad: FDCPA and Bankruptcy Traps for Unsecured Creditors” at ABA’s annual meeting on August 5, 2006.
• ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals: Member, National Legislative Council, 2002-present; Chair, National Legislative Council, 2005-2006; Member, Interstate Collections Committee, 2002-2004; Certified Instructor, 1997-1999.
• Utah State Bar: Member, Government Affairs Committee, 1998-2001.