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Led by founding partners James Brody, Ron Gapp, and Ashley Jumpp, Brody | Gapp LLP combines deep operational experience, industry insight, and agile client service to provide scalable, results-driven counsel across compliance, litigation, and regulatory affairs. With over 50 years of combined experience, the firm is uniquely positioned to serve as the “first call” for institutions navigating risk, regulation, and rapid change. Confidence in Litigation. Clarity in Compliance. As regulatory demands grow more complex, mortgage and financial institutions without integrated legal, compliance, and litigation support risk falling behind—exposing themselves to unnecessary risk, inefficiencies, and potential disputes. Our team delivers proactive legal counsel and scalable solutions across both compliance and litigation, helping IMBs, credit unions, depositories, and fintechs build resilient governance frameworks, resolve challenges before they escalate, and respond decisively when they do. The result: our diverse clients stay protected, agile, and confidently positioned for growth. ABOUT US A Premier Law Firm for the Mortgage Banking Industry. BRODY | GAPP LLP delivers specialized legal and compliance solutions tailored to independent mortgage banks, credit unions, depositories, and mortgage brokers. Our clients operate in one of the most complex, regulated industries in the country—and many do so without in-house legal or compliance departments. We bridge that gap. Our firm is built for institutions that demand practical, high-impact counsel grounded in real-world experience. Whether you're navigating agency repurchase claims, structuring a multi-state compensation plan, defending a poaching claim, or responding to a regulatory audit, we bring the legal clarity, speed, and confidence that mortgage leaders rely on. What sets us apart is our team. Our attorneys include former general counsel, chief compliance officers, and litigators with deep experience inside the mortgage industry. We don’t just understand the law—we understand your business, your risks, your investors, and your timelines. We represent financial institutions of all sizes across the country, from early-stage IMBs to some of the largest nonbank lenders in the U.S. In fact, our attorneys routinely arbitrate, litigate, and negotiate cases, as well as defend state audits in as many as a dozen different states at any given time, and we are proud to be a trusted partner to companies committed to operational integrity, legal resilience, and scalable growth. Clarity in Compliance. Confidence in Litigation. That’s the BRODY GAPP difference. PRACTICE AREAS A Firm with Strength in Compliance, Litigation, and Strategic Counsel. At BRODY | GAPP LLP, we provide proactive, business-focused legal counsel to mortgage companies, financial institutions, and related service providers nationwide. Our practice spans outsourced general counsel services, regulatory compliance, and complex litigation—equipping clients to thrive in a rapidly evolving, high-stakes environment. We advise on enterprise risk management, licensing, investor obligations, state and federal regulatory audits, CFPB and state enforcement matters, and policy and procedure development. Our compliance team also supports clients with loan originator compensation structures, marketing arrangements, RESPA issues, and internal governance frameworks to reduce exposure and scale with confidence. Our litigation practice is equally robust. We represent clients in commercial and contract disputes, loan repurchase and make-whole demands, employment and labor claims, trade secret and poaching litigation, fraud investigations, and inter-company conflicts. We are particularly experienced in defending claims tied to securitized loans, warehouse line disputes, and legacy RMBS litigation. Whether we’re providing day-to-day compliance support or defending our clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation, BRODY | GAPP LLP is the legal partner mortgage companies trust to protect their interests, preserve their reputation, and position them for long-term success. Explore and learn more about our areas of practice: • Regulatory Compliance • Gap Audits & Mock Exams • Commercial Litigation • Loss Mitigation & Repurchase Defense • Employment Law • Poaching & Pipeline Theft • Data Security & Cyber/Fraud Risk • Trade Secrets & Competitive Intelligence • General Counsel Services • Mergers & Acquisitions OUR TEAM Your Partners in Purpose. Our advisors are more than attorneys—they’re industry veterans who’ve led compliance, fought in courtrooms, and guided national mortgage lenders as general counsels and C-suite executives. They know your challenges because they’ve lived them. Meet the team ready to stand by your side. MEET THE TEAM CONTACT LET'S CONNECT OUR OFFICE 2102 Business Center Dr. Suite 2047 Irvine, CA 92612 Email: info@brodygapp.com Tel: 800-242-4605 Whether you need urgent legal support or want to assess your compliance risk proactively, we’re here to help. Schedule a complimentary consultation today! First Name* Last Name* Email* Subject Message Submit Before communicating with BRODY | GAPP LLP or its attorneys through this website, please read our Privacy Policy , and Terms and Conditions . Please do not send any private or confidential information in your inquiry. No attorney-client relationship exists between you and BRODY | GAPP LLP unless and until you receive a written statement that the firm represents you in a particular matter. By submitting your inquiry, you affirm that you have read and agree to these terms. You may contact us at admin@brodygapp.com . BACK TO TOP

< Back Stephanie McDaniel Chief Compliance Officer & Paralegal With over 30 years of progressive leadership in mortgage compliance, regulatory affairs, and legal frameworks, Stephanie brings the rare combination of hands-on paralegal expertise and strategic C-suite vision. Her career spans the full spectrum of compliance disciplines—from licensing and state examinations to quality control, agency compliance, and enterprise risk management—positioning her as a trusted architect of resilient compliance ecosystems across the financial services industry. Stephanie’s approach centers on integrating rigorous compliance discipline with a growth-oriented mindset. She has designed and implemented meaningful improvements in compliance practices and quality assurance programs that strengthen operational integrity, reduce regulatory exposure, and build sustainable frameworks for scale. Her attention to detail, coupled with deep mortgage sector expertise, enables her to identify risks before they escalate and translate regulatory complexity into actionable governance structures. A strong advocate for building compliance cultures grounded in accuracy, integrity, and accountability, Stephanie fosters environments where rigorous standards and collaborative innovation coexist. She is passionate about elevating industry compliance standards and empowering teams to approach regulatory challenges with both discipline and confidence.

James W. Brody, Esq. Founder & Managing Partner Direct: (415) 246-3995 Email: James@BrodyGapp.com Read More Ashley Jumpp, Esq. Founding Partner Direct: (682) 500-0505 Email: Ashley@BrodyGapp.com Read More Monica Davies Partner Direct: (612) 240-3511 Email: mdavies@brodygapp.com Read More Ingrid Petersen Partner Direct: (916) 207 0113 Email: ipetersen@brodygapp.com Read More Mailei Bennett Senior Paralegal Office: (949) 490-7950 Email: mbennett@brodygapp.com Read More Leslie Giovanetti Paralegal Office: (949) 490-7950 Email: lgiovanetti@brodygapp.com Read More Ronald Gapp, Esq. Founding Partner Direct: (909) 952-3076 Email: Ron@BrodyGapp.com Read More Scott Harkless, Esq. Founding Partner Direct: (818) 836-1415 Email: Scott@BrodyGapp.com Read More Nate Kunz Of Counsel Direct: (303) 204-6381 Email: nkunz@brodygapp.com Read More Heather Huggins Senior Law Firm Administrator Office: (949) 490-7950 Email: hhuggins@brodygapp.com Read More Elma Saxon Senior Paralegal Office: (949) 490-7950 Email: esaxon@brodygapp.com Read More Stephanie McDaniel Chief Compliance Officer & Paralegal Office: (949) 490-7950 Email: smcdaniel@brodygapp.com Read More

< Back Ingrid Petersen Partner About Me Ingrid Petersen is an attorney at Brody Gapp P.C. where she focuses on mortgage banking transactions, dispute resolution, repurchase demand defense, contract review and drafting and civil litigation. Ingrid has over a decade of experience in representing mortgage lenders both in and out of litigation. Having worked as in-house counsel in the tech industry, Ingrid always sees every matter through the eyes of the client. She understands the interests of the client and their long-term objectives. Ingrid delivers maximum value for clients by protecting not only their legal interests, but also their reputation, time, resources, and energy. Clients trust her with their most complex and difficult problems, knowing that she will find the most cost-effective, practical, and positive resolution that is customized to the client’s unique needs, concerns, and strategy. Practice Areas Commercial Litigation Alternate Dispute Resolution Regulatory Compliance Transactional Business Contract Drafting and Reviewing Employment Law Education McGeorge School of Law (J.D. with Intellectual Property Certificate, 2008) University of KwaZulu Natal (BA Marketing and Psychology, 1998) Bar Admissions Licensed Attorney, State Bar of California Professional Affiliations Mortgage Bankers Association

< Back Heather Huggins Senior Law Firm Administrator About Me Heather Huggins is Brody Gapp’s Senior Law Firm Administrator, working closely with the Executive Team to ensure seamless day-to-day operations across the firm’s national litigation and compliance practice. With more than 20 years of experience in law firm administration and legal operations, Heather develops the people, systems, and processes that allow attorneys to stay focused on client results. She oversees human resources and talent acquisition, benefits and insurance administration, budgeting and financial management, technology coordination, vendor management, and business continuity planning. Known for her steady, solutions driven approach, she implements practical improvements that enhance efficiency, accountability, and firm culture. Before joining Brody Gapp in 2025, Heather spent over two decades with a full-service law firm, helping guide its growth from a small to medium sized firm while advancing through roles in legal support, financial management, and ultimately Firm Administrator. Her background includes leading firmwide operational initiatives, supporting high demand teams, and driving disciplined processes that keep firms performing at a high level when timelines are tight and stakes are high.

< Back Elma Saxon Senior Paralegal About Me Elma Saxon is a senior litigation paralegal with more than 18 years of experience supporting attorneys through every stage of complex litigation—from early case assessment and discovery to trial preparation and appellate work. She brings particular expertise in litigation operations and eDiscovery. Elma manages document intensive workflows, oversees case calendars and court filings, prepares deposition and trial exhibit sets, supports motion practice through cite checking and quality control, and coordinates with court reporters, vendors, and client stakeholders to ensure matters progress efficiently. Her experience also includes supporting corporate transactions and assisting with regulatory submissions. Elma earned her Paralegal Certificate from Loyola University Chicago through its ABA approved program and holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees. She is multilingual and active in the paralegal community, including service within the Illinois Paralegal Association’s leadership and its unauthorized practice of law initiatives.

< Back Scott Harkless, Esq. Founding Partner About Me As an experienced litigator and mortgage executive, I have provided both legal and business counsel to all manner of mortgage banks, ranging from Countrywide Home Loans to my most recent position of Chief Legal Counsel to OneTrust Home Loans. I have helped the companies I serve manage their bottom line by overseeing litigation, creating innovative and compliant growth initiatives, and develop specialized product lines such as reverse mortgage. As an executive with a long history in the strategic alliance space, I am uniquely qualified to serve not only mortgage companies but real estate companies and builders as well. I have a proven track record in balancing a company's risk profile with its strategic growth initiatives. I have navigated complex business arrangements and events, such joint ventures and reorganizations and acquisitions. I have successfully interfaced with both state and federal regulators and GSEs. I have experience in navigating the full end-to-end aspects of a mortgage operation from recruiting to servicing - and have managed all the aspects of litigation that result, whether it be prosecuting or defending claims or representing my clients through the appellate process in either state or federal courts. I come from the "inside" of mortgage and bring to bear my over 20 years of mortgage and legal experience for the benefit of my clients regardless of their geographical footprint. My Approach I focus on helping lenders, real estate firms and builders tackle their legal and compliance challenges with practical, business-minded solutions and strategically manage their litigation needs. My goal is to provide holistic counsel - to help our clients manage risk, grow market share and advocate their claims through litigation and appeal. Practice Areas Regulatory Compliance Loss Mitigation Employee Litigation Poaching Cases Strategic Alliances Specialty Lines of Business Contract Review and Drafting Mergers and Acquisitions Appeals Education Asbury College (B.A. in History, 1999) UC Davis School of Law (Juris Doctor, 2002) Bar Admissions State Bar of California U.S. Eastern District of California

< Back Monica Davies Partner About Me Monica Davies is a seasoned attorney with deep expertise in representing mortgage lenders, brokers, and financial institutions in complex litigation and regulatory matters nationwide. Her practice focuses on business and financial services litigation, including the defense of class actions and high-exposure commercial disputes. Ms. Davies’s insight into the financial services sector runs deeper than litigation. As former in-house general counsel for a community bank, she worked on the front lines of lending operations—managing litigation, launching the bank’s first formal risk management committee, and leading the negotiation and successful closing of pivotal transactions, including a merger/acquisition and major private equity investments. This experience gives her a unique understanding of the regulatory pressures, transactional complexities, and risk considerations faced by today’s mortgage professionals. My Approach Monica Davies applies a practical, business-oriented approach to complex litigation and regulatory challenges faced by mortgage lenders, brokers, and financial institutions. Drawing on her experience as former in-house general counsel to a community bank, she combines litigation acumen with operational insight to deliver strategic, risk-informed counsel. Ms. Davies approaches each matter with a focus on early risk identification, efficient dispute resolution, and aligning legal strategy with her clients’ broader business objectives. Whether defending against class actions, navigating regulatory scrutiny, or advising on high-value transactions, she emphasizes clear communication, proactive compliance, and tailored legal solutions that minimize exposure and support long-term growth. Practice Areas Commercial Litigation Loss Mitigation Poaching Cases Trade Secret Litigation Education Mitchell Hamline School of Law (J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 2001) University of South Dakota (BA Psychology and Sociology, 1997) Bar Admissions Licensed Attorney, State Bar of Minnesota

< Back Nate Kunz Of Counsel About Me Nate Kunz is an experienced commercial litigator who represents businesses and individuals in complex disputes in state and federal courts. His practice includes contract disputes (formation, interpretation, and enforcement) and related equitable and business-tort claims, as well as employment-related disputes and restrictive covenant matters (including noncompetition and non-solicitation disputes) and trade secret and unfair-competition litigation. Nate also advises and litigates matters involving business divorces/ownership disputes, lender liability and guarantor defense, defamation, and consumer fraud class action defense. He has successfully represented clients at both the trial and appellate levels. Prior to joining Brody Gapp, Nate honed his litigation skills in Big Law, including at an Am Law 100 firm where he became a partner, as well as in boutique practice, where he focused on commercial litigation, class action defense, and state and federal appeals. Nate is an active member of the State Bar of Arizona’s Civil Practice & Procedure Committee and is a past chair of the Litigation Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association. My Approach Nate tailors strategy to the client’s objective—whether that means early resolution, targeted motion practice, or trial. Drawing on significant class action defense experience, he provides candid, decision-useful risk assessments and focuses on what matters to the business. His role is to build the strongest case possible while keeping stakeholders informed with clear, practical guidance throughout the litigation. Practice Areas Commercial Litigation Contract Enforcement and Interpretation Employment Disputes Noncompetition, Non-Solicitation, and other Restrictive Covenant Disputes Trade Secret and Unfair-Competition Claims Business Divorce/Ownership Disputes Business Torts Lender Liability/Guarantor Defense Consumer Fraud Class Action Defense Appellate Practice Education University of Denver Sturm College of Law (J.D., 2006) Cornell University (B.S., Applied & Engineering Physics, 2002) Bar Admissions State Bar of Arizona (2006) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2006) U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (2006)

Brody Gapp upcoming and past webinar information, links, and video/document downloads. RECENT WEBINARS Loan Officer Compliance in 2025: Compliance, Litigation Trends, & Strategic Planning Tuesday, September 9, 2025 10:00 AM PST WATCH the SESSION DOWNLOAD the PRESENTATION Presenter: Ron Gapp Founding Partner (909) 952-3076 ron@brodygapp.com Session Highlights: With the third quarter of 2025 well underway, now is the perfect time to revisit your Loan Officer Compensation (LO Comp) strategy and ensure you’re prepared for what’s ahead. Some of the key hot topic trends that will be covered during the webinar include: Regulatory Landscape Update: A breakdown of the current LO Comp rules, including how enforcement priorities have shifted in the wake of recent administrative and judicial actions. Deregulation Watch: Provide an update on potential deregulation. Litigation Trends: A look at recent lawsuits involving LO compensation practices, including a new case filed July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Case No. 1:25-cv-02294), where plaintiffs allege loanDepot systematically tied loan officer compensation to interest rates and fees charged to borrowers—allegedly violating the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Dodd-Frank regulations. This case may signal renewed regulatory interest in compensation structures. Strategic Structuring: Practical guidance on how to build compensation plans that align with compliance requirements while remaining competitive in today's market. Audit Readiness: Key tips on preparing for CFPB or state audits focused on compensation policies, with examples of issues regulators are flagging in current exams. Whether you're navigating compliance or exploring strategic ways to stay competitive with your LO compensation plans, this is a session you won’t want to miss! For more information or inquiries, please contact Founding Partner, Ron Gapp at (909) 952-3076 or Ron@BrodyGapp.com . 2025 Annual Regulatory Roundup: Trends, Challenges, and Regulatory Actions Brody | Gapp’s inaugural webinar, held June 12, 2025, in partnership with The Mortgage Collaborative, featured Managing Partner James W. Brody addressing the most pressing regulatory issues facing mortgage lenders. WATCH the SESSION DOWNLOAD the PRESENTATION Presenter: James W. Brody Founder & Managing Partner (415) 246-3995 james@brodygapp.com Session highlights: LO Compensation: Prohibited practices, safe harbor methods, and recent consent orders. Technology & Data Privacy: AI in underwriting, remote notarization, and emerging data security risks. Cybersecurity: Fannie Mae’s new 36-hour reporting rule and August 2025 compliance deadline. Market & Lending Practices: Non-QM and ARM product risks, plus shifting FHFA policies. Fair Lending & UDAAP: Recent enforcement actions and best practices for monitoring and training. Looking Ahead: CFPB priorities, the rise of state “mini-CFPBs,” and audit-readiness essentials. This first-of-its-kind session provided practical guidance to help lenders stay compliant, mitigate risk, and stay competitive in 2025. For more information or inquiries, please contact Founding and Managing Partner James W. Brody at (415) 246-3995 or James@BrodyGapp.com .