Christopher P. Couch and Andrew J. Meaders Earn CAMS Certification

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Feb. 27, 2024 – Birmingham Partner Christopher P. Couch and New Orleans Associate Andrew J. Meaders earned the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) designation through ACAMS, the largest international membership organization for anti-financial crime professionals.

"We are very pleased that Chris and Andrew are being recognized for their expertise in Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering compliance," said Phelps Managing Partner Marshall Redmon. "With the heightened scrutiny of federal and state regulators and law enforcement agencies and the ever-growing risk of fraud and illegal activity to banks, FinTechs and our other financial institution clients, we think this recognition is well deserved and representative of the firm's focus on our banking practice and our clients in that space."

ACAMS certifies lawyers, bankers, accountants and other financial professionals who have passed a rigorous exam covering the risks and methods of money laundering and terrorism financing, compliance standards for AML/CTF, sanctions compliance programs and investigations. The CAMS designation is viewed as the gold standard in AML/CFT compliance by governments around the world, according to ACAMS.

CAMS professionals must maintain their designation by earning credits from speaking, writing and publishing, through volunteer service as well as attending classes, webinars and events.

Chris works with banks and FinTechs and advises his clients on anti-money laundering programs, payment system operations, privacy programs and data breach response; asset and bank sales and purchases; commercial loan facilities; FinTech partnerships and vendor agreements.

Andrew works with community banks and other financial services clients in several areas, including corporate governance and securities, asset and bank sales and purchases and commercial lending facilities.

The firm’s Chambers USA-ranked Banking and Financial Institutions Practice advises banks and non-bank financial institutions throughout the country in matters ranging from capital markets and M&A transactions to regulatory compliance and operations; and from commercial loan origination, workouts and bankruptcy to executive compensation and employment law matters.