On January 18, Texas-based residential mortgage law firm Polunsky Beitel Green LLP announced that Caroline C. Jones, former commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, has joined the firm as special counsel. She will advise clients in navigating all phases of the regulatory environment for residential mortgage lending. Jones retired from the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending in June 2021. She joins Doug Foster, Polunsky Beitel Green’s director of regulatory affairs, who preceded Jones as the commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, making it the only Texas law firm to employ multiple former state mortgage commissioners. Foster and Jones were responsible for implementing much of the state’s current regulatory framework for mortgage lending.
“I’ve known Caroline as a colleague and friend for many years and can say without hesitation that our clients with regulatory needs will be working with a true professional who knows the inner workings of the Texas mortgage regulatory system as well as anyone,” says Foster, who served as the commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending from 2007 until 2014.
“Caroline’s extensive experience as in-house counsel and commissioner makes her one of the nation’s top mortgage regulatory experts and the ideal addition to the outstanding team Doug has built,” says Marty Green, principal. “Simply put, this duo’s experience cannot be found anywhere else.”
A graduate of Tulane University and St. Mary’s University School of Law, Jones served as national compliance director and legal counsel for DHI Mortgage and deputy commissioner/general counsel at the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending before succeeding Foster as commissioner there in 2014.
As commissioner, Jones served on the board of the American Council of State Savings Supervisors, including as board chair. She also served as a member of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council State Liaison Committee for four years. Jones has served on the boards of Austin Habitat for Humanity, Center for Battered Women (now SAFE Alliance), Junior League of Austin and Caritas of Austin.
“Throughout my career in the Texas mortgage lending industry, I have admired Polunsky Beitel Green’s expertise and professionalism, as it has grown into Texas’ finest law firm for mortgage lending-related issues,” Jones says. “I could not ask for a better place to continue my career, working with Doug, Marty and this talented team.”
