OCC Names Amy Friend Assistant Chief Counsel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amy Friend, general counsel to the House Banking and Financial Services Committee's Democratic staff, has been named assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Chief Counsel Julie Williams announced today.

"Amy brings to the OCC a broad background in bank legislative issues," said Ms. Williams. "She has worked on all of the major banking bills that have been considered in the past two Congresses and has a keen awareness of the many issues that factor into financial services legislation. On top of all that, she is a terrific lawyer."

In her new capacity, Ms. Friend will focus on legislative matters affecting the OCC and the national banking industry. She will join the OCC in January, filling a vacancy in the Chief Counsel's office.

Ms. Friend was appointed to her present position in September, after serving as counsel to the Banking Committee since January 1993. From November 1991 to January 1993, she was counsel to the Banking Committee's Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage. Ms. Friend has also held various positions on the legislative staffs of Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. She earned her J.D. in 1984 from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.