Ezra Levine is a specialist in the area of funds transmission and anti-money laundering regulation. He has held a variety of senior legal and policy positions with the U.S. Government, including the Executive Office of the President relating to economic regulation of the energy industry. His last governmental position was with the Department of Energy as the Assistant General Counsel for Interpretations and Rulings.
In the money transmission area, Mr. Levine has focused on the law of non-bank money transmitters. He is the author of money transmitter licensing laws in many states and has been instrumental in the passage of model money transmitter safety and soundness laws in numerous states. He represents payment instrument issuers, funds transmitters, stored value issuers, Internet funds transmitters and others with regard to licensing and compliance matters before state and federal agencies and legislative bodies. He is a pre-eminent authority on the Bank Secrecy Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder and the application of BSA recordkeeping and reporting requirements to financial institutions.
Mr. Levine has been a member of the U.S. Treasury's Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group since its inception, and is counsel to The Money Services Round Table. He is a frequent lecturer on legal issues affecting money transmitters and testifies before state legislatures and congressional committees with regard to state money transmission licensing laws and anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures. He continues to represent non-bank money transmitters at the Financial Action Task Force.
While attending Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. Levine was an editor of the Rutgers Law Review. Before joining Morrison & Foerster, he was a partner at Howrey LLP from 1980-2011.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Illinois State Money Transmitter Drafting Commission
- Member, Model Legislation Committee, Money Transmitters Regulators Association
- Member, United States Department of the Treasury Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group, Chair, Non-Bank Subcommittee (2005-2011)
Publications and Speaking Engagements
Sample Articles
- "Money Laundering: Congress Takes Aim at Non-Bank Institutions." Texas Lawyer: 24.
- "Cleaning Up: The Cycle of Wash and Rinse: Congress Turns its Attention to Non-Bank Financial Institutions in Another Attempt to Take the Starch Out of Money Laundering." The Recorder: 8. Speech Highlights
- "Annual Anti-Money Laundering Enforcement Conference." American Bar Association – American Bankers Association (2002 – 2009). Non-Bank Panel Chair.
- "Annual Meeting of Money Transmitters Regulator Association." Money Transmitters Regulators Association (1989 – 2010)
Testimony Examples
- Policies to Enforce the Bank Secrecy Act and Prevent Money Laundering in Money Services Businesses and Gaming Industry. US Senate, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Washington, DC (September 28, 2004).
- Testimony on Behalf of the Non-Bank Funds Transmitters Group – Remittances: Reducing Costs, Increasing Competition, and Broadening Access to the Market. US House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, (October 1, 2003).
- Testimony on Behalf of the Non-Bank Funds Transmitters Group: Informational Hearing on Money Transmission Services. Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and International Trade, (February 20, 2002).
- Testimony on Behalf of the Non-Bank Funds Transmitters Group, 'Money Services Businesses' – Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony. US House of Representatives, House Committee on Banking and Financial Services, (1999).