Rob Couch was counsel before retiring from Bradley. He is retired from the active practice of law. Prior to retirement, Rob focused on mortgage lenders and investors in both the forward mortgage and reverse mortgage industries; affordable housing; regulatory matters involving HUD, Ginnie Mae, FHA and other government-sponsored enterprise matters; and governmental affairs.

Immediately prior to rejoining Bradley in December 2020, Rob was the Federal Financial Monitor for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rob was a member of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services Practice Group from July 2009 to January 2020 and previously served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from December 2006 to November 2008. In that role, he acted as the chief legal advisor to the secretary, deputy secretary and other principal staff, providing advice on federal laws, regulations and policies affecting HUD programs. Rob also served as president of the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), as well as a commissioner on the Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Commission. In addition, he served as a member of President George W. Bush's Task Force on the Status of Puerto Rico in 2008.

Rob had a wealth of private sector skills and experience. Prior to his government service, he was president and CEO of New South Federal Savings Bank in Birmingham, at the time the largest thrift in Alabama. He also served as general counsel and CFO of First Commercial Bancshares. An active member of the mortgage banking industry, Rob was a former chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. He also served as president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Alabama. Rob is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and a Certified Mortgage Banker (master certificate).

Congressional Testimony

November 21, 2013 - Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on the topic of "Housing Finance Reform: Powers and Structure of a Strong Regulator"

August 2, 2011 - Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, on the topic of “Housing Finance Reform: National Mortgage Servicing Standards”

March 18, 2004 – House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, on the topic of “Expanding Housing Opportunity Through the Education and Counseling Act” 

November 5, 2003 – House Financial Services Committee on the topic of “Protecting Homeowners: Preventing Abusive Lending While Preserving Access to Credit”

October 23, 2003 – Senate Banking Committee on the topic of regulation of the government-sponsored enterprises (GSE)

April 8, 2003 – House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, on the topic of “Promoting the American Dream of Homeownership Through Down Payment Assistance”

Bar Admissions

• Alabama, 1984

Education

• Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 1982, summa cum laude; John W. Davis Prize; Lead Articles Editor, Law Review
• Washington & Lee University, B.S., 1978, cum laude