Caren Enloe is a partner and leads Smith Debnam’s Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance group. Her practice also includes bankruptcy and commercial litigation with an emphasis on creditors’ rights. She practiced with Smith Debnam from 1992 until 2011 and rejoined the firm in 2015 following a three and a half year stint with an Am Law 200 law firm based in Atlanta.

Caren defends consumer financial service providers and members of the collection industry in state and federal court, as well as in regulatory matters involving a variety of consumer protection laws. Caren also advises fintech companies, law firms, and collection agencies regarding an array of consumer finance issues. Caren has appeared as counsel in North Carolina’s state and federal trial courts, as well as the North Carolina Court of Appeals, North Carolina Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit. Her compliance experience includes matters involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, Truth in Lending Act, Consumer Leasing Act, Gramm Leach Bliley Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Electronic Funds Transfer Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Caren also provides statewide representation for a number of clients who finance and lease agricultural and heavy equipment both in state court and in bankruptcy court. She represents secured and unsecured creditors and lease creditors in protecting their rights in cases and adversary proceedings under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13. She also has extensive experience defending the collection and credit industries in adversary proceedings and with regard to sanctions motions.

In 2018, Caren was named one of the “20 Most Powerful Women in Collections” by Collection Advisor, a national trade publication. Caren is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers, an independent rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.