AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE ADVISORY | Data last verified: August 2026
Randall McCathren, Esq. · Nashville, Tennessee
Reviewed by: Randall McCathren, Esq. — President & Principal Consultant, BLC Associates, Inc.
Randall McCathren, Esq. advises auto finance companies, dealerships, insurers, and vendors on consumer automotive finance and leasing law.
He has operated BLC Associates, Inc. continuously since 1982, drawing on more than four decades of regulatory, program-design, and litigation-preparation experience.
His clients include major banks and captive finance companies, dealerships, insurers, and regulatory agencies.
Established 1982
Strategy, compliance & operations
BLC Associates, Inc.
Key Takeaways
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Randall McCathren has operated BLC Associates, Inc. as an automotive finance and leasing consultant continuously since 1982.
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His consulting practice covers auto leasing, vehicle lending and finance, insurance matters, dealership operations, regulatory compliance, and portfolio/operations advisory.
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He served as Managing Director of the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) from 1993 to 2024 and consulted with Federal Reserve Board legal staff on Regulation M.
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He worked with New York regulators on the New York Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act, enacted January 31, 1994.
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Auto finance companies, dealerships, and insurers evaluating regulatory or compliance risk can schedule a confidential consultation with Randall McCathren today.
Role & Function
An automotive finance and leasing consultant advises companies on program design, regulatory compliance, litigation preparation, economic analysis, and operational best practices in the consumer automotive finance industry.
McCathren brings more than four decades of subject-matter experience to his consulting practice, BLC Associates, Inc., which has operated continuously since 1982.
His clients have included major auto finance companies, banks, insurance companies, remarketing firms, collections vendors, and information technology providers.
Years advising the industry
40+
BLC Associates operating since
1982
ACVL Managing Director tenure 30+ years
1993–2024
Auto Financing Update newsletter run
1986–2005
Organizations Served
Randall McCathren advises a broad range of organizations across the auto finance and leasing industry, from large finance companies to individual dealerships and the regulators who oversee them.
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Major bank and captive auto finance companies
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Subprime finance companies and credit unions
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Franchise and independent dealerships
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Insurance and remarketing companies
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Collections and portfolio servicing vendors
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Information technology providers
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Attorneys and law firms in automotive litigation
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Regulatory agencies and government bodies
Six Advisory Areas
McCathren's consulting practice spans six areas of automotive finance and leasing.
Examination Preparation
CFPB examination authority over the auto finance industry applies primarily to auto lenders, lessors, and servicers — not to most franchise or independent dealerships, which fall under Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction under the Dodd-Frank Act's dealer exemption.
Buy-here-pay-here dealers that directly extend credit are a notable exception and remain subject to CFPB authority. The CFPB's own procedures apply to automobile lenders, lessors, and servicers.
Randall McCathren advises auto finance companies, lessors, and BHPH dealers on preparing for and responding to CFPB examinations, and advises franchise and independent dealerships on FTC-related compliance and F&I practices more broadly, drawing on his regulatory consulting background with the Federal Reserve Board and CFPB.
Auto finance companies, lessors, and BHPH dealers preparing for a CFPB examination can schedule a compliance review with Randall McCathren before the exam begins.
Jurisdiction Matters
CFPB
Auto lenders, lessors, servicers, and BHPH dealers that directly extend credit.
FTC
Most franchise and independent dealerships under the Dodd-Frank dealer exemption.
Specific authority depends on the organization's role and activity.
Regulatory & Legislative Work
McCathren's consulting work extends beyond individual client engagements into regulatory and legislative development. The 1997 Regulation M revisions introduced uniform cost disclosure requirements for consumer vehicle leases nationwide. McCathren consulted with Federal Reserve Board legal staff during this period.
| Engagement | Scope | Years |
|---|---|---|
| New York Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act | Worked with New York regulators representing major lessors; statute enacted January 31, 1994 | 1989–1994 |
| State Model Lease Law | Developed the Motor Vehicle Consumer Lessee Protection Act, including commentary and policy background materials | — |
| Vehicle Value Insurance Cases | Expert witness and consultant on 20+ cases involving vehicle value insurance policies | — |
| Regulation M Development | Consultant to Federal Reserve Board legal staff during the 1997 Regulation M revisions; conducted a leasing seminar for FRB legal staff | 1997 |
| ACVL Managing Director | Led the trade association for major domestic and import captive finance companies, banks, and independent lessors | 1993–2024 |
Related Services
Automotive Consulting
Automotive consulting provides pre-litigation and operational guidance — program design, compliance analysis, and examination preparation — before a dispute or regulatory action arises.
Expert Witness Services
Expert witness services apply that same subject-matter expertise inside active litigation, through written reports, deposition testimony, and trial testimony.
Randall McCathren provides both services and can transition between them as a matter develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical guidance for finance companies, dealerships, insurers, vendors, attorneys, and trade groups evaluating regulatory or operational support.
An automotive finance compliance consultant advises auto finance companies, dealerships, and insurers on regulatory compliance, program design, and operational best practices. Randall McCathren has provided this guidance across auto leasing, vehicle lending, insurance matters, dealership operations, and regulatory compliance for clients since 1982.
Most franchise and independent dealerships are exempt from direct CFPB examination under the Dodd-Frank Act's dealer exemption and instead fall under FTC jurisdiction. Buy-here-pay-here dealers that directly extend credit are an exception. Auto finance companies, lessors, and servicers remain directly subject to CFPB examination.
Regulation M implements the Consumer Leasing Act and requires anyone who regularly leases personal property to consumers to provide standardized cost and disclosure information. Auto lessors, captive finance companies, and dealerships offering leases must comply with Regulation M. Randall McCathren advises on Regulation M program design.
Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) governs credit and financing disclosures, including APR and finance charges. Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) governs lease disclosures, including cost and residual value terms. Randall McCathren advises on compliance with both regulations for finance companies and dealerships offering either product.
Yes. An automotive consultant can provide finance and insurance (F&I) procedure review, sales practice compliance training, and dealer compliance audits. Randall McCathren advises dealerships on F&I compliance, UDAP training, and remediation of issues found during internal or regulatory compliance reviews.
UDAP refers to unfair and deceptive acts and practices, prohibited under federal and state consumer protection law. Dealerships face UDAP exposure in sales, financing, and advertising practices. Randall McCathren provides UDAP compliance training and dealership audits to help identify and correct problematic practices.
Yes. Randall McCathren advises on residual value insurance policy interpretation, GAP insurance compliance and claims, and consumer insurance total loss vehicle valuation. His consulting practice covers auto insurance matters alongside leasing, lending, dealership operations, and regulatory compliance for finance companies and insurers.
The New York Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act, enacted in 1994, is recognized by New York's Attorney General as the first state law on comprehensive vehicle-lease disclosures. Randall McCathren worked with New York regulators from 1989 to 1994, representing major lessors during the statute's development.
Yes. Randall McCathren provides regulatory comment drafting and advocacy for auto finance and leasing rulemakings, drawing on his history of consulting with the Federal Reserve Board on Regulation M. Regulatory comment drafting supports companies and trade groups responding to proposed federal or state regulatory changes.
Randall McCathren has advised auto finance companies, dealerships, insurers, and vendors through BLC Associates, Inc. since 1982.
His consulting practice covers auto leasing, vehicle lending, insurance matters, dealership operations, and regulatory compliance, including CFPB examination preparation for finance companies, lessors, and BHPH dealers.
His regulatory work includes consulting with the Federal Reserve Board and involvement in New York's landmark vehicle leasing statute.
