The Financial Protection Law Center is a non-profit public interest law firm founded in 2001. We provide legal services and support to protect low-income people and families from unfair and predatory financial practices to preserve home ownership and enhance their ability to build equity and prosper.
Mallam J. Maynard
The Financial Protection Law Center was founded by Mal Maynard. He served as Executive Director through 2019 and retired from the firm in 2020. Mal is a nationally recognized consumer advocate who saved thousands of family homes and farms and served as co-counsel in class action cases against mortgage and payday lenders throughout his distinguished legal career. FPLC owes its existence to Mal and his legacy and spirit continue to inspire our work.
Stella Adams
Stella Adams, CEO, S J Adams Consulting, is a nationally recognized expert on the Fair Housing Act and its implementing regulations. She is also a nationally respected expert on Small Business Lending Discrimination. Ms. Adams has developed education and outreach materials related to consumer compliance policy, financial literacy, and various civil rights laws.
Charles A. Bentley, Jr.
Charles A. Bentley, Jr. has been an active trial lawyer since 1971. He has practiced law in Durham since 1974. He is licensed in North Carolina and Alabama. Charles has devoted his professional life to helping clients who have been injured as the result of negligence. Charles devotes 100% of his professional time to trial practice and each client receives his personal attention. Charles received his B.A. from Auburn University and law degree from the University of Virginia. He is an active member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Keith Corbett
Keith Corbett, a well-known racial justice advocate and equity builder, is the current Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer of the International Housing and Economic Development Corporation. He started his career in real estate and insurance, which led him to 20 years with the Center for Responsible Lending, where his work focused on eliminating abusive financial practices at the state and national levels. In addition to serving as a longtime board member of the Financial Protection Law Center, Keith served on the boards of the National Association of Realtors and the North Carolina Association of Realtors, and as treasurer for the North Carolina State NAACP and the National Baptist Convention housing and economic board.
Maria McIntyre
Maria has been an attorney with FPLC since its inception and became the Executive Director in 2020. Her advocacy is focused on defending and seeking justice for lower-income and financially distressed homeowners and clients. Maria practices primarily in the areas of foreclosure defense, mortgage and mobile home lending litigation and consumer bankruptcy. She is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the National Association of Consumer Advocates and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the NC Equal Justice Alliance. Maria is a proud Tar Heel, having received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina.
April Cheers
With over 30 years of experience working in the legal field, April joined our organization in 2011 as an Office Manager and North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal. She is a native of the Wilmington, NC, area and graduated from UNCW with a B.A. in English.