Keith Wier focuses his practice on the defense of individual and class action suits under state and federal consumer statutes, professional liability defense, and compliance issues for members of the collection industry.
He has substantial experience defending collection agencies, law firms, debt buyers, and creditors in consumer litigation in Texas and is certified as a specialist in Consumer and Commercial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
His professional liability defense work includes defense of realtors, insurance agents and brokers, lawyers, and other professionals.
Keith is a frequent lecturer and author on defense and compliance issues facing the legal malpractice, collection, credit, and debt buying industries and has taught at the University of Houston Law Center.
His published articles include:
» “Are Extended Business Offices Now On Consumer Attorneys’ Radars?,” Southwest Collector Connector, Spring 2021;
» “The CFPB’s Outline of Debt Collection Proposals: A Look Into the Past and Future,” Business Law Today, October 2016;
» “Addressing the Sweeping Expanse of Out-of-Stat Debt,” DBA Magazine, Fall 2016;
» “Cybersecurity: Risks Are Everywhere,” NL Insider, August 2016;
» “Brand Creation, Maintenance and Evolution,” Strategic Communications ITS, February 2005;
» “Contracting With Your Creditor Clients & Insurance Carriers: Points to Consider,” ACA of Texas Collector Connector, February 2000;
His speaking engagements and webinars include:
» Current Data Security Issues Impacting Debt Collection, 2023 Annual Southwest ACA Conference & Expo, October 2023;
» Medical Debt and the Ever-Changing Regulatory Landscape, ACA International 2022 Fall Forum, November 2022;
» Medical Debt and the Ever-Changing Regulatory Landscape, Southwest ACA Conference & Expo, October 2022;
» The CFPB’s Focus on Medical Debt and the Credit Reporting Agencies’ Response: What You Need to Know, ACA International Convention & Expo, July 2022;
» Debt Defense – A View From The Other Side, ACA International Fall Forum, November 2021;
» Pre-Litigation Demand Letter Trends, AccountsRecovery.net Webinar, April 2021;
» Legal ‘Gotcha’s that Getcha!’, 2019 Southwest ACA Conference and Expo, October 2019;
» Non-FDCPA Liability for Creditors in Today’s Litigation Environment, The Compliance Forum, October 2018;
» The TCPA: The Good and the Better, 2018 Southwest ACA Conference and Expo, May 2018;
» Current Issues in Debt Buying, RMA International Annual Conference, February 2018;
» Post Spokeo, So You Think You Can Sue?, 13th Annual Advanced Consumer and Commercial Law Course, TexasBarCLE, September 2017;
» Electronic Payments: No More Being Lost and Confused, Debt Collection Forum, April 2017;
» The Supreme Court’s Trilogy on Consumer Law, NARCA Webinar, February 2017;
» The Supreme Court’s Trilogy on Consumer Law – Gomez, Spokeo and Gillie – How Will These Opinions Affect Your Practice?, NARCA Fall Conference, October 2016;
» The Gillie and Spokeo U.S. Supreme Court Cases and Their Meaning for the Creditors Rights Attorney, NARCA Webinar, May 2016;
» Vicarious Liability: How to Protect Yourself in This New Era of Regulatory Supervision, NARCA Spring Conference, May 2016;
» Vicarious Liability, DBA International Annual Conference, February 2014;
» Where are the CFPB and FTC Heading?, MAP Fall Forum, November 2013;
» Whose Net Worth is at Risk?, NARCA Fall Conference, October 2013;
» How to Prepare Your Compliance Program for the CFPB, ACA International Face-to-Face Seminar, September 2013;
» The CFPB: The Latest Developments and Investigation Readiness, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2013;
» Responding to the CFPB Investigations and Enforcement Action, ACA Fall Forum, November 2012;
» Hot Topics in Legislation, Litigation, and Licensing, NARCA Fall Conference, October 2011;
» Handling Adversary Complaints in Bankruptcy Court, MAP Legal Education Conference, July 2010;
» Hot Issues for Debt Buyers, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2010;
» Safely Communicating by Electronic Means: Can You Contact Consumers by Voicemail, Email, Text Messaging and Cell Phones Without Violating FDCPA?, NARCA Spring Conference, May 2010;
» Bankruptcy Online Seminar, ACA International, March 2008;
» Litigation and Witness Immunity in FDCPA and Other Consumer Suits, NARCA Fall Conference, November 2007;
» Bankruptcy Online Seminar, ACA International, October 2007;
» Fair Debt Collection, Collection and Creditors’ Rights, Texas Bar CLE, May 2007;
» Mock Trial, MAP Legal Education Conference, July 2006;
» Handling Lawsuits for the Debt Collection Industry: An Overview, 2006 State Bar Convention Consumer Law Division, June 2006;
» Court Cases & FDCPA Update, ACA of Texas Annual Conference, October 2005;
» FDCPA Issues for Owners, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2003;
» Attorney Panel – A Chance to Ask, an Opportunity to Learn; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – Issues for Owners, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2002;
» Update on Bankruptcy Law: What You Need to Know, Creditors International Teleseminar, May 2002;
» Compliance Instructor, ACA Foundational Training on PPMS Agenda, April 2002;
» MAP Attorney Open Forum: Legal Issues for the Credit and Collection Industry, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2001;
» Unauthorized Practice of Law and Assignment of Accounts; The Year in Review…Case Law Update; Collection Notice Review Education Session; MAP Legal Education Conference, July 2000;
» Data Privacy Issues Today, Mission: Possible, ACA International Annual Convention, July 2000;
» Workers’ Compensation & Bad Faith Review & Update, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, April 2000;
» Workers’ Compensation & Bad Faith Review & Update, CNA Insurance Company, December 1999;
» Turn the Key to Collection Success!, ACA International Student Loan Collection Conference, October 1999;
» Workers’ Compensation & Bad Faith Review & Update, Amerisure Insurance Company, February 1999; and
» FDCPA Issues for Owners, American Collectors Association, 1998.
Keith is a past member of the board of directors for ACA International and the past chairman of ACA’s Members’ Attorney Program. In addition, he has served as Defense Bar Committee chair for NARCA – The National Creditors Bar Association.
Keith is an initial member of the Employment Practice Committee for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).
He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Austin Bar Association, the American Bankers Association, ACA International, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the Receivables Management Association International (RMAI).
Keith received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center in 1986.
He is admitted to practice before the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma.