BOSTON — The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), a preeminent force in the fight for economic justice and consumer protection in the United States, announced a significant realignment of its leadership on September 14, 2026. As the organization navigates an increasingly complex financial landscape—marked by the rapid evolution of consumer credit products, digital banking, and the persistent challenges of wealth inequality—the appointment of new board members and a change in presidency signals a strategic strengthening of the organization’s institutional capacity.
Main Facts: The New Guard at the NCLC
The NCLC has officially appointed two nationally recognized legal authorities to its Board of Directors: Jim Kowalski Jr. and Professor Patricia McCoy. Their addition to the board represents a fusion of frontline advocacy experience and deep regulatory intellectual capital.
Simultaneously, the board has elected Jonathan Kravetz as its new president. A retired partner from the prestigious Boston-based law firm Mintz, Kravetz assumes the role following the conclusion of an historic 21-year tenure by outgoing president Michael Ferry. These changes are not merely administrative; they represent a deliberate effort by the NCLC to bolster its governance as it continues to influence federal and state policy, provide expert testimony, and produce the authoritative treatises that guide consumer law practitioners across the nation.
Chronology: A Legacy of Leadership and Continuity
To understand the significance of this transition, one must look at the historical trajectory of the NCLC’s board leadership.
- 1990: Jonathan Kravetz joins the NCLC Board of Directors, beginning a multi-decade commitment to the organization’s mission.
- 1995: Michael Ferry begins his long-standing service on the NCLC board.
- 2005: Michael Ferry is elected president of the board, a role he would hold for the next 21 years, overseeing the organization during periods of immense economic turbulence, including the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent regulatory overhauls.
- 2026 (September 14): The NCLC officially announces the conclusion of Ferry’s two-decade presidency and the election of Kravetz. Alongside this, the organization formalizes the appointment of Jim Kowalski Jr. and Patricia McCoy to the board.
The transition marks the end of an era defined by Ferry’s steady hand. Having served for over 40 years in civil legal aid, including two decades as the executive director of Gateway Legal Services in St. Louis, Ferry’s leadership was characterized by a commitment to grassroots legal support and systemic policy reform. His successor, Jonathan Kravetz, brings to the presidency an intimate knowledge of the NCLC’s evolution over the last 36 years, ensuring that while the leadership style may shift, the organization’s core mission remains anchored in its historical principles.
Supporting Data: Profiles in Advocacy and Expertise
The appointments of Kowalski and McCoy bring a combined wealth of expertise that touches upon both the practical application of consumer law and the theoretical framework of financial regulation.
Jim Kowalski Jr.: The Practitioner’s Advocate
Currently serving as the President and CEO of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) in Florida, Jim Kowalski Jr. is a figure deeply embedded in the trenches of consumer protection. His background as a trial attorney specializing in consumer litigation gives him a unique vantage point on the hardships faced by low-income families. A graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law and the University of California, Berkeley, Kowalski has been a long-time partner to the NCLC. His receipt of the UC Berkeley Haas Public Service Award underscores his lifelong commitment to public-minded legal work.
Professor Patricia McCoy: The Regulatory Architect
Patricia McCoy, the Liberty Mutual Insurance Professor at Boston College Law School, represents the academic and regulatory backbone of the new appointments. Her career includes foundational work as the founder of the Mortgage Markets group at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and as a consultant to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Her expertise—spanning banking, insurance, and securities regulation—is expected to be vital as the NCLC addresses the "legal landscape of subprime mortgages" and other modern consumer finance issues. Her academic pedigree, including degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and Oberlin College, provides the NCLC with a formidable intellectual resource.
Official Responses: A Vision for the Future
Richard Dubois, the Executive Director of the NCLC, framed the transition as a moment of great fortune for the organization. "NCLC is very fortunate to add these two nationally recognized consumer law experts to our Board of Directors," Dubois stated.
Regarding the departure of Michael Ferry, Dubois reflected on the magnitude of the loss: "Mike Ferry has had an immeasurable impact on NCLC in his more than two decades as Board President. I will miss his steady guiding hand and his wisdom, but know that his leadership has put NCLC in a strong position for future success."
The incoming board members expressed a deep personal connection to the NCLC’s mission. Jim Kowalski remarked, "NCLC was an integral part of both my introduction to and continued development as a consumer protection attorney… Each one of the clients I’ve helped owes a debt to NCLC, as do I."
Patricia McCoy echoed this sentiment, describing her appointment as "coming full circle." She noted, "I started my legal career at Legal Services in rural Kansas, serving low-income workers and two tribal reservations. Years later, NCLC’s treatises proved essential in helping me unknot the legal landscape of subprime mortgages. To join NCLC’s board is the deepest honor."
Implications: The Road Ahead for Consumer Protection
The appointment of this new leadership team comes at a critical juncture for American consumers. As the digital economy accelerates, the NCLC faces a host of new challenges:
1. The Proliferation of Fintech and Algorithmic Bias
With the rise of "Buy Now, Pay Later" schemes and AI-driven credit scoring, the legal definitions of fairness are constantly being tested. The board’s new composition, which includes experts in both litigation and regulatory policy, is well-positioned to tackle these modern "shadow" banking issues.
2. Strengthening Civil Legal Aid
Under the guidance of practitioners like Kowalski, the NCLC is expected to continue its focus on the intersection of private litigation and civil legal aid. This is crucial at a time when the "justice gap"—the disparity between the legal needs of low-income individuals and the resources available to meet them—remains a persistent crisis in the American legal system.
3. Institutional Stability
The transition from Ferry to Kravetz is a masterclass in institutional continuity. By elevating a board member who has served since 1990, the NCLC ensures that the organizational memory remains intact. This stability is essential for an organization that relies on long-term advocacy campaigns to effect change in federal law.
4. A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
By blending the "on-the-ground" experience of legal aid providers with the "top-down" regulatory knowledge of academics like McCoy, the NCLC is evolving into a more agile organization. This multi-disciplinary approach will likely enhance the center’s ability to influence rule-making processes while simultaneously supporting the attorneys who represent individual consumers in state courts.
Conclusion
As the NCLC looks toward the next decade, the appointment of Jim Kowalski Jr., Patricia McCoy, and the presidency of Jonathan Kravetz marks more than a routine change in personnel. It is a strategic consolidation of expertise. The NCLC remains, as it has been for decades, the intellectual and practical bedrock of consumer law in the United States. With this new leadership structure, the organization is poised to continue its mission of defending the economic rights of all citizens, ensuring that the law serves as a shield for the vulnerable rather than a sword for the powerful. As Michael Ferry steps down, he leaves behind a legacy of integrity and a path forward for his successors to continue the tireless work of securing economic justice for all.
