The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Fintech

Latham & Watkins LLP fields a multidisciplinary team — which includes commercial and technology, intellectual property, regulatory and emerging companies experts — to advise its impressive client roster which ranges from established financial institutions to start-ups. The practice, which includes commercial, intellectual property, regulatory and emerging companies experts, is led by the 'incredibly knowledgeable and reliable' Todd Beauchamp, who 'really understands payments and has a deep knowledge of not only the law but the business practices of the industry'. Names to note in the New York office include Stephen Wink, who attracts praise for his 'broad experience advising on regulatory issues as they relate to the blockchain industry'; head of the US derivatives regulatory practice Yvette Valdez; and emerging companies specialist David Concannon. Mitchell Rabinowitz and Jenny Cieplak joined the team from Crowell & Moring LLP, strengthening the firm's transactional fintech expertise; Rabinowitz advises on structures of and regulatory considerations for M&A, outsourcings, joint ventures and strategic alliances, while Cieplak advises on issues ranging from corporate transactions and intellectual property to regulatory issues. Vivian Maese left the team for Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in January 2019. All individuals named are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

The team at Mayer Brown brings together financial regulatory and transactional expertise to advise enviable clients, including PayPal, American Express and Square, on a huge variety of matters in the fintech sector. Practice co-head David Beam has a breadth of experience in areas such as payments and credit products regulation, emerging technology and federal preemption of state financial laws, while Steven Kaplan is particularly active in the consumer loan space. Beam and Kaplan (both in Washington DC) jointly lead the practice alongside Chicago-based partners Brad Peterson and Elizabeth Raymond, who focus on technology transactions and financial institutions M&A, respectively. Rebecca Eisner, who is also in Chicago, and Palo Alto-based Rohith George are other names to note for technology sector transactions. Matt Kluchenek joined in Chicago from Baker McKenzie LLP and focuses on cryptocurrency regulation.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP attracts praise for its 'broad substantive knowledge' and 'ability to distill issues and provide a real-world experienced-based responses'. The cross-departmental team is 'able to provide a full spectrum of services' to its impressive client roster, which includes innovative disruptors, established players and industry associations such as Revolut, Stripe, American Express and Innovative Lending Platform Association. Barrie VanBrackle is rated for her 'detailed knowledge of the regulatory environment and the business environment', particularly in the payments space; she jointly heads the practice from Washington DC alongside New York-based Christopher Austin, an 'innovative thinker' who specializes in capital markets transactions and cryptocurrency matters, and Howard Altarescu, who has 'deep experience relating to structured transactions, products and securitizations'. The group further strengthened its data privacy and cybersecurity capabilities with the addition of Heather Sussman, who joined the Boston office from Ropes & Gray LLP.

Particularly strong in the areas of the payments, blockchain and cryptocurrency, Paul Hastings LLP's fintech group acts for some of the markets leading players, such as Samsung, Gemini, Coinbase and Circle. The group combines a strong nationwide multi-disciplinary team with the ability to work with the firm's international network in cross-border matters. Atlanta-based practice head Chris Daniel has a strong reputation in the payments space and represents a diverse group of clients, including non-bank and bank financial institutions and other companies active in banking and payment systems. Key contacts in the Washington DC office include of counsel Lawrence Kaplan, and privacy and cybersecurity-expert Behnam Dayanim, who has particular expertise in the gaming sector. Other names to note include San Francisco-based competition and antitrust partner Thomas Brown and of counsels Erica Brennan and Sara Weed, both of whom are based in Atlanta and advise on a range of regulatory and corporate matters.

DLA Piper LLP (US)'s fintech team attracts praise for its 'ability to combine strong, core fintech competencies with expertise in other areas of commercial and regulatory matters'. The practice advises a client roster spanning banks and other established financial institutions to emerging fintech companies on a full range of legal and business matters. New York-based practice head David Luce has experience of corporate and financing transactions in the fintech and insurtech sectors, while Washington DC-based Margo Tank is rated for her abundant 'expertise and creativity' in advising financial institutions and technology companies on regulatory compliance matters. In the Silicon Valley office, Mark Radcliffe and Curtis Mo focus on venture capital investing and blockchain matters, respectively. The group was also strengthened by the arrivals of Joshua Samek in Miami, who joined from Greenberg Traurig LLP, and Travis Leach, who joined the emerging growth and venture capital team in the Phoenix office from Ballard Spahr LLP. Louis Lehot left the team and has since founded boutique firm L2 Counsel.

Goodwin's multi-disciplinary fintech team handles a range of regulatory, transactional and litigious matters across the sector, with a particular focus on consumer-focused financial services. Scott Joachim, who splits his time between the Sillicon Valley and New York offices, jointly leads the practice alongside Mike Whalen and Amber Dolman in Washington DC and Boston, respectively. Joachim focuses on private equity and venture capital transactions; Whalen has experience of regulatory and transactional matters in the digital currency and blockchain sectors; and Dolman is rated for her breadth of experience in corporate and private equity transactions, and securities law. Other names to note include Silicon Valley-based litigator Grant Fondo, Mitzi Chang in San Francisco, and Kimberly Monty Holzel in Boston, a key contact for advice on consumer financial services regulatory compliance. John Servidio recently joined the New York office from Winston & Strawn LLP; he brings expertise in capital markets, digital currency and blockchain technology, and financial products.

Acting for household names such as PayPal, Santander and Walmart, the fintech group at Hogan Lovells US LLP is rated for its 'expertise, knowledge, and availability'. The cross-departmental team brings together individuals from its financial services regulation, corporate transactional, intellectual property, technology, and data protection practices, among others, to provide comprehensive service to clients in every segment of the fintech sector. Richard Schaberg leads the team from the DC office; he acts for banks and financial institutions in corporate and securities transactions and regulatory matters. Also recommended are Theodore Mlynar, a contact in New York for work involving blockchain and smart contract technologies; Washington DC-based Gregory Lisa, who is recognized for his 'sharp intellect' and regulatory expertise; and Sillion Valley-based managing partner Nathaniel Gallon, who is a name to note for start-ups and emerging fintech companies.

Morrison & Foerster LLP's industry-focused practice group brings together multi-disciplinary expertise in financial services, technology, intellectual property, data protection and cybersecurity to advise its emerging bank and non-bank fintech clients on a full range of issues facing the sector. Key contacts include financial regulatory expert Obrea Poindexter, Sean Ruff and corporate partner Eric McCrath in San Francisco, and Palo Alto-based Stephanie Sharron.

Ballard Spahr LLP's fintech industry practice group handles a range of transactional matters, regulatory work and disputes in the retail and consumer finance space. The multi-disciplinary team counts traditional financial institutions and new fintech players among its client roster. Key partners include New York-based James Kim, who advises on compliance and enforcement actions; consumer finance regulatory expert Jeremy Rosenblum in Philadelphia; and Philadelphia-based student lending sector expert John Culhane. Judy Mok, who focuses on payments transactions, joined the New York office from Apple, and privacy and data security expert Kim Phan joined the DC office from WilmerHale. Christopher Ford left the firm in 2020.

Clifford Chance handles a range of transactional and regulatory work in the financial services sector, and in the area of fintech, the firm has shown experience of blockchain and smart contracts, insurtech, and a variety of other matters. Megan Gordon in Washington DC is a name to note for regulatory work, while David Felsenthal in New York is a contact for fintech transactions.

Cooley LLP is known for its work in the disruptive technology space, where it brings together skill sets in corporate and finance transactions, data privacy, and intellectual property to provide a range of services to clients in the fintech space. The practice group is headed by Boston-based Alfred Browne, who specializes in private equity and technology transactions.

Rated for its 'agile and pragmatic approach to multi-jurisdiction advising', Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is a firm that clients in the fintech and blockchain space 'want on their side' for transactions, regulatory issues and disputes. Leveraging a standout firm-wide reputation for corporate work, the fintech team is particularly well known for its ability to assist bank lenders, fintech companies, and investors with critical corporate and financing transactions. Names to note include technology and IP expert David Kappos ('unparalleled in the market for knowledge, skills, expertise and pragmatic approach'), and corporate partners Scott Bennett and Michael Mariani.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP boasts a strong financial services regulatory practice, which has experience acting for clients in the fintech sector. The team was recently strengthened by the arrival of Dallas-based Erin Fonté, who joined the team from Dykema Gossett PLLC. Fonté now heads the practice group, and has a breadth of financial regulatory experience, with a particular focus in payment systems, and the payments space more generally. The cross-departmental team includes cybersecurity expert Lisa Sotto and consumer lending specialist Steven Becker, both of whom are based in New York. Scott Kimpel is a contact in Washington DC; he has particular experience in matters involving blockchain and distributed ledger technology. Names to note for financial services litigation include Jarrett Hale ('deep knowledge and also a broad industry view') and Tara Elgie, who are based in Dallas.

K&L Gates advises traditional financial institutions and emerging technology companies on a range of corporate and commercial, regulatory and intellectual property issues. Dividing his time between New York and Pittsburgh, Robert Zinn jointly leads the team alongside Judith Rinearson, who splits her time between New York and London and specializes in the emerging payments space. Rick Giovannelli, based in Charlotte, has particular experience advising traditional financial institutions on transactional matters involving FinTech companies. In Washington DC, Linda Odom is another name to note for matters in the payments space, while John ReVeal is rated for his financial services regulatory expertise. In the Chicago office the team added Daniel Farris and Christopher Hines from Fox Rothschild LLP; Farris specializes in data privacy and technology transactions, while Hines focuses on helping tech-sector clients develop their IP assets.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP acts both for established and emerging businesses in a huge range of corporate and transactional matters, and disputes. The multi-disciplinary US team also benefits from the ability to leverage the firm's international network to handle cross-border matters in jurisdictions including London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Sheryl Orr in New York has acted for corporates and financial institutions in M&A and financing deals, while Andrew Ray in Washington DC is a key advisor for start-ups in the fintech space. Orr and Ray jointly head the team alongside Mark Stein in Boston, who focuses on private equity and venture capital transactions.

Perkins Coie LLP's fintech team has expertise in corporate and commercial transactions, regulatory compliance and intellectual property, and has been especially experienced in the blockchain technology and digital currency space. Key contacts in Chicago include practice head Dax Hansen and Marcelo Halpern. Seattle-based Joseph Cutler is a contact for regulatory advice on distributed ledger technology.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's multi-disciplinary team has a track record of acting for private equity investors and fintech companies in corporate and finance transactions. Contacts in New York include practice head Jeffrey Poss, who specializes private equity and venture capital transactions, and Eugene Chang, who is a name to note for intellectual property matters. The firm strengthened its practice with several new hires in 2019: Washington DC-based Michael Gottlieb joined from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, boosting the team's profile in cybersecurity and data privacy incident response, while litigators Simona Agnolucci and Benedict Hur joined from Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP and subsequently helped establish the firm's San Francisco office. In addition, former CFTC chairman Christopher Giancarlo joined as senior counsel in New York, adding substantial regulatory expertise in cryptocurrency space.

Arnold & Porter's cross-departmental team handles a range of corporate and commercial transactions in the fintech space. The service group is headed by David Freeman, and is made up of partners with expertise in financial services regulation, corporate transactions, intellectual property, privacy, public policy, and litigation. Christopher Allen and Michael Mancusi (who also has expertise in enforcement) are names to note for financial regulatory advice, and Lawton Camp in New York is a contact for blockchain projects and matters relating to alternative financing platforms. Also of note, the team was recently strengthened by the recent arrival of Charles Yi from FDIC. All named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Greenberg Traurig LLP's blockchain and cryptocurrency group has core strength in financial regulation, and has also shown expertise across a range of transactional and contentious matters in the digital currency space. Carl Fornaris in Miami counts regulatory compliance, licensing and corporate transactions among his areas of expertise and jointly leads the practice alongside Los Angeles-based Barbara Jones, who focuses on corporate and securities regulatory matters. William Mack in New York is another name to note for securities law advice in the cryptocurrency space. Also of note, David Miller recently joined the New York office from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Miller specializes in white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and securities and commodities enforcement.

McGuireWoods LLP advises emerging financial services companies offering consumer-facing fintech products on a range of compliance issues, litigation, technology transactions, government investigations and regulatory enforcement matters. Rakesh Gopalan leads the multi-disciplinary team from the Charlotte office and focuses on corporate and securities matters alongside Richmond-based James Anderson. In Chicago, Sarah Zielinski is a name to note for commercial and class action litigation, while Susan Rodriguez handles civil litigation, government investigations and enforcement actions. Former practice co-head David Reidy moved in-house to PayActiv.

Norton Rose Fulbright's fintech practice is rated for its 'knowledge of current developments in US national and worldwide cryptocurrency and blockchain industry'. The multi-disciplinary practice group is jointly led by regulatory and commercial litigation partner Ronald David Smith in Dallas, and New York-based Andrew Lom, who advises investment funds and financial institutions on transactional and regulatory matters. The group also benefits from strong intellectual property and data privacy capabilities. Paul Keller in New York is a name to note for patent and trade secrets matters.

Ropes & Gray LLP's cross-departmental fintech practice combines experts from its financial services, intellectual property and technology teams with the firm's securities regulation, privacy and cybersecurity, capital markets, insurance and related risk management and litigation capabilities. Boston-based Edward Black (described by one client as 'the go-to person for any IP-related matter') jointly heads the TMT practice alongside Matthew Jacobson and Andrew Thomases, who are based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, respectively. San Francisco-based Edward Baer and Sarah Davidoff in New York are highlighted for their experience in investments in cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency fund formation. Cybersecurity expert Heather Sussman moved to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.