Fieldfisher

Banking & Finance

Eric Romba is a Partner in Fieldfisher’s Berlin and Frankfurt am Main offices and advises on digital finance.

He develops the regulatory frameworks that enable digital financial products to become truly viable. Several of the projects he has supported his clients on are regarded as ‘pioneers’ in German digital asset law: For example, in 2026 he was responsible for securing the first ZAG licence granted in Germany for a MiCAR crypto-asset service provider, and as early as 2019 he acted as legal architect for Germany’s first BaFin-licensed security token offering (Bitbond).

He advises banks, securities firms, payment service providers, crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), fintechs, digital platforms, investors and corporates at the intersection of capital markets law, regulatory law and digital product architecture.

A particular focus is on authorisation procedures under MiCAR, the German Securities Act (WpIG), the German Banking Act (KWG) and the German Payment Services Act (ZAG), as well as on digital capital market structuring, including the eWpG and tokenisation.

As a ‘regulatory architect’, Eric Romba doesn't just interpret regulatory complexity; he also plays an active role in shaping structures that enable new technologies to become economically viable.

In addition, he advises on DORA and IT compliance, on payments and the topic of ‘digital ID’, as well as on cross-border matters between Germany, Switzerland, the USA and Israel. In doing so, he either helps established institutions adapt to the new landscape or supports challengers in operating within the regulatory framework.

His approach combines in-depth technical understanding with legal precision: he is convinced that the legal framework can be shaped by technical arrangements and vice versa – legal structures that work with technology rather than against it. Clients come to him when a digital financial product is breaking new legal ground and there is no ready-made blueprint – and they leave with a structure that stands up to scrutiny by the regulators and works in the market.

As a qualified business mediator, he brings structure to complex discussions and decision-making processes. He highlights interests, organises issues and brings different perspectives together – calmly, clearly and in a solution-oriented manner. He applies this skill in conflict resolution, strategy and sparring situations, thereby reinforcing what matters to him: personal interaction, a distinctive legal personality and a reliable client relationship – even in an increasingly digital environment. For him, being a lawyer means more than just providing legal advice: He takes a holistic approach and aims to help his clients develop their businesses.

Recommendations

Chambers, Legal 500 and JUVE list Eric Romba in the fields of digital assets and financial market regulation – in Tier 2 of the Chambers FinTech Guide 2026, and as a leading partner in the Legal 500 FinTech Guide 2026. Clients describe him in the JUVE ranking as a “top adviser with a strong industry network”; WirtschaftsWoche and the Handelsblatt Research Institute have also recognised him for his work in banking, finance and capital markets law.

Publication

He is the author of numerous specialist articles on the regulation of digital assets and financial market law, including in *Fondsbrief*, *RDi*, *RdF* and *Der Betrieb*. His topics range from the world of digital securities (the eWpG transition framework, tokenisation) and crypto fund units, ELTIFs and the Future Financing Act, to regulatory developments such as BaFin’s circular on crypto custodians and current case law (including the ECJ judgement of 12 September 2024 on the disclosure of investor data).

During his career, Eric Romba worked at the German Bundestag, headed an industry association in Berlin and Brussels, and worked for several renowned law firms, including an international firm where he was head of the Banking & Capital Markets practice group, before joining Fieldfisher in 2026.

He advises his clients in German and English.

He is a regular speaker at industry conferences. On LinkedIn, he analyses the latest regulatory developments relating to digital assets and financial market regulation, and engages in active professional dialogue with the industry.

Eric Romba studied law in Bonn and completed his legal training in Berlin; he has been admitted to the bar since 2003.