WilmerHale

Artificial Intelligence; Bank Regulation and Enforcement; Blockchain and Cryptocurrency; Broker-Dealer Compliance and Regulation; Consumer Financial Services; Cross-Border Investigations and Compliance; Financial Services; FinTech, Futures and Derivatives; Investigations; SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) Transactions

Partner
Co-Chair, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Working Group

Tiffany J. Smith has over fifteen years of experience advising and representing broker-dealers, financial institutions, and technology companies (including crypto companies) on cutting-edge regulatory and compliance matters. She has a broad client base including traditional financial institutions such as broker-dealers and exchanges, crypto platforms, NFT issuers and platforms, Web3 companies, payment platforms and investment firms.

Tiffany is a nationally recognized and Chambers Fintech ranked expert on crypto regulation. She has a deep understanding of trading, crypto, and securities regulations, and served as a witness at a House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence hearing on crypto market structure.  Tiffany is a sought-out adviser to some of the largest and most prominent U.S. and international fintech and crypto companies on their most critical matters.  Her representative matters include those related to, among others: registration and licensing applications; product counseling and coordination of global product reviews; drafting comment letters on proposed rules and regulations; advising on regulatory and policy strategy development; developing policies and procedures; drafting amicus briefs in connection with crypto cases; and federal and state examination, enforcement, and litigation.

Tiffany also frequently represents and counsels traditional financial entities on a range of both routine and business critical matters.  Her representative matters include advising on, among others: newly adopted rules and increased areas of focus; registration matters (e.g., broker-dealer); the regulatory implications of new and emerging technologies (e.g., AI); offshore activities; product counseling; technical rules (e.g., Reg T, CAT, Rule 15c3-5); internal investigations; enforcement actions; and corporate transactions, including broker-dealer acquisitions and continuing membership applications.

At the firm, Ms. Smith has been active on the Diversity Committee, Hiring Committee, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, and various volunteer-based initiatives. From 2016–2019, she was co-chair of firm's New York summer associate program.

While in law school, Ms. Smith was a Compliance Audit Specialist for M&T Securities. She audited personnel to ensure compliance with internal, federal and self-regulatory organization rules, and held the following securities licenses: Series 6, 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65. Ms. Smith also interned at the Investment Management Division of the SEC and the Litigation Department at FINRA.

Professional Activities

Ms. Smith frequently speaks on crypto, AI and diversity issues at conferences and client events, and has been featured in a number of publications regarding these topics including Forbes, NPR, the Business Insider and Chambers Associate. Ms. Smith was appointed to Law360’s FinTech Editorial Advisory Board for 2024.

In 2014, Ms. Smith completed the Council of Urban Professionals Executive Leadership Program, a year-long leadership development program comprised of leadership training, coaching and keynote conversations with executives, and is a 2020 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. Ms. Smith is also a member of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, Women in Crypto, the New York City Bar, the National Bar Association, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association and the LGBT Bar Association of New York; and on the Board of the Legal Aid Society.

Memberships: Wall Street Blockchain Alliance Women in Crypto New York City Bar Association National Bar Association Metropolitan Black Bar Association LGBT Bar Association of New York Legal Aid Society, Board Member

Bar Admissions: District of Columbia New York

The George Washington University Law School, J.D. (2008)

The George Washington University, B.B.A. (2004)