Bird & Bird LLP’s UK fintech practice works closely with its corporate, commercial, and financial regulation teams, advising start-ups, scale-ups, and major global financial institutions on a wide array of matters. Sectors the team covers include payments, open banking, crypto, AI, digital banking, venture capital, IP, and data protection. Recent significant work matters include advising on a stablecoin-based payment platform, launching a non-custodial crypto wallet, drafting AI contractual frameworks, and advising on cross-border expansion plans for payments firms. On the contentious side, the team has recent experience advising on trademark infringement litigation in the IPEC. Jonathan Emmanuel, co-head of the firm’s UK fintech team, brings sector-leading expertise advising on open banking, payments, crypto, AI, and outsourcing matters. Gavin Punia, fellow co-head, focuses on digital transformation in financial services, advising on payments, e-money, and regulatory compliance. Ruth Boardman, co-head of the firm’s international privacy and data protection group, advises adtech and edtech clients on data and privacy compliance. Mark Rundall specialises in venture capital transactions and complex funding transactions, while Christina Fleming advises on blockchain infrastructure, open banking APIs, payments technology, and digital wallet products.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Bird & Bird have been our go-to firm for technology, IP, and general commercial matters for some time now. They have an excellent team who are commercially minded and always reachable. ’
‘Christian Bartsch and Jonathan Emmanuel stand out for their client service.’
‘The Firm’s responsiveness and consistently high standard of service are key factors in its position as our preferred legal advisor in regulatory matters. ’
‘Each time a new issue arises, Gavin Punia is able to provide an initial, well-considered response, followed by robust and well-reasoned analysis. This approach instills confidence in his capability to grasp the depth of the matters and approach them with a constructive, solutions-oriented approach.'
'They're incredibly client-focused and therefore provide practical advice as well as being very technical lawyers.'
'Very responsive and able to handhold through complex issues to find a resolution. Jonathan Emmanuel and Christina Fleming helped us to understand risks and reach commercially viable decisions on points that we were struggling to understand.'
Key clients
- Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA)
- Macquarie Bank Limited
- Wise Payments Limited
- NOAH
Work highlights
Advised crypto on-ramp/off-ramp provider, NOAH, on all its legal matters including corporate, product counselling, regulatory and data protection advice.
Represented COPA in its case against Dr. Craig Wright concerning the creation of Bitcoin, culminating in a ruling that confirmed Wright is not the cryptocurrency’s inventor.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Jonathan Emmanuel; Gavin Punia
Other key lawyers
Mark Rundall; Christina Fleming