The group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has well-established capabilities in assisting its clientele, which features start-ups and established financial institutions, in advisory, regulatory, and litigation contexts. Jeffrey Poss has experience assisting fintech investors and companies in private equity-related cases. Christopher Giancarlo is a digital assets and crypto specialist, while Kari Larsen harnesses expertise advising a variety of clients on innovative products and tech, and has ‘unmatched’ experience with regulators. The three co-lead from the firm’s New York office, alongside Washington DC-based ’superstar’ Kristina Littman, who has experience assisting with crypto, digital assets, and cybersecurity matters, in advisory as well as investigation and enforcement contexts. Also in DC, key practitioner Chelsea Pizzola has ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of financial regulations spanning multiple asset classes and regulators’; Pizzola joined the team in June 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Kari Larsen's in-depth experience with the market and regulators is unmatched.'
‘Deep bench and accessible partners.’
‘Kristina Littman is a superstar. Her availability and risk-weighted advice has proven important in edge case liability concerns.’
‘The team is extremely knowledgeable on crypto issues. They stay up to date on all crypto developments and can help handle any crypto-related issue.'
'Very thoughtful team with diverse experience across the financial services world.’
‘Chelsea Pizzola is an extremely sharp lawyer with a huge amount of knowledge and expertise in crypto generally, CFTC world (swaps, futures, event contracts), as well as SEC world.'
'Chelsea Pizzola is maybe the most thoughtful and commercial outside counsel we work with, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of financial regulations spanning multiple asset classes and regulators. Overall, she has great judgment and can be counted on to help answer very complicated questions.’
Work highlights
Advised one of the world’s largest digital asset liquidity providers/market makers on US federal and state regulatory matters, including registration and compliance programs for a suite of planned US businesses overseen by SEC, CFTC, NY DFS, and other federal and state stakeholders.
Representing the leading crypto options exchange, in its sale to global crypto platform Coinbase for approximately $2.9 billion.
Advised a video-sharing platform and cloud services provider, in its strategic investment of $775 million from Tether ($USDT), the largest company in the digital assets industry and the most widely used dollar stablecoin across the world with more than 350 million users.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Jeffrey Poss; Christopher Giancarlo; Kari Larsen; Kristina Littman
Other key lawyers
Chelsea Pizzola