Welcome to the Latham & Watkins Global Fintech & Digital Assets Blog.
Here, you will find our views and short updates on the most important local and international developments impacting innovation in financial services.
We help clients around the globe navigate the critical and ever-changing business, legal and regulatory issues associated with the technological disruption of financial services. Our global coverage, combined with expertise from more than 60 established practice and industry groups, enables us to advise clients throughout the fintech ecosystem. We work with:
- Financial institutions as they adapt and transform helping financial institutions improve infrastructure, trade processing and service delivery through strategic alliances, consortia deals and regulated outsourcings that enable the adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, cloud computing and data analytics.
- Fintech startups — from inception through all rounds of funding, to IPO and beyond. We protect startups’ intellectual property as they enter into partnerships with other participants in the fintech industry, and the firm helps them navigate the complex regulatory environment so they can prosper and grow.
- Technology companies diversifying into fintech working with technology and internet companies as they make investments globally and roll-out mobile payment platforms in new markets. We support new entrants on tailoring their products to address the legal and cross-border issues around cybersecurity, privacy and payments regulation.
- Investors and acquirers as they identify and secure strategic opportunities helping clients invest in, acquire and divest lines of business or enterprises through innovative corporate deal structures, strategic alliances, joint ventures and consortia.
- Big data and analytics firms on all aspects of their businesses supporting clients on their most cutting-edge projects, including data standardization and automation, the creation of new benchmarks and data indices, the establishment of data utilities, and the use of data and analytics in trading and financial markets.
We hope you find the posts useful and relevant and invite you to share your thoughts and comments on the blog or via email.
 Todd Beauchamp is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Industry Group. He serves as Global Co-Chair of the Fintech Industry Group and leads the Payments & Emerging Financial Services Practice. Mr. Beauchamp represents financial institutions, non-bank financial services companies, as well as technology companies, on a full spectrum of regulatory, transactional, and general corporate matters. He has comprehensive knowledge of emerging payment technologies, including those related to money transmission, virtual currencies, electronic payments, and stored value. |
 Stuart Davis advises a wide range of broker-dealers; investment, retail, and private banks; technology companies; market infrastructure providers; investment managers; hedge funds; and private equity funds on complex regulatory challenges. |
 Simon Hawkins focuses on financial regulation, including licensing matters, prime brokerage arrangements, securities dealing, financial market regulations, intermediary and distribution arrangements, product development and structuring, and fintech. |
 Markus Krüger advises a broad spectrum of German and international clients on complex mergers and acquisitions as well as financial regulatory issues. He has a particular focus on serving financial industry and fintech companies. |
 Fiona Maclean advises a diverse range of clients across industries on data privacy compliance and IT and business processing transactions, with a particular focus on cloud computing and data strategy. Ms. Maclean brings a unique cross-section of knowledge and experience spanning data, technology, and commercial contracts to help clients navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions within the broader framework of data privacy laws. She advises a broad base of clients ranging from start-ups to technology giants and leading financial institutions. Her work at the nexus of the commercial and data worlds includes advising on operational resiliency risks and regulatory requirements including some of the most transformational cloud deals in the global market. |
 Christian McDermott is a partner in the Outsourcing and Technology Transactions Practices in Latham & Watkins’ London office. Mr. McDermott has a wide range of experience advising both publicly listed and private companies on technology, commercial law, intellectual property, and data privacy matters, focusing on large-scale technology and outsourcing projects and other complex commercial contracts. |
 Brian Meenagh is a partner in the Dubai office of Latham & Watkins. His practice focuses primarily on:
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 Andrew Moyle is the Global Co-Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Fintech Industry Group and a partner in the London office. He also heads Latham’s Outsourcing Practice and is a key member of the Technology Transactions Group. Mr. Moyle advises clients ranging from traditional financial institutions to new technology incumbents on the “tech” in fintech, including on payments and transfers, insurtech, and virtual currencies. In his broader technology practice, he advises clients on commercial contracts and collaborations, outsourcing, digital and disruptive technology, telecommunications technology, enterprise systems, and cloud computing. |
 Farhana Sharmeen focuses on both corporate (mergers and acquisitions, investment funds, and debt capital markets) and finance (acquisition finance, structured finance, and leveraged finance) transactions. She also advises on general corporate matters, including regulatory compliance and corporate governance issues. |
 Yvette Valdez advises dealers, intermediaries, and end-users in connection with derivatives (swaps and futures) legal and regulatory matters. She also advises emerging companies, financial institutions, and investment managers on complex regulatory challenges in the development of bespoke financial crypto-asset and cryptocurrency technologies including token sales, market infrastructure, trading, clearing, and settlement solutions on distributed ledger technology. |
 Barrie VanBrackle advises industry leaders on complex fintech transactions, specifically regarding payment technology and consumer financial services compliance. Ms. VanBrackle helps merchants, payment processors and fintech vendors navigate key areas at the intersection of technology and finance, including:
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 Stephen Wink advises a wide range of market players including investment banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, exchanges, alternative trading platforms, transfer agents, other financial institutions, and fintechs on matters involving the regulation of broker-dealers and investment advisors, market regulation, and compliance and enforcement matters. |
