Department profile
Cooley LLP

FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending

FinTech Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide

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Cooley LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending - USA - Nationwide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Cooley has an excellent practice in digital payments and lending, especially in matters involving money transmission regulatory issues. The firm has expertise in technology and securities law, as well as blockchain and cryptocurrency regulation.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Cooley advised The Money Services Round Table, an information sharing and advocacy group made up of large money transmission companies, on state and federal legislation, rules and guidance relating to money transmission regulation, among other issues.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Cooley has a highly innovative approach to product development and in-depth regulatory knowledge and broad sense of current market practice.

    FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

  • Cooley offers clear communications with deep knowledge of the FinTech industry and the desk-drawer rules. They have practical experience advising on how regulators will respond to various matters.

    FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

  • Cooley are extremely responsive and able to communicate efficiently and effectively. They have the ability to help me understand any questions I may have. With Cooley, our needs are met entirely.

    FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

  • Cooley offers industry and regulatory knowledge that is always comprehensive, historical and current. Furthermore, Cooley understands the business models, which allows for expeditious legal advice.

    FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

  • Cooley is very helpful and knowledgeable. They were always available, very communicative, and very helpful in every aspect. They really went above and beyond.

    FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Adam Fleisher
    Adam Fleisher

    Adam Fleisher

    Adam Fleisher is experienced in payments and is a money transmitter expert. His clients include peer-to-peer payments providers, electronic wallet platform providers and payroll and payment processors.

    • Adam has been an excellent partner to have when navigating the regulatory requirements and changes that faced our company. He's very communicative and incredibly knowledgeable and approachable.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Adam is a strong, practical and business-oriented regulatory lawyer. He's our go-to for US payments laws and regulations. He's practical, responsive and always solution-focused.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Adam has been a critical partner in the development of our banking and FinTech products.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Adam is a forward-thinking thought leader on debit card products, payments and other issues in the financial services space. He's an expert and is super knowledgeable, accessible and responsive.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Adam has tremendous practical and technical knowledge, with an ability to conduct quality research, effectively advocate and balance interests and develop effective positions during negotiations.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech
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  • James Kim
    James Kim

    James Kim

    James Kim is a payments law and lending specialist. He joined Cooley LLP from Troutman Pepper in May 2025. Kim was previously a senior enforcement lawyer at the CFPB, and in private practice advises FinTech clients on consumer protection and general regulatory compliance work.

    • James Kim is truly great, he's phenomenal.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech
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  • Derek Colla
    Derek Colla

    Derek Colla

    Derek Colla is a corporate partner at Cooley focusing on helping innovative FinTech clients through funding rounds. Colla's clients include blockchain, crypto assets and payment services providers.

    • Derek Colla is great. He's well regarded, commercial, pragmatic and clients really like him.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Derek is a brilliant lawyer, he has deep insights, understands our objectives and responds with great customer service in a timely manner.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Derek is responsive and gives great counsel.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech
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  • Obrea Poindexter
    Obrea Poindexter

    Obrea Poindexter

    Obrea Poindexter is an expert in payments regulatory matters. She has the ability to advise large payment institutions as well as emerging payments businesses.

    • Obrea is a forward-thinking, highly creative product and regulatory lawyer with deep regulatory and market knowledge.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech

    • Obrea Poindexter is very smart, very thoughtful, very well informed about what the agencies are doing and how to prepare for everything. She's also very contactable and provides a great perspective.

      FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending respondentFinTech
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  • William K Pao
    William K Pao

    William K Pao

    William Pao assists clients in high profile litigation and regulatory matters. Pao previously chaired O’Melveny & Myers' FinTech group and has recently moved to Cooley LLP.

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Ranked Individuals at Cooley LLP (5)

USA - Nationwide

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