FinTech Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies
FinTech Guide 2025 : USA - Nationwide
Band 1
About
Provided by Goodwin
We launched our standalone Fintech practice in 2014 and currently have more than 150 lawyers advising fintech clients, including more than one-third of the Forbes Fintech 50.
We partner with companies that are driving the digital transformation in finance, from startups to established financial institutions. Our team is comprised of subject matter experts that advise on transactions, regulations, litigation, enforcement, and investigations in this heavily regulated industry.
Goodwin is the only AmLaw 25 firm with dedicated partners, counsels, and associates practicing in every Fintech focus area. These verticals connect a diverse, cross-disciplinary, and global team pulling from our most successful and high-growth practice areas, including banking, consumer financial services, technology, capital markets, venture capital, private equity, debt finance, employment, privacy and cybersecurity, intellectual property and patents, and tax.
Chambers Review
Goodwin is a notable market presence in digital assets law, and advises large investment funds, digital payments clients and crypto exchanges. Its lawyers handle transactional matters and capital markets matters, including fundraising rounds and IPOs. The team also assists with product structuring and regulatory compliance advice.
Work Highlights
- Goodwin advised Affirm - a buy-now, pay-later lender - on general regulatory
- matters in connection with its development and launch of the Affirm Card. The team has also advised on buy-now, pay-later loans designed to help consumers finance their everyday purchases at the point of sale.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Goodwin is very attuned to the balance of risk and reward, and also very good at moving things along quickly. The team is very pragmatic and level-headed, with excellent negotiators."
"Goodwin are an experienced team and feel like an extension of our own team. They are responsive, not afraid to disagree with clients, and are cooperative with clients' needs."
"The Goodwin team understands the ins and outs of our business model and product and how it is impacted by the proposed regulation. It's as if they are an extension of the in-house team."
"Goodwin is highly responsive, solution-oriented, never hesitates to engage with creative fixes, and has very strong understanding of underlying commercials. The lawyers are a joy to work with."
"Goodwin is very attuned to the balance of risk and reward, and also very good at moving things along quickly. The team is very pragmatic and level-headed, with excellent negotiators."
"Goodwin are an experienced team and feel like an extension of our own team. They are responsive, not afraid to disagree with clients, and are cooperative with clients' needs."
"The Goodwin team understands the ins and outs of our business model and product and how it is impacted by the proposed regulation. It's as if they are an extension of the in-house team."
"Goodwin is highly responsive, solution-oriented, never hesitates to engage with creative fixes, and has very strong understanding of underlying commercials. The lawyers are a joy to work with."
Notable Practitioners
Karen Ubell is a blockchain and cryptocurrency expert. She regularly assists clients with corporate governance, transactional matters and regulatory due diligence.
"Karen Ubell has been engaged in crypto for a long time, knows everyone, knows all the trends and the tech. Karen is a tremendous asset to whoever retains her."
"Karen has a very full view of the crypto space. She has experience in the SEC as a crypto regulator, so she is especially attuned to how the SEC thinks."
"Karen is great, extremely strong, and really understands crypto and blockchain and how bespoke VC deals can be in that context."
Crystal Kaldjob recently joined Goodwin's FinTech team as a partner. Kaldjob provides comprehensive regulatory analysis and product structuring advice to payment products and services clients.
"Crystal Kaldjob is an extraordinary FinTech attorney and my go-to attorney for FinTech commercial issues."
"Crystal is fantastic, very responsive and commercial."
"It is easy to rely on Crystal - she is responsive and has strong experience in this area. She is a reliable source of excellent advice."
Grant Fondo is a prominent figure in FinTech litigation and continues to represent clients in SEC investigations and class action lawsuits.
"Grant will go to the ends of the earth for his clients but is also able to understand how a judge will think and can calibrate to come up with defences that will be compelling to a judge and jury."
Mitzi Chang is a partner in Goodwin's technology group. She focuses her practice on representing FinTech companies throughout their corporate life cycle, as well as assisting private equity and venture capital firms.
"She's very good, very well connected and well respected in the industry."
"The quality of her work is top-notch."
"Mitzi Chang knows the market well and has a good understanding of the regulatory issues."
Ranked Individuals at
Goodwin
USA - Nationwide