The fintech industry is experiencing an extraordinary rise, buoyed in part by the growing surge in investments, collaboration between incumbents and market disruptors, and regulatory advancement across the globe. These developing trends have been occurring in the industry as companies capitalize on current, and most significantly, future value. According to Accenture, more than $50 billion has been invested in almost 2,500 fintech companies since 2010.
Our Firm
K&L Gates, a global firm with locations on five continents, has a team of lawyers with vast experience assisting clients in navigating the regulatory, policy, and business issues surrounding the fintech space. The K&L Gates platform operates on a strong foundation of dedication to client service. We are transparent with our clients throughout the duration of a matter and work side-by-side to develop innovative solutions.
Our Practice
Our fully integrated firm is poised to provide strategic and efficient legal solutions that are representative of the fintech industry’s constantly evolving platforms, services, and technologies. Our lawyers, with dedicated knowledge in their field, are steadfastly committed to staying on top of industry trends. We pride ourselves on being continually cognizant and informed of emerging developments. Our progressive approach to the fintech space ensures that we are able to provide our clients with legal advice that is line with the cutting-edge advancements typically seen in the industry. One example of this is our robust blockchain practice and our plans to establish an internal, private, and permissioned blockchain to assist in the exploration, creation, and implementation of smart contracts and other technology applications for future client use.
We represent a broad range of clients, including:
Start-up and emerging growth companies
Payment companies
Retailers
Transactions processors and software developers
Mature technology companies
Banking and financial services institutions
Investors
P2P and crowdfunding platforms
Wealth management and robo advisors
Trading technologies
What We Do
As the demand for technological innovation and revolutionary ideas rapidly grows, the need for regulatory guidance in areas such as securities compliance, consumer protection, and data and privacy are mounting as well. Our securities, commodities, and consumer financial services lawyers’ knowledge spans the full range of regulatory and compliance issues, and we boast extensive experience advising our clients on the complex laws that regulate the fintech industry.
On the corporate side, our M&A, commercial, and IP lawyers have substantial experience representing companies of all sizes in acquiring and selling businesses in the fintech space, as well as licensing, jointly developing, outsourcing, and exploiting critical products, systems, and services. These capabilities translate to our representation of fintech companies, where we work with clients who range from startups to some of the world’s largest organizations.
On 30 January 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule (Final Rule) increasing the premium processing fee from US$2,500 to US$2,805, increasing filing fees for I-129 and I-140 employment-based petitions, and imposing a new Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 and I-140 filed by employers.
On 3 April 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced the first settlement with a stand-alone registered investment adviser for, among other things, failures to maintain and preserve certain electronic communications.
On 22 December 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments (the final rule) to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) to modernize the regulation of investment adviser advertising and solicitation practices.
On 7 March 2024, the Illinois Pollution Control Board proposed amendments to its Ground Water Quality regulations, which would set standards for selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances compounds at or near their levels of detection and would result in some of the most stringent standards in the country.
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