Praised for ‘incorporating novel technology and software tools‘, the corporate & commercial fintech practice at A&O Shearman provides legal support across the full business process, from early-stage fundraising to complex cross-border M&A. The team advises on blockchain, cryptoassets, digital banking, stablecoin, payments, and regulatory compliance, working closely with global institutions and scale-ups alike. As the team’s technology sector lead, ‘creative problem solver‘ William Samengo-Turner — based between London and Silicon Valley — is considered a ‘go-to lawyer‘ on M&A, joint ventures, and capital raises for various high-profile fintechs. Eimear Coady focuses on fintech and venture capital, with experience advising leading UK fintechs on their funding rounds and challenger banks on strategic commercial matters. She also brings expertise advising on strategic acquisitions for various household names, including well-known retailers and food delivery companies. Nikki Johnstone, a fintech and payments specialist, advises clients on licensing, compliance, product structuring, and regulatory engagement across the UK and EU. Rory Copeland advises on payments, crypto regulation, CBDCs, and tokenisation, working with central banks and major financial institutions on legislative frameworks and product design.
Fintech: corporate and commercial in London
A&O Shearman
Responsables de la pratique:
Will Samengo-Turner
Autres avocats clés:
Eamear Coady, Nikki Johnstone, Rory Copeland; Charlotte Rowlandson
Les références
‘This is simply the best of the best across the board. The firm has specialists in every geography and sector that you could ever possibly need, so there’s never a reason to need to go outside their confines, and the individuals/groups work seamlessly to deliver results for clients. They incorporate novel technology and software tools to greatly simplify processes and reduce costs. Their lawyers are absolutely top-notch from senior partner down to junior associate levels – including the « offshore » work that they have done elsewhere to help keep costs down. Fantastic.’
‘William Samengo-Turner is my go-to lawyer for nearly everything and anything. He keeps abreast of everything happening in the space, is a creative problem solver, is always responsive, collaborates effectively with both members of his team, our team, and other outside advisors, he’s respected by counterparties as both knowledgeable and practical – can’t recommend highly enough.’
Principaux clients
Zopa
Helios Investment Partners
Allianz Asset Management GmbH
BVNK Holdings Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Helios Investment Partners (Helios) on its minority investment in M2P Solutions Private Limited (M2P) at a valuation of $800m.
- Advised digital bank Zopa on its latest funding round that raised €80m.
- Advised BVNK on its $50m Series B fundraise.
Bird & Bird LLP
Bird & Bird LLP’s UK fintech practice works closely with its corporate, commercial, and financial regulation teams, advising start-ups, scale-ups, and major global financial institutions on a wide array of matters. Sectors the team covers include payments, open banking, crypto, AI, digital banking, venture capital, IP, and data protection. Recent significant work matters include advising on a stablecoin-based payment platform, launching a non-custodial crypto wallet, drafting AI contractual frameworks, and advising on cross-border expansion plans for payments firms. On the contentious side, the team has recent experience advising on trademark infringement litigation in the IPEC. Jonathan Emmanuel, co-head of the firm’s UK fintech team, brings sector-leading expertise advising on open banking, payments, crypto, AI, and outsourcing matters. Gavin Punia, fellow co-head, focuses on digital transformation in financial services, advising on payments, e-money, and regulatory compliance. Ruth Boardman, co-head of the firm’s international privacy and data protection group, advises adtech and edtech clients on data and privacy compliance. Mark Rundall specialises in venture capital transactions and complex funding transactions, while Christina Fleming advises on blockchain infrastructure, open banking APIs, payments technology, and digital wallet products.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jonathan Emmanuel; Gavin Punia
Autres avocats clés:
Mark Rundall; Christina Fleming
Les références
‘Bird & Bird have been our go-to firm for technology, IP, and general commercial matters for some time now. They have an excellent team who are commercially minded and always reachable. ’
‘Christian Bartsch and Jonathan Emmanuel stand out for their client service.’
‘The Firm’s responsiveness and consistently high standard of service are key factors in its position as our preferred legal advisor in regulatory matters. ’
‘Each time a new issue arises, Gavin Punia is able to provide an initial, well-considered response, followed by robust and well-reasoned analysis. This approach instills confidence in his capability to grasp the depth of the matters and approach them with a constructive, solutions-oriented approach.’
‘They’re incredibly client-focused and therefore provide practical advice as well as being very technical lawyers.’
‘Very responsive and able to handhold through complex issues to find a resolution. Jonathan Emmanuel and Christina Fleming helped us to understand risks and reach commercially viable decisions on points that we were struggling to understand.’
‘We instruct them on payment matters and receive excellent, well-thought-through advice. Their lawyers have good technical skills and are business-oriented oriented making it easier to convey key takeaways to our internal corporate clients.’
‘The individuals I work with are enthusiastic, personable and keen to understand our business so they can provide the best advice possible. Gavin Punia and Jonathan Emmanuel provide high-quality advice and are always on hand to respond to queries. We have instructed them on a number of projects and they have delivered a great service in a timely manner on each occasion.’
Principaux clients
Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA)
Macquarie Bank Limited
Wise Payments Limited
NOAH
Principaux dossiers
- Advised crypto on-ramp/off-ramp provider, NOAH, on all its legal matters including corporate, product counselling, regulatory and data protection advice.
- Represented COPA in its case against Dr. Craig Wright concerning the creation of Bitcoin, culminating in a ruling that confirmed Wright is not the cryptocurrency’s inventor.
Clifford Chance LLP
Clifford Chance LLP supports a host of clients across financial services and emerging technology sectors. Handling matters spanning M&A, outsourcing, data, regulatory, and technology transactions, the practice operates within a global tech group, able to advise across blockchain, digital assets, AI, payments, and platform transformation projects. Co-head of the international fintech group Simon Crown advises payment institutions and financial market participants on UK and EU regulatory frameworks, with extensive experience in post-Brexit licensing and safeguarding compliance. Paul Landless, also co-head of fintech, focuses on financial markets technology, digital assets, and DLT in trading and risk management. He draws on his background in derivatives and structured finance, with international experience in Asia. Midori Takenaka and Jamie Andrew support clients on complex commercial contracting, AI agreements, data privacy, and cyber-readiness.
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Crown; Paul Landless
Autres avocats clés:
Midori Takenaka; Jamie Andrew; Emma Eaton
Les références
‘Keeping a team dedicated to working with us means that they have a strong understanding of what is a complex environment and are able to provide us with appropriate advice.’
‘Emma Eaton has a strong understanding of what we do and always provides carefully considered responses. Jamie Andrew has really got closely involved with our work and adapts readily to the specific demands placed on him.’
Principaux clients
AIA Investment Management Private Limited
Leading global private markets manager
Alter Domus
Home Credit Group B.V.
HQLAx S.à r.l.
HSBC
Principaux dossiers
- Advised AIA Investment Management Private Limited (AIA) in its strategic collaboration to transform its investment platform, focusing on the drafting and negotiation of outsourcing agreements under which AIA and its group will receive technology platform services.
- Advised a leading global private markets manager focused on private equity, secondaries, credit and infrastructure on the drafting and negotiation of AI service agreements to roll-out and leverage the use of AI across its business globally.
- Advised the existing Alter Domus shareholders, including the Founders and Permira, on their new strategic partnership with Cinven.
CMS
‘A rare blend of top-tier legal expertise and deep commercial understanding of the fintech space,’ CMS' London fintech practice works with global technology providers, high-growth startups, VCs, and major cloud services providers across the full fintech spectrum — covering payments, digital assets, embedded finance, regtech, insurtech, platform-based lending, cloud outsourcing, AI deployment, and digital identity. Housing a number of venture capital specialists, the team regularly acts for high-profile VC funds and corporate VC divisions across funding rounds. In the growth finance and venture debt sector, the team has advised on over £1bn in debt funding for fintech platforms and supported the launch of 15 products across embedded lending, buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), and insurance. Anthony Waller co-leads the fintech and venture capital groups, advising investors and high-growth companies across all funding rounds from early stage to exit. A specialist in emerging tech, Charles Kerrigan has ‘a first-rate handle of Web3 and digital innovation‘, with a strong focus on crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and tokenisation, having advised over 150 cryptoasset clients to date. Co-head of the fintech practice, Ian Stevens advises on cloud re-platforming, open banking, and commercialisation for scale-ups. Louis Glass, head of tech-sector M&A, supports payments and crypto clients, with a specialism in e-commerce transactions, while Tom Jameson advises wealth asset management platforms and acts for leading scale-ups.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ian Stevens; Anthony Waller
Autres avocats clés:
Daniel Gallagher; Charles Kerrigan, Louis Glass, Tom Jameson
Les références
‘The team has fantastic global reach with high-calibre lawyers who are quick to grasp legal issues, understand client needs and issue commercial and effective legal advice.’
‘Responsive lawyers who understand client needs and complex legal issues in new and evolving areas of law.’
‘Tom Jameson is attentive, knowledgeable, approachable and above all understands what we need and how best to deliver. It is a pleasure working with him and we really value his support.’
Principaux clients
Anacap
Coinbase
ARM
Barclays
Baselime
BitQuest
Blenheim Chalcot
Bud Financial
Buildacy
Car credible
Cent Finance
Cerebreon
Charles Taylor InsureTech
Circularr
ClearScore
Clydesdale Bank
Copper
Dashly
Deontic Data
Distributed Finance
Elfin
Envestors
Ethin
Flagstone
FNZ
FundAdminChain
Globacap
Goji
Hastings
Hazy
Hokodo
HSBC
JP Morgan
Klarna
Legal & General
Monument Bank Limited
Metro Bank
Moneyhub
NatWest
Parmenion Capital Partners
Penfold
Pension Insurance Corporation
Property Partner
RBS
Santander
TSB
Uncapped
Wayhome
Coala Pay
XYB
Principaux dossiers
- Advising fintech company Flagstone on a £108m investment from US private equity firm Estancia Capital Partners
- Advising Hokodo, a business-to-business (B2B) buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider, in securing £100m senior debt facilities provided by Viola Credit.
- Advised Penfold on multiple investment rounds during the year.
Hogan Lovells International LLP
The corporate and commercial arm of Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s fintech practice offers market-leading expertise across digital finance, regulatory advisory, and technology transactions. Clients range from high-growth fintech start-ups to major banks and institutional investors, with advice covering fundraising and commercial contracts to more bespoke matters, including tokenisation of real-world assets and embedded finance. The team has also advised on the structuring of innovative finance models and assisted clients in adapting to changing regulatory landscapes, including consumer duty, stablecoins, and payments innovation. Practice co-chair John Salmon, also head of the digital assets and blockchain practice, is a recognised authority on crypto regulation and fintech policy, frequently advising major banks and startups on blockchain strategy and technology contracts. Fellow fintech co-head Michael Thomas, the firm’s head of UK financial services, is a leading figure in financial market infrastructure and is frequently engaged by FMIs and trading venues on major outsourcing and digital transformation projects, including LME Clear. Other key lawyers include Bryony Widdup, who focuses on digital securities, tokenised fundraising, and sustainable finance structures; Anthony Doolittle, a corporate partner with significant experience in financial services transactions; and Louise Crawford, a technology and data expert advising on outsourcing, DORA compliance, and multijurisdictional privacy strategies.
Responsables de la pratique:
John Salmon; Michael Thomas
Autres avocats clés:
Anthony Doolittle, Bryony Widdup, Louise Crawford
Les références
‘Extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Takes a real interest in the project and outcomes needed. Clear and user-friendly drafting.’
‘I have worked with Hogan Lovells, particularly in the areas of sustainability and technology, and the intersection of these. Hogan Lovells has always been helpful, responsive, supportive, and professional.’
‘Bryony Widdup is collaborative, articulate, persuasive, and interesting. She is a true thought leader on the intersection between sustainability and tech, and has led on the development of important industry guidance in this area.’
Principaux clients
AXA PPP Healthcare Group Limited
Bloom
Banked
Bitpanda
Covertech
Clearpay
Credit Karma
Credit Kudos
Curve UK Limited
Communion
Cordoba Capital Markets
Euroclear
Fairscore / Updraft
Floww
Fygo
Fluro Platform Limited
Global Digital Finance
Gaia Family
Habito
London Metal Exchange
Moneyfold
Monzo Bank
Open Banking Limited
Offgrid Finance
PayPal
Pitchedit
PropElle
Paysafe
Pivotal Group
Santander Innoventures
Stripe
WeCovr
Updraft
Zopa
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Apis on its investment in Moneybox.
- Advising a UK high street bank on a new embedded finance proposition and JV with a fintech provider, including negotiation of commercial agreements, product design and compliance.
- Advising Metro Bank PLC on the sale of an approximately £2.5bn prime residential mortgage portfolio to NatWest Group PLC.
Latham & Watkins
‘Allying a broad set of capabilities with deep expertise in each area and a hyper-pragmatic, seasoned approach’, Latham & Watkins advises a diverse array of clients, from start-ups, global financial institutions, and investors, to big tech companies developing cutting-edge financial products. The multidisciplinary team combines regulatory, corporate, and technology expertise, supporting clients from inception to exit. The group handles major M&A, unicorn IPOs, and VC financings, as well as joint ventures, tech partnerships, and outsourcing agreements. As global co-chair of the fintech industry group, Stuart Davis leads regulatory strategy across digital assets, payment services, market infrastructure, and Web3. Described by clients as an ‘exceptional lawyer who understands market dynamics‘, he is also co-chair of Global Digital Finance’s UK policy & regulatory working group, and works closely with the Payments Association and UK Finance. Christian McDermott advises on complex technology contracts and collaborations, particularly across the payments and platform space. Gabriel Lakeman, co-chair of the firm’s digital assets task force, advises on regulatory frameworks for cryptoassets, payments, and fintech platforms. Fiona Maclean brings in-depth expertise in cloud computing, AI, and data protection, with a focus on operational resilience in financial services outsourcing. Shing Lo — 'everything you would want in a bet-the-farm adviser' — also comes recommended.
Responsables de la pratique:
Stuart Davis
Autres avocats clés:
Christian McDermott; Gabriel Lakeman; Fiona Maclean; Shing Lo; Calum Docherty
Les références
‘Latham offers a distinctive combination of partners and associates who genuinely understand technology issues and provide actionable, practical advice without unnecessary complexity. The team is exceptionally responsive and capable of managing international projects end-to-end within tight deadlines. They can mobilise extensive high-quality resources and consistently deliver results. Their deep understanding of how BigTech companies operate internally enables them to integrate seamlessly as team members. ’
‘Stuart Davis is an exceptional lawyer who understands market dynamics, anticipates regulatory perspectives and strategies, and consistently provides thoughtful and elegant solutions to complex challenges. He leads a brilliant team of associates who can independently tackle any issue and resolve it efficiently.’
‘Latham & Watkins are experts in the fintech space, providing a full-service practice across whatever corporate, commercial, litigious and regulatory matters we may have. What sets the firm apart is their very strong bench of lawyers, allying a broad set of capabilities with deep expertise in each area and a hyper-pragmatic, seasoned approach to whatever issues arise. They display excellent coordination across team members in providing a comprehensive service offering, including their deep knowledge on fintech and finreg matters. ’
Principaux clients
Bitwise
CellPoint
DigitalCheckout.com
Digital Moneybox
eToro
Fidelity National Information Services (FIS)
FTMO
Funding Circle
Payoneer
Shift4 Payments
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Fidelity National Information Services on its $24.2 billion sale of Worldpay, a UK-based a payment processing company, to Global Payments.
- Advising Bitwise Asset Management on its acquisition of the ETC Group, a UK-based crypto ETP issuer.
- Advising Moneybox on its £79 million secondary share sale.
Linklaters LLP
Linklaters LLP’s fintech practice regularly acts for global financial institutions, challenger banks, payment service providers, e-money issuers, and technology companies. The practice advises fintech clients on investment, M&A, joint ventures and technology contracts. The team handles funding matters from seed rounds through IPOs and SPACs, and provides counsel on payments infrastructure, outsourcing and emerging payment technologies. Julian Cunningham-Day, co-head of the global fintech team, has over 25 years’ experience advising on technology projects in regulated industries, covering blockchain, cloud, AI, and digital transformation initiatives for major banks and technology clients. Fionnghuala Griggs specialises in cross-border public and private M&A, governance and fintech joint ventures, with recent mandates across payments, DLT platforms and banking consolidation. Lisa Chang, UK head of the technology sector group, advises on M&A, fundraising, and strategic investments.
Responsables de la pratique:
Julian Cunningham-Day, Harry Eddis, Fionnghuala Griggs, Richard Hay
Principaux clients
UK Finance Limited
Galaxy Digital
Warburg Pincus LLC
Hg Pooled Management Limited
Interactive Brokers
HSBC
Bloomberg
UBS
Lloyds Banking Group
Sainsbury’s Bank
Schroders
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Warburg Pincus on its acquisition of a minority equity stake in UTB Partners Plc, the holding company of United Trust Bank.
- Advised UK Finance in providing legal support in relation to the experimentation phase of the regulated liability network (RLN) project.
- Advised on a global fintech agreement between HSBC and InteractiveBrokers in respect of the use of an innovative technology platform, that is designed to support HSBC’s WorldTrader product.
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright advises clients across the fintech ecosystem on transactions, investments, joint ventures, and regulatory matters. The group operates within a 300-strong global fintech group, supporting clients in areas including payments, blockchain, AI, regtech, cryptoassets, digital finance, and embedded finance. Recent matters include advising a major bank on launching a joint venture with a B2B unicorn for embedded finance solutions, a consortium of investment firms on an offer for a scalable payments platform developer, and an investment bank on its role in a multi-billion-pound acquisition of a tech-enabled payments solutions provider. As global head of the fintech practice, Sean Murphy advises cutting-edge clients across the entire fintech spectrum, from payments and blockchain to regtech and cryptocurrencies. Often advising start-ups and scale-ups alongside banks and asset managers, his recent work includes advising a leading regtech firm on the completion of a multi-million pound investment from a leading growth equity firm. Victoria Birch, co-head of the global payments practice, advises governments and leading global financial institutions alike. Nicholas Berry leads the firm’s insurtech practice, advising on transactions in digital assets and regtech innovation. Bayo Odubeko focuses his expertise on emerging markets, frequently advising clients on some of the largest venture capital deals in Africa.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sean Murphy, Victoria Birch, Nicholas Berry
Autres avocats clés:
Bayo Odubeko; Sophie O’Connor
Les références
‘The team were excellent, they had in-depth knowledge of the market and type of deal. They were able to flex as the scope and complexity of the transaction increased. Their ability to collaborate with our wider deal team was fantastic. I was never in doubt that all advisers were aligned and pulling in the same direction.’
‘Sophie O’Connor was exceptional. She was unflappable, tenacious, assertive but compassionate, and really understood how to help us navigate the complexities and stress of the transaction. As the scope of the transaction escalated, Sophie’s work ethic was second to none, not going home for days at a time as deadlines and timeframes became essential to hit. She really understood us as a client and how to balance legal excellence in the contracts with the terms and approach we wanted to take.’
Principaux clients
AIG
Anansi
Aquiline
Arch
HSBC Innovation Bank
HSBC Investment Bank
International Holding Company
Global Blockchain Business Council
Kneip
InsurX
Lloyds Bank
Mastercard
Nexus Mutual
Northern Trust
OpenCover
Paxos (formerly itBit)
Standard Chartered Bank
Starling Bank
Zego
Zurich
Principaux dossiers
- Advised HSBC on its agreement with B2B FinTech Unicorn Tradeshift to launch a new, jointly-owned business focused on the development of embedded finance solutions and financial services apps.
- Advised a consortium comprising TowerBrook, J.C. Flowers and Railsr (the Consortium) on their £283m recommended cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Equals Group Plc. Equals develops and sells scalable payment platforms to enable organisations to move and easily manage their money flows through its payment and card products.
- Advised Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc as financial adviser to BCP VI Neptune Bidco Holdings Limited, an entity indirectly owned by Brookfield Business Partners together with private equity funds managed and/or advised by affiliates of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd, on its £2.2bn (US$2.8bn) recommended cash offer for Network International Holdings Plc, a technology-enabled payments solutions provider.
Addleshaw Goddard
Addleshaw Goddard fields one of the largest dedicated fintech teams in the City, advising clients across the full fintech ecosystem, including e-money and payment service providers, challenger and clearing banks, account information service providers, and alternative payment platforms. Key workstreams include matters related to banking-as-a-service platforms, payment-as-a-service solutions, and M&A and partnership arrangements. Practice head Elvan Hussein acts for banks, fintechs and institutional investors, regularly advising on funding rounds through to exit. She also co-leads AG Elevate, the firm’s fintech startup accelerator programme. William James brings two decades of experience advising on strategic payments mandates, including major disposals and commercial partnerships. David Anderson focuses on fintech investments and complex technology transactions, while Rebecca Hickman advises on payments innovation, open banking, and UK regulatory matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Dave Anderson; Elvan Hussein; William James
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Hickman
Principaux clients
Gocardless limited
Iwoca
Open Banking Limited
Firenze
B2C2
UK Finance
Klarna
EcommPay
Principaux dossiers
- Advised GoCardless on its acquisition of Nuapay.
- Advised Revving on a new £100,000,000 debt finance facility.
- Advised Experian on its investment in Reward Loyalty.
Ashurst
Ashurst’s global fintech practice supports both major financial institutions and emerging fintech disruptors, advising clients across the digital payments, embedded finance, blockchain, and AI sectors. The practice integrates regulatory, commercial, and tech expertise, advising clients on digital transformation initiatives and implementing novel technologies. Recent notable matters include advising a market-leading wealth management platform on a cornerstone contract and an international money transfer business on its multi-million dollar equity fundraising. With over two decades of sector experience, David Futter specialises in digital payments, advising clients from governments and financial institutions to tech companies and major banks on digital platform-based payment products. As chair of the global tech industry group, Bradley Rice advises on digital finance, regulatory change, and asset management, with a focus on the digitalisation of capital markets, payment infrastructure, and wealth management platforms. Fiona Ghosh joined the firm in 2024, bringing over 25 years’ experience advising on complex transactions involving payments, AI, and strategic collaborations. She also has considerable expertise advising foreign government bodies on fintech adoption. Etay Katz leads the firm’s digital assets practice. He advises on large-scale digital transformation and regulatory change projects, particularly those involving prudential regulation and blockchain-based innovation, while also serving on the FCA’s Innovation Advisory Board.
Responsables de la pratique:
Bradley Rice; David Futter
Autres avocats clés:
Fiona Ghosh, Etay Katz
Les références
‘Apply a practical, cost-effective approach. Can offer creative solutions when necessary.’
‘A high-quality team that takes a commercial approach to commercial contracts and offers cost-effective and practical advice. An external support structure I highly value as a GC.’
‘David Futter – A highly commercial partner who I can rely on to support the business through both tail- and headwinds.’
Principaux clients
GBST
Zepz
Monument Technologies
FE FundInfo
Goldman Sachs
Monument Bank
eToro Group
British Business Bank
Zenus Bank
Vauban Technologies
Spark Change
Hylabs
Kynec
Foundries
Riverlane
BMLL Technologies
Chargifi
Ducentis
FanTracks
Merceaux
Zeelo
Al Mada
SimpleFi
Lyra Ventures
Blend Network
Kolleno
Principaux dossiers
- Advised new client GBST, a provider of a market-leading SaaS-based wealth management platform, in relation to the negotiation of a cornerstone contract for the provision of business critical managed services to long-term client WealthTime.
- Advised international money transfer business Zepz (WorldRemit) on an equity fundraise of $267m from new and existing investors.
Dentons
Dentons’ fintech group works across a diverse array of sectors, including payments, e-money, crypto, digital banking, and IT outsourcing, frequently supporting leading venture capital funds on their investments into fintech companies. As head of the UK practice and co-chair of the firm’s global fintech group, industry veteran Tristan Jonckheer brings in-depth expertise on payments and banking technology, assisting the firm’s major clients with the development of their tech platforms and payments services. Commercial divisional leader Martin Fanning brings 20 years advising on large-scale IT procurements, complex e-payment systems, and procurement for financial services clients. Co-head of retail Scott Singer focuses on digital banking and outsourcing arrangements, while Matthew Gilhooly is an outsourcing, AI, and digital resilience specialist.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tristan Jonckheer
Autres avocats clés:
Martin Fanning, Scott Singer, Matthew Gilhooly
Principaux clients
Avis Budget Group
Royal Mail Group
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG)
Virgin Red
CIBC
John Lewis Partnership
M&S
Sainsbury’s
Algbra Group
Outward VC and Cornerstone VC
Principaux dossiers
- Advising MUFG on its agreement with major fintech Fidelity Information Services (FIS) (engaging a third-party provider, SurePay BV) in respect of a software solution for confirmation of payment services, plus additional support services.
Goodwin
‘Highly knowledgeable about all things fintech‘, Goodwin advises clients across the financial services and technology spectrum, including startups, scale-ups, investors, and growth companies through every stage of the corporate life cycle. The practice’s expertise spans venture capital, private equity, financial regulation, commercial contracting, and data protection, with a particular focus on VC financings and M&A transactions. Notable recent matters include advising a financial software company on its sale to a major AI compliance and security firm, and the sale of a cutting-edge identity verification tech firm to a leading global payments and data security company. Arvin Abraham co-leads the firm’s fintech and digital currency & blockchain practices, and is noted for his focus on transactions involving cryptoassets and payments. As co-chair of the global tech M&A group, Andrew Davis advises on growth capital, cross-border acquisitions, and governance for technology-driven companies. Gretchen Scott advises across fintech, AI, and SaaS on commercialisation, IP, regulatory compliance, and data protection.
Responsables de la pratique:
Arvin Abraham; Andrew Davis; Gretchen Scott
Les références
‘A complete team that can handle any ask from a VC perspective, from corporate M&A, to fundraising advice, to litigation support ’
‘Arvin Abraham is my go-to person – very responsive, smart, highly knowledgeable about all things fintech and healthcare.’
‘A very committed team that made sure that everything was covered and reviewed in excellent detail based on decades of experience dealing with M&A activities, UK and US law and applying commercial reasoning to difficult negotiation points. It has to be noted that this was a small deal team put together by the partner, and every team member was impeccable.’
Principaux clients
Freetrade
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Hg Capital
Capitolis
Fundment
Helio Fintech
Vertice
Onfido
Moneyfarm
Matter Labs
Goodstack
Mosaic Smart Data
Ravelin
Helios Investment Partners
Cytora
Chainlink Labs
Blackdot
Engine AI
Hilco IP Services LLC
LLR Partners backed ParkHub Inc.
Bank Muscat
Clermont Group
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Ravelin on its acquisition by Worldpay.
- Advised Fundment on its £45 million Series C financing round, including FCA regulatory approvals necessary for the transaction to be approved.
- Advised Freetrade, a global online trading platform, on its acquisition by IG Group for £160 million.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP handles venture capital and M&A transactions for over 700 fintech start-ups, scale-ups, founders, and investors worldwide, including several fintech unicorns. Clients include VC firms, payments software developers, cloud-based banking platforms, and B2C and B2B financial products groups, completing more than 135 UK-based VC transactions in the past year. Shawn Atkinson leads the firm’s London corporate team and the firm’s global technology companies group, bringing over 20 years of experience in venture and growth capital transactions. Chris Grew heads the London VC team and advises both fintech companies and investors, including software firms and tech investment banks, on landmark fundraisings. Jamie Moore specialises in advising startups through to unicorns, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.
Responsables de la pratique:
Shawn Atkinson; Chris Grew; Jamie Moore
Les références
‘The team takes a very common-sense sense practical approach. Coupled with their extensive experience, they have been able to suggest creative solutions to legal challenges we have faced. Incredibly hardworking, yet easy and enjoyable to work with.’
‘Their experience and their practical approach. Good at problem solving.’
‘Shawn Atkinson – knowledgeable, responsive, user-friendly, good experience.’
Principaux clients
9900 Capital Ltd
Accion Quona Inclusion Fund, L.P.
Aquiline Capital Partners LP
Desia Limited
FINBOURNE Technology Limited
Griffin Bank Ltd
Kayenta Ltd
Klarna
Leanpay Ltd
Praetura Ventures Limited
Systemiq Capital Fund II SCSp SICAV-RAIF
TransferGo Holdings Ltd
TrueLayer Group Holdings Limited
VEF AB
Vitesse PSP Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advising FINBOURNE in its £100 million Series B financing.
- Advised TrueLayer in securing an additional $50 million in an extension of its $130 million Series E funding round.
- Advised Vitesse, a United Kingdom based company that developed a settlement and liquidity management system, in its $93 million Series C financing.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Praised by clients for ‘making a very complex subject area understandable,‘ the team at Osborne Clarke LLP advises clients across the full fintech lifecycle, from early-stage capital raising through to M&A, strategic transactions, and exits. Operating within the firm’s wider financial services transactions group, the team works with a diverse client base across the sector, including leading UK investment platforms, buy-now-pay-later companies, challenger banks, and crypto platforms. As international head of digitalisation, Mark Taylor advises on technology, AI, and cybersecurity issues in financial services. Mark Wesker leads the firm’s business transactions group and advises on cross-border M&A and fundraising. Paul Anning leads the firm’s fintech sub-sector and payments practice, and advises global clients on regulatory and commercial issues across the payments ecosystem.
Responsables de la pratique:
Mark Wesker; Mark Taylor; Paul Anning
Autres avocats clés:
Cathy McFadyen-Han
Les références
‘OC has always been a firm that is focused on technology, which has enabled them to have a deep understanding of the market.’
‘Strong industry knowledge of payments, technology, and data across the team with a strong bench. OC provides a good balance between commerciality and pragmatism against risk.’
‘Mark Taylor continues to be a strong member of the team. Cathy Han continues to be a standout lawyer within the team who punches above her weight.’
‘A massive amount of experience they can bring to the table very quickly.’
‘The team is pragmatic and knows the market very well. It is also well-connected internationally, especially across Europe and the US.’
Principaux clients
Highland Europe
Fintern Limited (trading as Abound)
Liberis Limited
Adviser Services Holdings Limited
BGF
HSBC
Octopus Money
IAG Silverstripe
TaxFix
Vaisala Oyj
Palm Technologies
Principaux dossiers
- Advised HSBC on its investment in FINBOURNE Technology The successful secondary raise followed a Series B funding round of £55m in June 2024 and brings the total to over £100m.
- Advised Taxfix Group on the acquisition of TaxScouts.
- Advised shareholders on two sale transactions involving the disposal of Rockhold Asset Management and Lync Wealth Management to an affiliate of platform and wealth manager, 7IM.
Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons’ fintech offering operates through its build, buy, invest (BBI) group, established in 2023 for clients developing, acquiring, or investing in emerging technologies. The group is part of the firm's emerging technology practice covering AI, tokenisation, digital assets, payments, and consumer finance. The team works with global financial institutions, tech developers, and investors on cross-border transactions, including a Tier 1 bank's investment in the £1bn UK FinTech Growth Fund. As head of the practice, Angus McLean brings decades of experience advising on IP-heavy transactions such as commercialisation and restructurings, and emerging technology disputes. Frances Doherty, co-lead of the BBI Group, focuses on M&A and private equity deals involving growth-stage and emerging tech companies. Sophie Sheldon, also co-lead of BBI, specialises in commercial, regulatory, and contractual issues in fintech, including outsourcing, operational resilience, and AI.
Responsables de la pratique:
Angus McLean; Frances Doherty; Sophie Sheldon
Les références
‘Simmons & Simmons are strong across the board on fintech work, helped by TMT being one of their core sector focuses. The combination of tech-focussed corporate partners such as Frances Doherty and their broader Digital Business team means they have a compelling offering on multiple fronts.’
‘Frances Doherty is highly responsive, commercially minded, and easy to work with. She really understands what is important to a high-growth fintech.’
Principaux clients
London Bullion Market Association
Santander
SEI Investments
British Business Bank
London Bullion Market Association
Santander
SEI Investments
British Business Bank
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) on its joint venture with Swiss blockchain company aXedras to develop the LBMA new blockchain Gold Bar Integrity (GBI) Database.
- Acting for SEI Investments on the negotiation of a platform agreement with Close Brothers Asset Management (CBAM) for the adoption of the SEI Wealth Platform and SEI Data Cloud.
- Advised British Patient Capital on its investment in Wagestream, a financial wellbeing app, as part of a £17.5m funding round.
Taylor Wessing LLP
Taylor Wessing LLP’s fintech practice covers payment services, crypto, consumer lending, wealth management, automotive tech, and banking. With clients across North America, China, Dubai, mainland Europe, and Australia, the firm works with major financial brands and emerging disruptors, advising e-commerce and platform businesses on payments regulation and commercial agreements. Recent matters include representing a consumer credit and payments company on the sale of a credit platform, and advising a data and analytics provider on a $2m investment deal. Sian Skelton specialises in commercial technology law, advising startups and global tech brands on contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, governance, and cross-border legal matters. Graham Hann, head of the UK technology, media, and data team, is a key adviser to various digital businesses, including payments, e-commerce, healthtech, and media companies. Howard Palmer, head of the firm’s venture capital team, is recognised as a leading UK adviser on venture capital investments, advising both investors and companies through all growth stages from early funding to M&A.
Responsables de la pratique:
Howard Palmer; Sian Skelton; Graham Hann
Les références
‘Their willingness to provide sound commercial and practical solutions to legal problems. Too many lawyers get bogged down by analysing problems solely from a legal perspective.’
‘They go the extra mile to get things done, and they never use a hammer to crack a nut.’
‘Strong, diverse team that gives sound advice and understands business drivers.’
Principaux clients
Dawn Capital
BMLL Technologies Ltd
Kaldi Financial Technology Limited
Quint Group Limited
HiBob
Rezolve Ai
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Dawn Capital with over $2 billion in commitments, on multiple investments throughout 2024. This included a $47 million Series B financing for Danish fintech Flatpay, which offers payment software for SMBs with no setup fees, no subscription fees, and a flat rate for all card types alongside data dashboards.
- Advised Kaldi, notably on their key agreement with their provider of payment accounts and related payment services, their consumer terms and intellectual property protection.
- Advised BMLL Technologies, a data and analytics provider for capital markets, on its $21 million strategic investment led by Optiver (a Dutch market maker and fintech business).
Bristows LLP
Bristows LLP fintech practice advises a wide range of clients — from startups to multinationals — across areas including payments, regtech, insurtech, and digital transformation. The team’s expertise in technology and data protection underpins its work, particularly in emerging areas such as AI, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies. The practice is co-led by Vik Khurana, who advises on fintech, healthtech, and AI deals, often leading the practice’s pitches for multi-year digital currency infrastructure projects, and Toby Crick, who specialises in ‘cutting edge‘ advice and IT outsourcing for financial services clients. Marc Dautlich advises on data protection and regulatory issues for fintech and financial services clients.
Responsables de la pratique:
Toby Crick; Vik Khurana
Autres avocats clés:
Marc Dautlich
Les références
‘Toby Crick, in particular, stands out as a partner of exceptional professionalism and insight. His ability to combine deep industry knowledge with a pragmatic, forward-thinking approach has been invaluable. Toby is not only readily available when needed — often at short notice — but also delivers advice that is both legally robust and commercially sharp.’
‘What sets Toby apart is his understanding of the bigger picture. He offers not just legal solutions but strategic guidance that reflects a nuanced grasp of the industry landscape. His advice is consistently at the cutting edge, helping us stay ahead of the curve in a complex and fast-moving environment.’
‘Toby Crick is a great partner, he has deep legal expertise with a practical understanding on business, which makes a difference when navigating complex agreements. He is very responsive. detail-oriented and solution-focused.’
Principaux clients
Adthena
Bairong, Inc
Aspen Insurance
Core Logic
Eigen technologies
ISB Global
Isle of Man Enterprises Plc
IWM (Imperial War Museum)
Kaluza
Littlepay
Lumera
Quant Network
OVO Energy
The Guardian
Principaux dossiers
- Worked with Lumera on a key UK M&A project. Lumera acquired ITM acquisition an independent provider of data management and technology solutions (i.e. fintech tools) serving the UK Life and Pensions markets.
- Advised OVO Energy (one of the UK’s largest energy companies) on a range of financial and billing technology projects that are revolutionising how energy consumers track and manage their energy usage and billing information.
- Advised IWM (aka the Imperial War Museum) on the upgrade of its ticketing technology to roll out a state of the art fintech solution.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper’s London fintech department receives plaudits for being ‘skilled at engaging with both a technical and non-technical audience‘. Comprising more than 40 lawyers, the practice operates as part of a global fintech group across multiple disciplines, including corporate, regulatory, IP, and tax, and is frequently engaged by a wide range of clients across financial services and technology, including challenger banks, payment providers, insurtechs, trading platforms, and private capital investors. Chair of the firm’s fintech group, Anthony Day advises banks, insurtechs, and capital markets firms on complex technology and regulatory projects. Sophie Lessar brings expertise on payment services and virtual assets. Luca Gori handles fintech and insurtech-related transactions, particularly for venture capital and private equity houses.
Responsables de la pratique:
Anthony Day
Autres avocats clés:
Sophie Lessar, Luca Gori
Les références
‘The team has a deep expertise when it comes to compliance and regulation. They also have diversity in thought and background that enables them to provide helpful perspectives across different regions as well as corporate use cases. They have many former public sector officials and regulators as well which adds a great dimension to the advice they provide. We work with them as a not-for-profit and I am always impressed by how much they give back to cross-industry efforts on a pro bono basis.’
‘We work closely with Anthony Day, Vincent Keaveny, Sophie Lessar, and Adrianus Schoorl. All are completely stand-out individuals who provide genuinely expert opinions. They are skilled in engaging with both a technical and non-technical audience. I was particularly impressed with the comprehensive history they have in helping to develop regulatory frameworks through the years around the world. ’
Principaux clients
First Rand Bank Limited
Principaux dossiers
gunnercooke LLP
gunnercooke LLP‘s fintech practice advises clients in the crypto and Web3 space, combining deep sector expertise with deal structuring and regulatory insight across M&A transactions, investment documentation, and legal frameworks for DAOs and decentralised projects. The team’s expertise also extends to crypto-native services like payments in BTC, ETH, or USDC. Key figures include partner Kathryn Dodds, who has a specific focus on the crypto and Web3 sectors, frequently advising major decentralised platforms and blockchain-native businesses, and James Burnie, a leading regulatory advisor to firms across the blockchain and fintech sectors, who supports clients navigating legal frameworks for cryptoassets.
Autres avocats clés:
Kathryn Dodds, James Burnie
Les références
‘We are in the digital asset space, which is a rapidly evolving area. gunnercooke are able to supply lawyers with the required knowledge and expertise of our industry, combined with expertise in corporate and commercial law.’
‘James Burnie is exceptional, with unmatched knowledge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, demonstrated by his work on regulatory cryptoassets frameworks. His sharp intellect, practical advice, and ability to stay ahead of regulatory trends have been invaluable for our compliance needs. Kathryn Dodds complements this with her expertise in Web3 and corporate structures, notably guiding us through complex transactions with clarity and strategic insight. Both stand out for their hands-on approach, humility, and ability to translate technical and regulatory complexities into clear, business-friendly solutions. Compared to competitors, their deep sector knowledge and client-centric focus make them indispensable partners.’
‘Many of the partners I have interacted with across the firm, have a client focus which is much appreciated.’
Principaux clients
Attestant Limited
SushiSwap
Native
Cavenwell
Cathedral Studios / The Bornless
Exo Technologies
Low Observable Technology (Lo:Tech)
Calyptus
Factory Labs
Helford Capital
A number of Web3 firms, including L1s and HNW individuals
Flare
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Attestant on its acquisition by Bitwise Asset Management.
- Worked with Cavenwell to create a platform for launching new cryptoassets projects.
- Advised SushiSwap on its DAO legal wrapper and global reorganisation.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP's emerging technology and digital group advises a broad spectrum of fintech clients, including startups, crypto-exchanges, global banks, and digital infrastructure providers. The firm’s practice integrates financial regulation, technology, and emerging digital business models, supporting clients on transactional and regulatory matters including fundraising, investments, and exits. Recent notable matters include advising leading UK insurance companies on technology partnership agreements and IT outsourcing projects, a major UK investment fund on its proposed exit from a specialty payments platform, and advising a major international banking group on multiple multi-million-dollar fintech investments. Nick Pantlin, co-head of technology, digital & sourcing, advises on digital infrastructure, software, and data matters. Alexander Amato-Cravero leads the emerging technology group across the UK, US, and EMEA, advising on AI, blockchain, and digital assets. Terence Lau works in the TMT, data & sourcing practice, specialising in advising on software development, large-scale outsourcing, and tech procurement.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick Pantlin
Autres avocats clés:
Terence Lau, Alexander Amato-Cravero
Les références
‘Lawyers are all highly skilled in their respective domains. High performing team that has extensive experience working with in-house legal teams and in the financial services/technology/Fintech space – problem-solvers and offers advice that is practical and commercially/operationally sound – highly responsive, which is deeply appreciated especially when we have to deal with time-sensitive matters – HSF is also a full service firm with international coverage (teams in other jurisdictions). This enables us to have a convenient ‘one-firm’ service delivery model, where we can simply approach HSF for advice in any specialist area, or when local law advice is required in respect of any overseas jurisdictions – adaptable to our needs and requests; with a deep understanding of how in-house teams operate.’
‘Nick Pantlin is the senior partner and main HSF contact that we work with. Extremely responsive, brilliant and trusted adviser that we can always count on for practical and commercially sound advice and solutions.’
‘HSF’s fintech disputes team has the rigour and experience of the famed HSF disputes team with great subject-matter specialty.’
Principaux clients
11:FS
Amazon
Ardonagh Services Limited
Atlasssian
Ava Labs
AxiCorp
Block.One
BNPP
Certares Opportunities LLC
ClearBank
Comcast Corporation
Credit Agricole
Datadog
EML Payments
FNZ Group
FourAid Limited
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
GROW
HSBC
Huozhi
IFM Investors
ING
Invesco
Knighthead Opportunities Capital Management, LLC
KodyPay
LendInvest
Moneysupermarket
Optal Limited
Reefknot Investments
Saga plc
Santander
SC Ventures Holdings Limited
Standard Chartered Bank
Tandem Money
The Big Exchange
UBS
WiseTech
Zing
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Saga on the various transactions involved in Project Austen, a strategic 20-year technology based affinity partnership agreement for motor and home insurance with the UK subsidiaries of Ageas SA/NV, a European insurer
- Advising an investment fund co-managed by Certares Opportunities LLC and Knighthead Opportunities Capital Management, LLC, on its proposed exit from Global Blue.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP advises clients across the fintech sector, drawing on experience in banking, finance, and emerging technologies to support tech developers, financial institutions, insurance companies, and private equity firms on transactions, regulation, and commercial matters. Typical mandates for the group include fintech M&A, financing, outsourcing, IP, data privacy, and cybersecurity, with particular expertise supporting structured transactions involving marketplace loans and consumer credit. Steven Lightstone co-leads the firm’s global fintech group, advising a mix of asset managers, payment firms, and investment banks on regulation, blockchain, capital requirements, and securitisation. Mike Pierides, global deputy leader of the technology transactions practice, advises on technology outsourcing, SaaS, AI, and digital payments. Robert Mailer focuses on private fund formation and fundraising for technology-focused investors, including those active in fintech and AI. He also advises on manager spinouts and fund governance matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Steven Lightstone
Autres avocats clés:
Robert Mailer, Mike Pierides
Les références
‘Proactive, commercial advice. Very responsive. High-quality product. Highly recommend.’
‘This Morgan Lewis team is not only incredibly intelligent and responsive, but most importantly, this team is the most commercially minded outside counsel I have worked with. They also have a cohesion and continuity that translates to knowing my company (our risk preference and operations) at a level that is exceedingly difficult for outside counsel to attain.’
‘Each of the attorneys on this team is intelligent, collaborative, and dedicated. They are also extremely hardworking. And as an added bonus, they are very affable and friendly.’
Principaux clients
1991 Ventures
Allvue Systems LLC
Arkham Intelligence
Bullish
Enfusion Ltd. LLC
ExtraHop Networks Inc.
Insurtech Gateway
Integration Appliance, Inc.
Kingsbridge Risk Solutions Limited
NATO Innovation Fund
NTT Global Networks Incorporated
OneSpan Inc.
SEI Investments Company
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Principaux dossiers
- Advised multiple clients on implementation of the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), including strategic advice on compliance implementation, preparation of standard form contractual documentation and negotiation of terms with counterparties.
- Advised 1991 Ventures LLP on the formation, launch and first closing of its debut private fund, a sector-agnostic seed venture fund to invest in Ukraine and the broader CEE region with a focus on data, deeptech, govtech, civic tech, cybersecurity, fintech, mobility, and smart city.
- Advised Kingsbridge with respect to their IR35 compliance solution, and on the negotiation of software-as-a-service agreements, influencer agreements, introducer agreements, template terms and conditions, and data privacy advice and documentation.
Pinsent Masons LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP’s fintech corporate and commercial team advises a broad spectrum of clients, including financial institutions, technology providers, and disruptor businesses. The practice is particularly active in areas including open banking, AI, digital identity, and financial services technology, advising on collaborations, strategic outsourcing, and regulatory frameworks. The team has led legal work on AI deployment and the EU AI Act, open banking infrastructure projects, and digital identity frameworks in collaboration with organisations such as the Open Identity Exchange and OpenID Foundation. Yvonne Dunn leads the firm’s TMT financial services and fintech practice, advising clients on outsourcing, technology transformation, and operational resilience. Angus McFadyen specialises in financial services, regulatory and technology matters; he has led major international fintech sourcing and fraud-prevention initiatives, and contributes to industry working groups on digital identity and blockchain. Luke Scanlon, who heads the fintech propositions team, advises on open banking, regtech, and AI-related legal and regulatory developments.
Responsables de la pratique:
Yvonne Dunn
Autres avocats clés:
Angus McFadyen; Luke Scanlon
Principaux dossiers
- Advised CFIT, the Fintech Kalifa Review established body, on its cohort set up which will have significant impact across the sector.
- Advised key financial market infrastructure providers on key matters that enable fintech and financial services across the UK.
- Advised on EU AI Act implementation for a UK bank.
Shoosmiths LLP
Shoosmiths LLP‘s fintech practice handles complex tech and financial services matters, supporting clients from start-up to exit. Typical work matters include advising technology and venture capital firms on outsourcing, data, and regulatory work, while the corporate team maintains a highly active M&A and VC focus. Luke Stubbs advises on digital assets, payments, and strategic tech projects, working with a number of household names. Steve Barnett leads the firm’s VC work and tech-enabled innovation, while new lateral hire Kate Brimsted brings expertise to the team’s privacy and data work.
Responsables de la pratique:
Luke Stubbs; Steve Barnett
Autres avocats clés:
Kate Brimsted
Les références
‘The team are friendly and responsive to advice required. ’
Principaux clients
Volkswagen Group
ABN Amro
Deliveroo
Jensten Group
Volkswagen Financial Services
Terra Payments Services (TerraPay)
Hotelbeds
Supercede Technology
Close Brothers
Vaultex
Compare The Market
Volkswagen Group
ABN Amro
Deliveroo
Jensten Group
Volkswagen Financial Services
Terra Payments Services (TerraPay)
Hotelbeds
Supercede Technology
Close Brothers
Vaultex
Compare The Market
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for global fintech provider on strategic advice on contract terms and associated business structures (including to navigate regulatory requirements).
- Advising Vaultex (a leading cash processing business) on its core/critical outsourcing agreements with two leading UK banks. This deal with two leading UK banks is unique – and goes to the heart of the infrastructural ‘rails’ on which cash (multiple billions of pounds) is handled and processed in the UK.
- Advising on various matters including API licensing and integration arrangements and key electronic services procurement.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
The fintech practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP works with global financial institutions, major investors, start-ups, scale-ups, and industry bodies such as regulators and non-profit organisations across the fintech industry. Frequently coordinating global matters from the London office, the team is skilled at advising on high-profile transactions including IPOs, financings, acquisitions, and high-value investments into cutting-edge fintech companies, particularly in the payments, open banking, insurtech, wealthtech, and cryptoasset sectors. The team is led by co-head of the firm’s global fintech practice Simon Toms, a veteran of global fintech transactions with clients spanning across private capital investors and leading payments businesses, alongside crypto and digital assets regulatory expertise. Sebastian Barling joined the firm from Linklaters LLP in 2024, bringing financial services regulatory experience in the payments and crypto-asset sectors. Deborah Kirk — who joined the firm from Latham & Watkins in 2024 — brings in-depth knowledge of IP, data, and tech issues.
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Toms
Autres avocats clés:
Deborah Kirk, Sebastian Barling
Principaux dossiers
- Represented eToro, a multi-asset investment and social trading company, on its $620m IPO and with a market cap on IPO of $5.6bn.
- Advised Nasdaq on the sale of its risk modelling business subsidiary Simplitium Limited to Verisk Inc.
- Advised Visa Inc. on its acquisition of UK-based Featurespace, a developer of real-time AI payments protection technology.
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs’ fintech practice advises a diverse client base on regulatory, corporate, and commercial issues across key global markets. The team is especially experienced in M&A, venture capital, and regulatory advice, with an increasing focus on AI and blockchain. Recent significant matters include advising a leading digital asset trading firm on its minority investment into a multi-asset broker, and advising a global credit reporting company on the regulatory aspect of a majority acquisition. Rob Bray leads the practice from London, advising clients on private equity, joint ventures, and cross-border transactions. Ben Johnson, a financial services specialist with over 25 years’ experience, regularly advises on regulatory issues, financial crime, card scheme rules, and disputes, especially in payment processing. Miriam Lampert advises tech clients on employment law aspects.
Responsables de la pratique:
Robert Bray
Autres avocats clés:
Ben Johnson, Miriam Lampert
Les références
‘Solid team that are thorough and yet efficient in handling queries. We are currently in a complex sale process, and their attention to detail and handling of the other side has been superb.’
‘Rob Bray has been excellent over many years for us. Again, during the current sale process, Rob has lead the team exceptionally well and handled a difficult firm on the other side professionally but also firmly.’
Principaux clients
TransUnion
Broadridge Financial Solutions
Neptune Networks
TP ICAP Group
LMAX
ECI
BNP Paribas
OakNorth Bank
Diebold Nixdorf
Ticketmaster
Planet
Principaux dossiers
- Advised LMAX Exchange Group Limited in its minority investment in Black Bull Global Limited.
- Advised LMAX Exchange Group Limited on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of FX HedgePool, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
- Advising Trans Union International Inc. on its proposed acquisition of the remaining 70% of the share capital of Monevo Limited.
White & Case LLP
White & Case LLP advises a mix of digital wallets, payment processors, POS providers, card networks, and global financial institutions on complex, cross-border fintech transactions and regulatory issues. Global head of the firm’s financial services regulatory department, Jonathan Rogers, advises clients such as Verizon and Nubank on licensing, product design, compliance, and commercial solutions. As former head of the firm’s global fintech team, Guy Potel has advised on key transactions for an array of clients. Daniel Turgel, co-head of the global tech industry group, leads the firm’s growth capital practice and has recently advised leading investors on high-value deals and strategic investments.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jonathan Rogers
Autres avocats clés:
Guy Potel, Daniel Turgel
Les références
‘The team are highly responsive, understand our business and the individuals involved, and take the time to work out solutions that work for us.’
Principaux clients
Fintech Growth Fund
Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup
International Game Technology PLC
PayPal Ventures
Pollinate International Limited
Monese
With Intelligence
Principaux dossiers
- Representation of PayPal Ventures on leading a €18+ million Series A extension for Berlin-based corporate card platform Pliant.
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP’s fintech practice advises a broad client base including major banks, fintech start-ups, payment providers, and wealth platforms on M&A, early-stage investments, commercial contracts, and international projects. The group also supports clients on data, employment, brand, and payments matters. The practice is led by Martin Cook, a former general counsel at a leading digital international payments business, who brings expertise in product development, regulatory strategy and risk management. Recently joining the firm from Deloitte Legal, Charles Claisse is a seasoned M&A lawyer with a focus on supporting global tech and digital businesses on their transactional activities. Other key figures include James Barrett, who brings experience advising banks, payment services, and startups on corporate financings and product launches.
Responsables de la pratique:
Martin Cook
Principaux clients
The Electric Car Scheme
Fintel plc
Principaux dossiers
- Advised The Electric Car Scheme, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice provider on its latest funding round, with finance coming from a consortium of investors, led by UK-based venture capital firm 13books Capital, with participation from Triple Point Ventures, Seedcamp, Adjuvo, Ascension and Bayern Kapital.
- Advised AIM-listed Fintel Plc on its acquisition of Rayner Spencer Mills Research Limited (RSMR).
Fox Williams LLP
The fintech department at Fox Williams LLP advises e-commerce and challenger banking clients across the sector, acting for fintechs at every growth stage, particularly start-ups and scale-ups, on lending, payments, crypto, fundraising, and regulatory matters. The practice is recognised for its depth of regulatory expertise, supporting companies across commercial, corporate, and compliance issues. Recent work includes advising major fintechs on commercial and regulatory structures for new product launches, strategic partnerships, and platform expansion. Jonathan Segal is a market leader in lending platforms, acting for over 60 providers. Chris Hill advises on technology, payments, and open banking. Tech and data expert Kolvin Stone supports fintech clients on blockchain, crypto, AI, SaaS, and compliance-related deals.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jonathan Segal, Chris Hill
Les références
‘A high-touch partner-led working relationship. What our clients value the most is pragmatic advice that makes sense for where they are in the business cycle and with the appropriate amount of risk. What is most valuable is that we have a legal partner who we know will always deliver a top-class level of service and advice to our clients. They are expanding their sub-sector specialisms by recruiting partners with experience in these areas e.g. Chris Hill in payments.’
‘Attentive, clear communication, fast acting, within quotation, felt like the team where protecting our interests.’
‘Jon Segal is the perfect partner on a negotiation.’
Principaux clients
Allica Bank
GB Bank
Farewill
FullCircl
Perenna
Solidatus
Kore Labs
Smartr365
Tipjar
Nala
Reewild
Juice
Pipe
Yonder
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Allica Bank on its acquisition of property finance lender Tuscan Capital.
- Advised payments and e-money fintech Solaris on numerous aspects of its solvent wind-down.
- Advised Yonder on its partnership with Griffin Bank.
Gowling WLG
Turned to by high-profile fintech unicorns, buy now, pay later companies, and NFT platforms, Gowling WLG is particularly noted for its strength in regulatory and venture-backed matters, advising on equity and debt investments, smart contracts, platform structuring, and intellectual property. The team regularly supports clients launching cryptoassets, blockchain, and AI-driven financial services, providing FCA perimeter advice and ongoing compliance support. A standout feature is its financial services regulatory team, led by ex-FCA lawyer Sushil Kuner, who also heads the firm’s fintech accelerator group. Corporate partner David Brennan leads on complex cross-border M&A and financings, while partner Rebecca Burford advises on early-stage and VC investment rounds.
Responsables de la pratique:
David Brennan, Sushil Kuner
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Burford
Principaux clients
Molten Ventures plc
Tide
Outward Capital
Principaux dossiers
- Advised on the all-share acquisition of Forward Partners which successfully completed in March 2024.
- Advised Tide Platform Ltd, a UK-based business banking platform, on its acquisition of the business and assets of Onfolk Limited, a leading payroll solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Advised Outward on the establishment of its successor fund, following the success of its first venture capital fund.
Keystone Law
Keystone Law‘s fintech practice supports clients navigating disruptive technologies, IP, data, and commercial contracts, often acting in a general counsel capacity. The practice often counsels clients on NFT, SaaS, and blockchain-related legal issues, offering expertise across advisory, litigation, and regulatory compliance. Vanessa Barnett leads advisory work for VC-backed scale-ups, and has deep experience with internet-enabled business models, machine learning, and the gig economy. Louise Abbott is a disputes expert with a specialism in crypto fraud and digital asset recovery, advising clients, including FTX investors, on tracing and recovering cryptocurrency proceeds.
Autres avocats clés:
Vanessa Barnett; Louise Abbott; Dan Hyde; Leon Hurd
Les références
‘I have dealt with Keystone in different areas. My experiences, based on my interaction with the individuals below, have always been a good one.’
‘Louise Abbott, Dan Hyde and Leon Hurd stand out as individuals. They are each excellent in terms of legal knowledge, practical sense and client care.’
‘Excellent team, aware of new technology changes and regulation updated.’
Principaux clients
Zoe Limited (trading as Zoe)
Pragmacharge Limited (trading as Pragmacharge)
Harbr Group Limited (trading as Harbr)
Climate Policy Radar
Zero Height Limited (trading as zeroheight)
AM
NV
PAJA
Principaux dossiers
- Developed the ‘go to market’ contracts for Pragmacharge Limited, which involved crafting a SaaS style contract with a delicate balance of what a software provider could or should be responsible and trying to align that in the world of trucking.
Wiggin LLP
Particularly focused on advising emerging technology companies and fintech startups, Wiggin LLP advises on a range of regulatory, corporate, and commercial matters, spanning M&A, joint ventures, market entry, and AI-driven innovation, with cross-border capabilities supporting product launches and token offerings globally. Practice co-head Marcus Bagnall is a leading fintech and technology specialist advising on blockchain, tokenisation, and AI, who works closely with web3 incubators and accelerators. Fellow co-head Jason Fisher brings expertise on cross-border regulatory work, advising global PSPs and payments companies.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jason Fisher; Marcus Bagnall
Principaux clients
Allez Labs
Aten7
CASHét
CCP Games
DFINITY Foundation (Internet Computer)
Greenfield Yield
Lissen
myPOS
Outlier Ventures
SAGE Global Services
Sardine AI
Smarter Contracts
Solana Superteam UK
TON Society
Xplor Technologies
Allez Labs
Aten7
CASHét
CCP Games
DFINITY Foundation (Internet Computer)
Greenfield Yield
Lissen
myPOS
Outlier Ventures
SAGE Global Services
Sardine AI
Smarter Contracts
Solana Superteam UK
TON Society
Xplor Technologies
Principaux dossiers
- Advising London-based Outlier Ventures, providing legal guidance, mentoring, and direct support to its legal team.
Alston & Bird LLP
Alston & Bird LLP’s London fintech practice advises on complex cross-border M&A, commercial alliances, and regulatory matters across the payments ecosystem, often working in collaboration with the firm's US offices. The team advises on merchant agreements, ISO agreements, bank processing deals, insolvency issues, and data privacy matters, with support from Brussels-based EU experts and competition specialists. Clients include leading U.S. banks and major global payments companies, with recent work involving major joint ventures and strategic alliances, often with a transatlantic element. Practice co-head Richard Willis leads the international payments practice, bringing over 20 years of experience advising on new market entries and the regulatory aspects of global payments transactions, having led matters across six continents. Jonathan Garforth, a seasoned regulatory expert, supports clients across the credit, payments, and digital asset spaces. Gupinder Assi leverages in-house and international experience to advise on complex payment contracts and regulations, including crypto and card scheme rules.
Responsables de la pratique:
Richard Willis; Jonathan Garforth; Gupinder Assi
Principaux clients
Global Payments
U.S. Bank, including Elavon
Galactic Media Management
Truth Network Foundation
Enigmatic Smile/ Fidel
TreviPay
Pauzible (Nestfuel and Astra Asset Management)
ProjectPay Limited
Aventus Network Services Limited
Crucible Networks Limited
Corvia Payments
Principaux dossiers
- Advised U.S. Bank Europe on its long-term payments processing alliance relationship – effected by way of a new-entity joint venture – in Germany with Commerzbank.
- Advised Elavon in its long-term acceptance and exclusive acceptance alliance in the US market with the US national bank – BMO Bank – owned by Canada’s Bank of Montreal.
- Advised TreviPay in respect of its B2B e-commerce relationship with HSBC.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie‘s fintech practice advises on regulatory, transactional, and strategic technology matters, working with a mix of major banks, crypto firms, financial institutions, technology companies, and startups. The team handles market entries, expansions, and product development, advising on blockchain, tokenisation, crypto exchanges, wallet providers, and decentralised platforms. Recent work includes blockchain deployments, international fintech expansions, and tax structuring for digital payments providers. The group is co-led by partners Sue McLean, who advises on digital transformation, blockchain, and AI projects, and FSR partner Mark Simpson, who frequently advises crypto firms, payment providers, and public bodies on authorisation, expansion, innovation, and regulatory strategy.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sue McLean, Mark Simpson
Principaux clients
Afterpay
AUB
De Giro
JP Morgan Chase
Kong
Mambu
Mollie
R3
Silver Lake
Temenos
UBS
Principaux dossiers
- Acted for Silver Lake on the international aspects its proposed acquisition of Zuora Inc. alongside GIC for $1.7 billion.
Browne Jacobson LLP
Browne Jacobson LLP’s fintech group advises high-growth start-ups, scale-ups, investors, and traditional institutions across the UK, Ireland, and internationally, often working on deals in venture capital, M&A, and venture debt. The practice is especially focused on insurtech and is increasingly active in regulatory advisory and digital transformation work for insurance disruptors. Head of fintech and insurtech at the firm, the team is led by Jon Snade, a corporate tech partner who frequently acts for investors and high-growth fintech and insurtech companies. With over 25 years’ experience in the practice area, Anthony Nagle leads the firm’s digital, technology & sourcing team, advising on high-value tech transactions, outsourcing, and digital transformation concerns.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jon Snade
Autres avocats clés:
Anthony Nagle
Les références
‘I had the pleasure of working alongside Jon Snade during an investment round involving a UK-based company and its Portuguese subsidiary. Jon was an excellent team leader—highly efficient, clear in his communication, and consistently focused on driving the process forward. His approachable and collaborative style made the experience smooth and enjoyable for everyone involved.’
‘Strong fintech experience.’
Principaux clients
Laka LTD
Obconnect Limited
Enro Holdings Limited (T/A Superscript)
Equals Group Plc
Clear Group (Holdings) Limited
Anansi Technology Limited
Easy Forex Trading Limited and Blue Capital Markets Limited (T/A easyMarkets)
Expression Insurance Services Limited
Bspoke Insurance Group Limited
Vortex IQ Limited
Hunter Douglas, Inc – Genpact (Finance)
The National Trust For Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Laka Ltd (Laka) on the equity investment received from Achmea Innovation Fund (AIF), the venture arm of the Netherlands-based insurance group Achmea.
Collyer Bristow LLP
Collyer Bristow LLP’s fintech practice covers regulatory, commercial, and digital asset matters, acting for a broad range of fintech clients from fund managers, payments providers, and crypto exchanges to FX platforms and blockchain ventures, as well as institutional investors and family offices. The team is also active in shaping crypto policy, advising on the UK’s financial promotions regime, stablecoin regulation, and anti-money laundering compliance. Head of financial services, Nigel Brahams, brings deep sector expertise, with experience advising on a number of crypto and blockchain projects. Recently joining the team as a partner in January 2025, transactional IP lawyer Sarah Coe brings further in-house experience, bolstering the team’s derivatives, commercial IP, and SaaS credentials.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nigel Brahams
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Coe
Les références
‘Nigel Brahams, the partner with whom we worked, had an excellent knowledge of the sector which he applied to great effect.’
‘The support our ongoing work to challenge regulatory developments in the digital asset and crypto space, and have a depth of knowledge and experience that is valuable to our organisation’
‘Nigel Brahams has been a long-term supporter of our work and provides valuable input and expertise in discussions with regulators and government on all areas relating to crypto and digital assets.’
Principaux clients
Afonso
CEBR
Coinrule
Earth Version 2
FXCM
Green Street Advisors
Green Switch
Iconomi
International Law Solutions Group
Kappa Lab (formerly CrypPro)
Lunafi
Pave Holdco
Satva Trust
Smart Money Dealing
Squarefoot Capital
Stablecoin Integration
The Scotcoin Project
Tokenise Exchange
Trive Financial Services
Vesti.AI
Principaux dossiers
- Advising FXCM on reviewing their terms of business and this year provided a legal opinion explaining their business in support of their plans to expand to a new continent.
- Advising Coinrule on several matters including its SAAS subscription licence, under which Coinrule licenses access to its smart software applications which enable users to create cryptoasset trading strategies and connect to crypto exchanges which it makes available to subscribers via the internet on a pay-per-use basis / subscription / free basis.
- Advised US tech clients (via referrals from I Law) on the financial regulatory implications of share issuance and employee incentive schemes.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises across the full fintech lifecycle, covering AI, M&A, blockchain and crypto-assets, cloud transformation, tax, and regulation. Clients include global financial institutions, digital banks, and major payment providers, with recent mandates covering cross-border AI, biometrics, and data privacy projects, acting for the non-US customers of FTX throughout its bankruptcy proceedings. Craig Rogers, co-chair of the global fintech practice, regularly advises financial institutions on fintech partnerships and technology compliance. Simon Gamlin leads the global commercial team and has deep experience in cloud, outsourcing, and regulatory compliance. Simon Lightman advises on tech procurement, AI systems, and business process outsourcing.
Responsables de la pratique:
Craig Rogers
Autres avocats clés:
Simon Lightman, Simon Gamlin
Les références
‘Excellent breadth of knowledge, especially in the crypto sector. They are well supported by the wider Eversheds global network to assist with advising internationally.’
Deep technical skills and first-class customer service.’
‘Great experience, great knowledge and great people to deliver it!’
Principaux clients
Ad Hoc Committee of US investors in FTX.com
Shareholders of Rayner Spencer Mills
Aro Finance Group Limited
GB Bank Limited
Clara Trustees Limited
Metro Bank PLC
Zopa Bank
Monzo
Principaux dossiers
- Successfully represented the Ad Hoc Committee of US investors in FTX.com. This group of investors accounts for around $6bn.
Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher‘s fintech practice is a cross-disciplinary team advising on regulatory, transactional, technology, and privacy matters. The group supports clients across the fintech lifecycle, from early-stage funding to complex M&A. The team works with start-ups, growth companies, established fintechs, and financial institutions across Europe. Thomas Colmer focuses on fintech M&A, growth equity, and institutional funding rounds. He regularly advises on capital markets, open banking, and payments-related deals, including mandates involving Tier 1 banks. Simon Briskman has over 30 years of experience advising on technology transactions. Tom Ward co-heads the emerging companies and venture capital team. John Brunning advises on complex technology transactions, with a focus on regulatory frameworks including DORA, the EU Data Act, and AI governance.
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Briskman, Thomas Colmer
Autres avocats clés:
Tom Ward, John Brunning
Les références
‘Great connectivity and familiarity with the market.’
‘Thomas is a great VC-style M&A lawyer, having done a lot of work for the major players in the space.’
‘This is a highly experienced team involved in some of the most important VC/PE corporate transactions. They can advise in every aspect of corporate transactions and related issues.’
Principaux clients
Tembo Money Limited
Fuel Ventures
Trading Technologies International Inc.
Genesis Global Technology Limited
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
Principaux dossiers
- Advised digital savings and mortgage platform Tembo Money on their successful £14 million Series B funding round.
- Advised US-based global capital markets technology platform provider Trading Technologies International (TT), on its acquisition of the French group ATEO a publisher of market monitoring software for listed derivatives.
- Advising European Bank of Reconstruction and Development on its digital transformation journey over several years, including this year moving core systems to the cloud and their « Next Generation Security Outsourcing Programme » using cloud tools and remote access to manage their information security layer.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Harbottle & Lewis LLP advises a wide range of fintech clients on corporate and commercial matters, including early-stage financing, venture capital investments, strategic commercial arrangements, and emerging technology disputes. The firm supports clients across the investment lifecycle, from startup structuring and SEIS/EIS fundraising to late-stage funding rounds, exits, and IPOs. Tony Littner, the firm’s co-managing partner, focuses on venture capital and corporate transactions, advising both high-growth tech companies and investors throughout the lifecycle of a business. Charles Leveque, also co-managing partner and head of the corporate group, handles private and public M&A, fundraisings, and shareholder arrangements, with a focus on the technology, media, and retail sectors. Tom Macleod, co-head of the venture capital and emerging companies practice, advises on financing rounds, restructurings, exits, and share schemes, with a specific focus on high-growth tech businesses and cross-border mandates, particularly involving the US.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tony Littner, Charles Leveque
Autres avocats clés:
Tom Macleod
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Smart Pension on its Series E USD$95m fundraising round lead by PE fund, Aquiline.
- Instructed by Fabric Ventures Group S.a.r.l (FVG), a holding company and an investment fund manager for two venture capital funds, in relation to its claim against Celsius Network Limited (CNL), a global cryptocurrency platform and Bitcoin mining company.