Fintech
About
Financial Technology (Fintech) is evolving at a breathtaking pace, as the digital revolution changes, improves, redefines and inverts traditional roles and functions of financial services.
With the increasing demand for fintech solutions around the world, White & Case serves as trusted advisors for buy-side and sell-side clients, including multi-party collaborations. We facilitate a number of industry "firsts," partnering with emerging companies, unicorns, and financial and technology heavyweights to create original solutions to their most complex multijurisdictional needs.
We have been at the forefront of the fintech and payments market for over two decades. Our multidisciplinary team is comprised of former senior government regulators, bankers, and in-house payments and product development executives – providing us with a unique understanding of myriad fintech matters involving new business models and product development.
Our extensive experience in this area spans the full gamut of products and services, including:
Products:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning-driven technology
- Blockchain and cryptocurrency
- Digital banking
- Digital insurance
- Digital and mobile wallets
- E-commerce platforms
- Payment gateways
- Alternative lending
Services:
- Advertising and marketing compliance
- Anti-money laundering
- Competition and disputes
- Consumer financial services
- Data privacy and cybersecurity
- IPOs, offerings and exits
- M&A, dispositions, joint ventures, outsourcing and other alliances
- Regulatory compliance and advisory, including RegTech
- Vendor risk management
Related areas
- Financial Institutions
- Technology
- Antitrust/Competition
- Capital Markets
- Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Financial Services Regulatory
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Technology Transactions
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Tier 1: Crypto
The Legal 500 US, 2023
Band 2: Mexico
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
Band 2: Germany
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
Band 2: United Arab Emirates
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
Band 2: Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies – United States
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
Band 2: Corporate, Securities and Financing – United States
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
Fintech Law Firm of the Year 2023
Asian Legal Business Middle East Awards
Fintech Practice Group of the Year
Law360, 2020
"White & Case always take into consideration the commercial elements of a deal or negotiation and focus on realistic and viable solutions with a view to achieving the best commercial results."
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
"They are always responsive with concise and well-structured answers to any issue. They think out of the box to provide not only a legal overview, but an opinion on the business we are trying to build."
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
White & Case has a very strong reputation for capital markets work and oversees acquisitions and partnerships in the digital assets industry. It also handles regulatory matters concerning cryptocurrency and other digital assets, including NFT platform launches. Its clients include financial institutions, technology companies and payments processors.
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2023
"The commercial and technical understanding of the new business models stands out, as well as the ability to analyze and document them – despite the often high level of complexity – in a way that is legally correct and accurate, but at the same time understandable and pragmatic."
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
"Excellent coordination between the team members, very nice and reliable interaction. Great value is placed on diversity, consistently very in-depth knowledge in the fintech area with a capital markets focus."
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
"White & Case has developed a premier Fintech practice specialising in complex global matters. Its historical corporate and capital markets expertise has led the firm to become one of the leaders in multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency and transactional mandates. Its strong presence across the UK, Europe and Asia allows it to advise global giants."
Chambers Fintech Global, 2021
"White & Case lead the way in representing some of the most innovative players in the Fintech space in M&A transactions, and provide clients with high-quality advice on the structuring and regulatory aspects of cutting-edge digital platforms, including those based on blockchain technology."
Chambers Fintech Legal, 2021
Experience
Facebook and WhatsApp
Facebook and its subsidiary WhatsApp as lead commercial fintech transactions counsel and global antitrust counsel in the technology, commerce and product integration deal associated with the US$5.7 billion investment by Facebook into Jio Platforms Ltd.
Facebook
Facebook on regulatory and transactional matters related to the development of the Novi wallet and in connection with the establishment of the Diem Association.
Softbank Vision Fund
SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest technology-focused venture capital fund, on its investment in British unicorn OakNorth, valuing the company at around US$2.8 billion, and its US$800 million investment in Greensill, in Europe’s largest-ever fintech fundraising to date.
Square
Square, a leading digital payments company, on the founding of the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a non-profit community formed to encourage the adoption and advancement of cryptocurrency technologies with the aim of removing patents as a barrier to growth and innovation.
We also advised Square on regulatory aspects of its process to obtain deposit insurance in connection with its precedent setting application to become the first fintech bank in the United States.
Klarna
Klarna, one of the world's leading smooth shopping and payment providers and the highest-valued private fintech in Europe, on its US$650 million equity funding round, at a post-money valuation of US$10.65 billion.
Stripe
Stripe, Silicon Valley's most valuable start-up, with various cross-border and domestic payments regulatory matters and a significant international partnership, including new product development, licensing requirements, records and reporting compliance, regulatory engagement, legislative advocacy and documenting intra-company payment agreements, among other items.
VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings
VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings (NASDAQ: VIH), a SPAC sponsored by Victory Park Capital, in its US$2.1 billion business combination with Bakkt Holdings, LLC, the transformative digital asset marketplace launched in 2018 by Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
N26
N26, a German neobank with more than five million global customers, in its defense against a sanction for breaching anti-money laundering reporting obligations to the German authorities.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
The underwriters on Lemonade, Inc.'s (NYSE: LMND) US$367 million initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares. Lemonade offers homeowners and renters insurance in the United States, and contents and liability insurance in Germany and the Netherlands, through its full-stack insurance carriers.
Pollinate
Pollinate International, a platform that works with a bank's legacy systems to create data-driven experiences for merchants and consumers, on the establishment and launch of NatWest Tyl, a new, innovative approach to merchant acquiring. We advised Pollinate on its company formation, all of its funding rounds and strategic partnerships.
Ingenico Group
Ingenico Group, the global leader in seamless payments, on its €1.5 billion acquisition of Bambora, a fast-growing global player in the payments industry, from private equity firm Nordic Capital.
Equens/World Pay
Equens SE, one of the largest payment service providers in Europe, in a strategic business combination with the European market leader in payment and transactional services, Worldline SA. The business combination created the new pan-European leader in payment services. In addition, Worldline SA acquired PaySquare, the commercial acquiring subsidiary of Equens. The transaction was subject to regulatory and antitrust authorities´ approvals.
