Shearman & Sterling launched the FinTech Foundry nearly two years ago to foster the growth of global FinTech and to support our clients and the wider FinTech ecosystem.

Building on this momentum, the firm is proud to announce its new digital hub detailing the firm’s core FinTech service offerings and dedicated resources to upcoming events and the latest thought leadership.

On July 28 at 10:00 am ET, in partnership with Innovate Finance, the industry body for FinTech in the U.K., partners Matthew Lyons and Pawel Szaja and associate Cassandra Cuellar will be joined by Kirsty Grant, Chief Investment Officer at Seedrs, and Ryan Gilbert, General Partner at Propel Venture Partners, for a webinar titled “Return of the Down Round: Financing Amidst a Pandemic.”

Shearman & Sterling advised Liveoak Technologies, Inc. in its sale to DocuSign, Inc. Founded in 2014, Liveoak Technologies is an Austin-based virtual customer engagement and business platform enabling connection, engagement & seamless workflow. DocuSign plans to leverage its existing partnership with Liveoak to accelerate the launch of DocuSign Notary, offering remote online notarization as a service.

On July 21 at 10:00 am ET, partner Gillian Emmett Moldowan and associate Jai Garg will be joined by Aneta Waberska, Head of Compliance at Ocrolus, for a webinar titled “Rethinking the Workplace: Designing Return to Work Plans.”

Associate Ryan Au spoke on an American Bar Association panel discussing transactions involving cryptocurrency that implicate classic areas of the taxation of financial instruments.

Shearman & Sterling advised Price f(x) AG (“Pricefx”) on a $65 million Series C funding, bringing the company’s total raised capital to date to $130 million. The round was led by funds advised by Apax Digital, the growth equity fund of Apax Partners, with participation from existing investors.

Shearman & Sterling is hosting a weekly webinar series focused on the financial services industry that will explore current and forward-looking issues facing the industry as it looks to strategically navigate forward amidst the uncertain environment.

Shearman & Sterling announced today that Mark Chorazak is joining the firm as partner in its global Financial Institutions Advisory and Financial Regulatory practice in New York. His arrival further bolsters the firm’s US bank regulatory, FinTech and financial institutions practices.

Shearman & Sterling Asia Regional Managing Partner Lorna Chen will moderate a webinar discussion with Eric Rosenblum, Managing Partner of Tsingyuan Ventures and Wei Zhou, Founding Managing Partner of China Creation Ventures, where they will discuss the global drivers of deep tech investment growth, the implications for the increasing number of Chinese technologists in the U.S. and key points of differentiation between the U.S. and China’s venture capital and technology markets.

Matt Lyons (Partner – Emerging Growth) served as a panelist on “COVID-19 Issues for Business” hosted by the Austin Technology Incubator to discuss current resources available to startups and small businesses at the city, state and federal level during the COVID-19 crisis. Matt discussed the federal programs resulting from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in particular, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). 

Shearman & Sterling is delighted to sponsor the first ever digital UK FinTech Week, running from April 14 to May 1.

Partners Reena Sahni (New York-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory), Russ Denton and Brian Dillavou (both Austin-Emerging Growth) will be participating in a webinar on Monday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 15 at 2 pm ET with leaders at OakNorth – a U.K. bank for small and medium sized companies that provides business and property loans – to discuss what FinTechs and community banks should be focused on with regard to the Fed’s COVID-19 funding programs.

Brian Dillavou (Partner – Austin) served as a panelist on a webinar hosted by Galvanize. Brian was joined by Ashley Rossi, Vice President - Silicon Valley Bank, Brady Minyard, Market President - Embark, Tony Aguilar, Founder and CEO - Chipper, Aaron Perman, Vice President - S3 Ventures, and Lucas Walters, Director - Bridgepoint Consulting.

On April 6, Shearman & Sterling hosted a webinar where a cross-practice team of lawyers highlighted relevant considerations for FinTechs and emerging growth companies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brian Dillavou (Partner- Austin) provided insights on the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on a webinar hosted by Digital Wildcatters Live.

In observance of International Women’s Day, Partner Donna Parisi (New York- Derivatives & Structured Products) published a co-authored article with Michelle Tran, Co-Founder of NYC FinTech Women in PaymentsSource on how crossover hiring – recruiting from traditional financial service firms to fintechs  – can help address the gender gap in the sector.

Partner Donna Parisi, Shearman & Sterling’s Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech and leader of the firm’s women’s group, Shearman Women, has been included in Innovate Finance’s Women in FinTech Powerlist 2019 in the "Policymakers & Regulatory Experts" category.

Shearman & Sterling and NYC FinTech Women celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday, March 6. The event took place in Shearman & Sterling’s New York office and featured a fireside chat with Anita Bhatia, the Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. The discussion highlighted the work of UN Women, how the organization works with the private sector and how the FinTech community can support their mission. 

On February 27, partners Gillian Emmett Moldowan (New York-Compensation, Governance & ERISA) and Matt Lyons (Austin-Emerging Growth) led a roundtable discussion titled “Executive Compensation: Equity, Options & More,” which was hosted and joined by representatives of J.P. Morgan, including Kaylin Klinger, Executive Compensation Specialist, and Abigail Mead and Brittanie Bailor from JP Morgan Private Bank. The discussion shared valuable insights regarding formation and pre-transaction planning and compensation considerations for startups and scaleups.

Shearman & Sterling is proud to sponsor Women@Austin, a non-profit organization empowering female entrepreneurs through programming, educational resources and community.  On February 26, associate Cassandra Cuellar (Austin- Capital Markets) will present ‘Term Sheets 101’ during Demystifying Fundraising: A Boot Camp for Women Entrepreneurs, a multi-day intensive event, where women entrepreneurs will come together to learn the nuts and bolts of fundraising from subject-matter experts and serial entrepreneurs.

Partner Li Chen (Beijing/Hong Kong-Mergers & Acquisitions) spoke at the “Southeast Asia M&A Seminar,” held at our Beijing office on November 21.

Shearman & Sterling hosted a U.S. Sanctions Rules seminar on November 20 in Beijing. Partner Philip Urofsky (Washington, D.C.-Litigation) presented on how to navigate through complex sanctions programs and ensure adequate compliance measures in place by drawing on real case studies.

Shearman & Sterling and SS&C Technologies will convene on November 6, 2019 for an afternoon of panel discussions focusing on privacy and security demands confronting investment managers.

Shearman & Sterling and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) will convene a panel discussion on the world’s most talked about digital assets, stablecoins, on Monday, November 4 from 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. at Shearman & Sterling’s New York office.

Shearman & Sterling will co-host the Austin Finance Leadership Summit on Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

Shearman & Sterling, the U.K. Department for International Trade and HM Treasury are delighted to host the launch of their new guide, “Entering the U.S. Market: A Guide for FinTech Firms,” during D.C. FinTech Week 2019 on Tuesday, October 22 from 6:00-8:30 pm at the International Spy Museum.

Shearman & Sterling advised insurtech startup Next Insurance in connection with a Series C funding round from Munich Re. Next Insurance provides digital small-business insurance coverage across the U.S., including general liability, professional liability, commercial auto and workers’ compensation coverage.

In collaboration with Empire Startups, Shearman & Sterling is hosting an interactive showcase with live demos from cutting-edge FinTech companies on Tuesday, October 15 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the AWS Loft in New York City. During the event, Donna Parisi will moderate a fireside chat with Kamran Ansari, Venture Partner at Greycoft, about the latest fundraising trends and best practices for both founders and other investors. Discover the five startups working to disrupt payments, wealth-tech, accounting and more!        

Counsel Jennifer Morton (New York-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory) is participating in a panel discussion, entitled “Regulatory Developments Impacting Investment Advisers,” at the 2019 Money Management Institute (MMI) Annual Conference from October 14-16 in Atlanta, Georgia. The discussion will principally focus on Regulation BI and Form CRS compliance considerations.

Partners Emma Maconick (Menlo Park-Intellectual Property Transactions) and Barney Reynolds (London-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory) will discuss the business-planning considerations around building a data business, moderated by Of Counsel Simon Dodds (London-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory), who was formerly Co-General Counsel at Deutsche Bank.

Associate Naffie Lamin (New York-Derivatives & Structured Products) was recently named to The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes the top 40 African-American lawyers under age 40 from each state who demonstrate leadership through the services they provide to individuals, families and businesses in their state.

Shearman & Sterling and Donnelly Financial Solution will co-sponsor this year's free business and law event at the University of Texas Club on September 20.  The event will begin with lunch and networking, followed by a discussion on how in-house counsel can best guide their company through the significant events in its growth from startup to a publicly traded giant.

Five Shearman & Sterling partners have been selected by IFLR1000 for its Women Leaders list for 2019. This list recognizes the female lawyers considered to be the best in their respective countries. As part of the selection process, IFLR1000 evaluates lawyers based on their transactional experience and market feedback. The publication describes the listed lawyers as “individuals at the top of their professions in their fields locally, who have impressive track records and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.”

Shearman & Sterling continues to grow its Litigation practice with the arrival of Adam Schwartz, who joins the firm as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office.

Shearman & Sterling will sponsor the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Central Texas Program and Gala on June 27, 2019.

Partner Jessica Delbaum (New-York-Antitrust) will speak at the 4th Annual International Arbitration, Regulatory & Competition Law Summit organized by Kluwer Law in New Delhi on June 13, 2019.

Partners Nils Eliasson (Hong Kong-International Arbitration) and Daniel Reich (New York-International Arbitration) will welcome the ‘2018 HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules Roadshow’ which will take place at Shearman & Sterling’s New York office on June 11, 2019.

Shearman & Sterling advised Qatar Investment Authority in connection with an equity financing of more than $500 million in SoFi.

University of Texas School of Law CLE’s 32nd Annual Technology Law Conference brings together a nationally recognized faculty of technology and licensing practitioners, in-house counsel from leading tech companies and experts in open source, data privacy/security and emerging technology for the latest issues affecting the industry. On Thursday, May 23, Alan Bickerstaff (Austin-Emerging Growth) will present “Startups - The Latest in Financing Trends” and Matt Lyons (Austin-Emerging Growth) is a co-presenter on the panel, “Recent Developments in Private Company Mergers and Acquisitions.”

Partner Elvira Aliende Rodriguez (Brussels-Antitrust) will speak at the Competition Law in the Financial Services Sector conference organized by Knect365 in London on May 21, 2019.

Partner Christopher LaVigne will speak at the New York City Bar’s 8th Annual White Collar Crime Institute event on Wednesday, May 15, where he will discuss the topic “Lessons From Recent Trials.”

On May 14, 2019, Alan Bickerstaff (Austin- Emerging Growth) will present “The Latest Trends in Emerging Growth Financings” to the Austin Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).

Shearman & Sterling secured a substantial jury verdict for client SS&C Technologies in a lawsuit against Clearwater Analytics alleging the misappropriation of trade secrets.

Shearman & Sterling strengthens its restructuring offering with the addition of highly respected partner Luckey McDowell in Texas. 

Partner Brian Burke (New York-Litigation) will participate in the upcoming panel “Caught in the Crossfire: Navigating Regulatory, Transactional and Litigation Risks in Light of Current US-China Relations,” to take place on April 29 as part of the 3rd Annual APAC NYC Conference.

Partner and Head of the firm’s India practice Sidharth Bhasin (Singapore/Hong Kong-Mergers & Acquisitions) has been named in India Business Law Journal’s A-List of Top 100 India-focused legal experts at international law firms.

The Shearman & Sterling Fintech Foundry Podcast has launched its first episode, The Value of Mentor-Mentee Relationships, featuring partner Russ Denton (Austin-Emerging Growth) and Sheryl O’Connor, winner of Quesnay’s Female Founders in Fintech competition and creator of Income Conductor, a platform that provides financial professionals the ability to create and manage income plans that help individuals achieve their retirement goals.