Our FinTech Foundry team has hosted over 20 FinTech Salons since 2018 in collaboration with a number of our FinTech industry partners. Keep reading to learn more about the types of events we have hosted in the past and how we continue to support and convene the FinTech community.
Shearman & Sterling hosted the second installment of the FinTech Salon Series: Digital Edition 2020 with a webinar discussing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on different verticals and valuations within the FinTech industry, advice for companies looking to raise funds at this time and available government support programs. The webinar also touched on FinTech investment trends, predictions for the second half of the year, investing in diverse founding teams, executive compensation issues and more.
Shearman & Sterling hosted the first installment of the FinTech Salon Series: Digital Edition 2020 with a webinar highlighting considerations and pitfalls when designing return-to-work plans for FinTechs and early-stage companies and discussing how companies can balance the well-being of employees with business operations. The webinar also touched on the role of remote working going forward, what kind of flexibility employees can expect from their employers and legal and compliance challenges that should be considered when designing return-to-work plans.
Shearman & Sterling & OakNorth together have held a series of webinars on the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program and other COVID-19 funding programs. The webinars discussed the Federal Reserve’s requirements, the ability to review and process existing clients to selectively underwrite new business and understanding other business requirements.
Shearman & Sterling was a headline sponsor for Innovate Finance’s first-ever all-digital UK FinTech Week. Our attorneys participated in three sessions throughout the virtual conference, including those on scaling a FinTech to the US, global FinTech regulation and the future of FinTech in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entering the US Market: What to Know
International Regulatory Panel
COVID-19 Impact on FinTech: What Does the Future Hold?
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, and a panel discussion on how new and innovative technologies are ushering in the next wave of FinTechs.
In collaboration with J.P. Morgan, Shearman & Sterling led a roundtable discussion on formation and pre-transaction planning and compensation considerations for startups and scaleups.
In collaboration with the Rebank Podcast, the firm convened a panel discussion focused on M&A, IPOs and competitive dynamics within the FinTech industry.
Shearman & Sterling and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) convened a panel on Monday, November 4, to discuss the world’s most talked about digital assets – stablecoins, and their proliferation on a global scale. The evening’s dialogue focused on the impetus for companies launching enterprise digital assets, including factors such as the fast settlement of cost-efficient transactions without incurring the risk of price volatility, as well as questions raised around the regulations of such coins.
Shearman & Sterling, the UK Department for International Trade and HM Treasury were delighted to host the launch of their new guide, “Entering the US Market: A Guide for FinTech Firms,” during DC FinTech Week 2019. Our guide outlines the likely legal and regulatory considerations, as well as potential pitfalls, for a FinTech firm looking to scale its business to the US.
In collaboration with Empire Startups, Shearman & Sterling hosted an interactive showcase with live demos from cutting-edge FinTech companies. During the event, Donna Parisi moderated a fireside chat with Kamran Ansari, Venture Partner at Greycoft, about the latest fundraising trends and best practices for both founders and other investors. The event also featured five up-and-coming startups working to disrupt payments, wealth-tech, accounting and more.
Shearman & Sterling convened a roundtable in London to discuss the business-planning considerations around building a data business. Topics included business structure, data sourcing and protection, regulatory factors to consider, data customer contracts, intellectual property considerations and tax considerations, among other things.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the FinTech Foundry program, Shearman & Sterling joined NYC FinTech Women at Finovate to host a breakfast panel on angel investing. Among other things, the panel discussed the vital role that angel investors can play in getting a company off the ground and the relationship between angel investors and their portfolio companies.
Shearman & Sterling hosted a delegation from the Danish Consulate to discuss open banking and how regulatory factors are affecting the transformation of the financial services industry.
In collaboration with Quesnay, Shearman & Sterling hosted a panel discussion on the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. The discussion touched on how AI may disrupt the financial services industry, potential cybersecurity risks firms should monitor when rolling out AI capabilities and how firms can implement effective AI and cybersecurity infrastructures within their businesses.
In collaboration with Empire Startups, Shearman & Sterling convened a roundtable dinner discussion focused on the intersection of blockchain and financial services. The event featured a wide range of attendees, including those from venture capital firms, FinTechs, financial institutions and other service providers.
Shearman & Sterling hosted a roundtable dinner discussion with Clara Durodié, Executive Chair of Cognitive Finance Group. Clara presented on AI and its impact on financial services, including the emerging technologies landscape, trends in AI, AI applications and ethics of AI.
In collaboration with Copenhagen FinTech Lab, Shearman & Sterling hosted a discussion for a Danish delegation of FinTechs on considerations for scaling a FinTech to the UK market.
In partnership with FinTech Cocktail Club, Shearman & Sterling hosted a cocktail event to formally launch the firm’s FinTech Foundry program in London. This coincided with the Innovate Finance Global Summit kicking off UK FinTech Week, one of the world’s leading FinTech conferences globally.
In collaboration with UK Department for International Trade, Shearman & Sterling hosted a discussion for a British Danish delegation of FinTechs on considerations for scaling a FinTech to the US market.
On International Women’s Day, Shearman & Sterling hosted a breakfast panel called “Investing in Women: Why Bridging the Gap Matters” in partnership with NYC FinTech Women. The panel focused on why accelerating the number of female entrepreneurs, start up and venture capital investors, and board members is important to achieving gender parity and #BalanceforBetter.
Return of the Down Round: Financing Amidst a Pandemic
July 28, 2020 – VirtualShearman & Sterling hosted the second installment of the FinTech Salon Series: Digital Edition 2020 with a webinar discussing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on different verticals and valuations within the FinTech industry, advice for companies looking to raise funds at this time and available government support programs. The webinar also touched on FinTech investment trends, predictions for the second half of the year, investing in diverse founding teams, executive compensation issues and more.
| Speakers: Kirsty Grant, Chief Investment Officer, Seedrs Ryan Gilbert, General Partner, Propel Venture Partners Pawel Szaja, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Cassandra Cuellar, Associate, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Matthew Lyons, Partner, Shearman & Sterling |
Multimedia:
Webinar: Return of the Down Round: Financing Amidst a Pandemic |
Rethinking the Workplace: Designing Return-to-Work Plans
July 21, 2020 – VirtualShearman & Sterling hosted the first installment of the FinTech Salon Series: Digital Edition 2020 with a webinar highlighting considerations and pitfalls when designing return-to-work plans for FinTechs and early-stage companies and discussing how companies can balance the well-being of employees with business operations. The webinar also touched on the role of remote working going forward, what kind of flexibility employees can expect from their employers and legal and compliance challenges that should be considered when designing return-to-work plans.
| Speakers: Aneta Waberska, Head of Compliance, Ocrolus Jai Garg, Associate, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Gillian Emmett Moldowan, Partner, Shearman & Sterling |
Multimedia:
Webinar: Rethinking the Workplace: Designing Return to Work Plans |
Main Street Lending Program Webinar Series with OakNorth
April 10 – May 1, 2020 – VirtualShearman & Sterling & OakNorth together have held a series of webinars on the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program and other COVID-19 funding programs. The webinars discussed the Federal Reserve’s requirements, the ability to review and process existing clients to selectively underwrite new business and understanding other business requirements.
| Speakers: Michael Chernick, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Russ Denton, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Brian Dillavou, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Sean Hunter, CIO, OakNorth Neil Kahrim, Director, OakNorth Reena Agrawal Sahni, Partner, Shearman & Sterling |
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Webinar: Revised Terms for the Main Street Lending Program(Access Password: 9f+m!V&z) Webinar: Main Street Fed Funding: Get Ahead of the Curve (Access Password: H7=J$!&!) |
UK FINTECH WEEK 2020
April 14 – May 1 – VirtualShearman & Sterling was a headline sponsor for Innovate Finance’s first-ever all-digital UK FinTech Week. Our attorneys participated in three sessions throughout the virtual conference, including those on scaling a FinTech to the US, global FinTech regulation and the future of FinTech in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entering the US Market: What to Know
| Speakers: Alan Bickerstaff, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Sean Hunter, CIO, OakNorth Sunny Parikh, Senior Vice President & Head of FinTech Innovation Lab New York, Partnership Fund for New York City Reena Agrawal Sahni, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Sameer Gulati, Fintech Specialist, UK Department for International Trade |
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Webinar: FinTechs Entering the US Market: What to KnowThought Leadership: Seizing Opportunities in the US Fintech Market: Shearman & Sterling’s Guide to Successful Scaling |
International Regulatory Panel
| Speakers: Nelson Chow, Chief Fintech Officer, Fintech Facilitation Office, Hong Kong Monetary Authority Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore Gareth Ramsay, Executive Director for Data, Bank of England Barney Reynolds, Global Head of Financial Services, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Iana Vidal, Head of Policy and Government Affairs, Innovate Finance |
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Webinar: International Regulatory Panel |
COVID-19 Impact on FinTech: What Does the Future Hold?
| Speakers: Simon Dodds, Of Counsel, Shearman & Sterling Matthew Jones, Principal, Anthemis Magdalena Krön, Global Rise Platform Director, Barclays Pawel Szaja, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Janine Hirt, COO & Board Member, Innovate Finance |
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Webinar: COVID-19 Impact On FinTech: What Does the Future Hold? |
International Women's Day 2020 with NYC FinTech Women
March 6, 2020 – New YorkShearman & 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, and a panel discussion on how new and innovative technologies are ushering in the next wave of FinTechs.
| Speakers: Anita Bhatia, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women Nicky Goulimis, Co-Founder and COO, Nova Credit Catherine Martin, Director, OakNorth Annelise Osbourne, Head of Strategy, Metechi Tejal Mody, Managing Director, Rabobank Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
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PaymentsSource, ’Crossover Hiring’ Can Address the Gender Gap in FinTechVideo: International Women’s Day 2020 with NYC FinTech Women |
Executive Compensation: Equity, Options & More
February 27, 2020 – New YorkIn collaboration with J.P. Morgan, Shearman & Sterling led a roundtable discussion on formation and pre-transaction planning and compensation considerations for startups and scaleups.
| Speakers: Kaylin Klinger, Executive Compensation Specialist, J.P. Morgan Chase Matt Lyons, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Gillian Emmet Moldowan, Partner, Shearman & Sterling |
Waves of Consolidation with Rebank
February 11, 2020 – LondonIn collaboration with the Rebank Podcast, the firm convened a panel discussion focused on M&A, IPOs and competitive dynamics within the FinTech industry.
| Speakers: Noel Monro, Director, Rothschild & Co. Tim Levene, CEO, Augmentum Fintech Ian Sutherland, CFO, Tide Pawel Szaja, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Will Beeson, Host, Rebank Podcast |
Multimedia:
Podcast: M&A, IPOs and Competitive Dynamics in a Maturing FinTech Industry |
Rise of Stablecoins with the GBBC
November 4, 2020 – New YorkShearman & Sterling and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) convened a panel on Monday, November 4, to discuss the world’s most talked about digital assets – stablecoins, and their proliferation on a global scale. The evening’s dialogue focused on the impetus for companies launching enterprise digital assets, including factors such as the fast settlement of cost-efficient transactions without incurring the risk of price volatility, as well as questions raised around the regulations of such coins.
| Speakers: Jeffrey Bandman, Founder & CEO, BlockAgent Michael Moro, CEO, Genesis Global Trading Reena Agrawal Sahni, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Eric Winer, VP of Engineering, Gemini Moderator: Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
Multimedia:
Blog Post: Shearman & Sterling and the Global Blockchain Business Council Convene a Panel on Stablecoins |
Launch of US FinTech Market Entry Guide
October 22, 2019 – Washington, DCShearman & Sterling, the UK Department for International Trade and HM Treasury were delighted to host the launch of their new guide, “Entering the US Market: A Guide for FinTech Firms,” during DC FinTech Week 2019. Our guide outlines the likely legal and regulatory considerations, as well as potential pitfalls, for a FinTech firm looking to scale its business to the US.
| Speakers: Sameer Gulati, FinTech Specialist, UK Department for International Trade Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
Multimedia:
Thought Leadership: Entering the US Market: A Guide for FinTech Firms |
Demo Day With Empire Startups
October 15, 2019 – New YorkIn collaboration with Empire Startups, Shearman & Sterling hosted an interactive showcase with live demos from cutting-edge FinTech companies. During the event, Donna Parisi moderated a fireside chat with Kamran Ansari, Venture Partner at Greycoft, about the latest fundraising trends and best practices for both founders and other investors. The event also featured five up-and-coming startups working to disrupt payments, wealth-tech, accounting and more.
| Speakers: Kamran Ansari, Venture Partner, Greycroft Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling Michael Kane, Co-Founder and CEO, Hydrogen Omri Mor, Co-Founder and CEO, Routable Michael Rangel, Founder and CEO, Novo Oona Rokyta, Co-Founder and CEO, Lance Derek Webster, Founder and CEO, CardFlight |
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Video: FinTech Demo DayBlog Post: Shearman & Sterling Demo Day with Empire Startups |
Building a Data Business Roundtable
October 7, 2019 – LondonShearman & Sterling convened a roundtable in London to discuss the business-planning considerations around building a data business. Topics included business structure, data sourcing and protection, regulatory factors to consider, data customer contracts, intellectual property considerations and tax considerations, among other things.
| Speakers: Emma Maconick, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Barney Reynolds, Global Head of Financial Services, Shearman & Sterling Sara Ashall, Counsel, Shearman & Sterling Simon Dodds, Of Counsel, Shearman & Sterling |
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Blog Post: Building a Data Business |
Angel Investing: How Angel Investing Platforms and Angel Investors Are Essential to Broadening the Funding Cycle with NYC FinTech Women
September 25, 2019 – New YorkTo celebrate the one-year anniversary of the FinTech Foundry program, Shearman & Sterling joined NYC FinTech Women at Finovate to host a breakfast panel on angel investing. Among other things, the panel discussed the vital role that angel investors can play in getting a company off the ground and the relationship between angel investors and their portfolio companies.
| Speakers: Rishwie Cauvery, Investor, Pipeline Angels Marie Chevrier, Founder & CEO, Sampler LeAnn Darland, Co-Founder and CEO, TALEA Beer Co. Angela Lee, Founder & CEO, 37 Angels Moderator: Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services & FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
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Thought Leadership: Celebrating Our One-Year Anniversary |
Open Banking: Regulation Challenges & Race for Change
September 6, 2019 – New YorkShearman & Sterling hosted a delegation from the Danish Consulate to discuss open banking and how regulatory factors are affecting the transformation of the financial services industry.
| Speakers: Emma Maconick, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Reena Agrawal Sahni, Partner, Shearman & Sterling |
Risk vs. Reward: AI and Cybersecurity with Quesnay
June 26, 2019 – New YorkIn collaboration with Quesnay, Shearman & Sterling hosted a panel discussion on the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. The discussion touched on how AI may disrupt the financial services industry, potential cybersecurity risks firms should monitor when rolling out AI capabilities and how firms can implement effective AI and cybersecurity infrastructures within their businesses.
| Speakers: Jennifer Campbell, Vice President, Enterprise Security Architecture and Cyber Risk Management, Deutsche Bank Vivek Dhayagude, Chief Technology Officer, Skybridge Lindsey Guinn, Senior Vice President, Silicon Valley Bank Emma Maconick, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Moderator: Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
Blockchain Dinner with Empire Startups
May 21, 2019 – New YorkIn collaboration with Empire Startups, Shearman & Sterling convened a roundtable dinner discussion focused on the intersection of blockchain and financial services. The event featured a wide range of attendees, including those from venture capital firms, FinTechs, financial institutions and other service providers.
| Speakers: Robert Chu, Founder, Embleema |
Machines, Mayhem and Mischief
May 9, 2019 – New YorkShearman & Sterling hosted a roundtable dinner discussion with Clara Durodié, Executive Chair of Cognitive Finance Group. Clara presented on AI and its impact on financial services, including the emerging technologies landscape, trends in AI, AI applications and ethics of AI.
| Speakers: Clara Durodié, Executive Chair, Cognitive Finance Group |
Expanding to the UK Market Roundtable with Copenhagen Fintech Lab
May 1, 2019 – London UKIn collaboration with Copenhagen FinTech Lab, Shearman & Sterling hosted a discussion for a Danish delegation of FinTechs on considerations for scaling a FinTech to the UK market.
| Speakers: Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling Barney Reynolds, Global Head of Financial Services, Shearman & Sterling Simon Dodds, Of Counsel, Shearman & Sterling Simon Letherman, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Pawel Szaja, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Ellie Teo, Senior Associate, Shearman & Sterling |
London FinTech Foundry Launch
April 29, 2019 – LondonIn partnership with FinTech Cocktail Club, Shearman & Sterling hosted a cocktail event to formally launch the firm’s FinTech Foundry program in London. This coincided with the Innovate Finance Global Summit kicking off UK FinTech Week, one of the world’s leading FinTech conferences globally.
Expanding to the US Market Roundtable with the UK Department for International Trade
April 1, 2019 – New YorkIn collaboration with UK Department for International Trade, Shearman & Sterling hosted a discussion for a British Danish delegation of FinTechs on considerations for scaling a FinTech to the US market.
| Speakers: Alan Bickerstaff, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Matt Lyons, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Gillian Emmett Moldowan, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Reena Agrawal Sahni, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Ryan Au, Associate, Shearman & Sterling |
Investing in Women: Why Bridging the Gap Matters
March 8, 2019 – New YorkOn International Women’s Day, Shearman & Sterling hosted a breakfast panel called “Investing in Women: Why Bridging the Gap Matters” in partnership with NYC FinTech Women. The panel focused on why accelerating the number of female entrepreneurs, start up and venture capital investors, and board members is important to achieving gender parity and #BalanceforBetter.
| Speakers: Gillian Emmet Moldowan, Partner, Shearman & Sterling Krista Edmunds, BI Innovation Officer, Barclays Loretta McCarthy, Managing Partner, Golden Seeds Jennifer Byrne, Co-Founder and President, Quesnay Moderator: Donna Parisi, Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech, Shearman & Sterling |
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Thought Leadership: FinTech: Achieving a Better Balance |