FinTech Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies - USA - Nationwide
What the team is known for
Ropes & Gray is strong on FinTech corporate transactional matters. The firm advises on significant SPAC transactions and other equity capital markets matters. Its lawyers also help clients to comply with regulation concerning crypto investments.
Strengths
"Our experience working with Ropes & Gray is very good. We consider them, and the senior lawyers in their teams, trusted advisers. They have a broad range of experience, know market practices very well and give excellent, to-the-point, commercially smart and practical advice. They are easy to reach and always fast at responding."
"The team at Ropes excels at handling complex and sophisticated matters."
"Ropes & Gray is an excellent outside counsel resource for us when thinking about how to navigate cutting-edge legal issues. They maintain a robust cross-disciplinary blockchain and cryptocurrency group that is easily able to loop in top practitioners regardless of the sector of law in question. We are fortunate to be able to count on their insights as a resource on numerous sophisticated issues."
Work highlights
Ropes & Gray represented Silver Lake in its Series I-1 investment in Stripe, a private FinTech company that creates software which processes payments for e-commerce businesses.
Notable practitioners
Melissa Bender is a partner in Ropes & Gray's asset management group and co-head of the private funds practice. Bender has a strong funds practice advising hedge fund managers on blockchain and digital assets, hybrid structures and formations. Clients especially appreciate Bender's commercial awareness. "Melissa’s level of sophistication, commercial awareness and vision, client service and general level of service is very strong. She is commercial, solution-oriented and always ready to jump in and orchestrate all teams to meet client demands." "She's a complete rockstar. Melissa has a rare combination of excellent commercial awareness, attention to detail and ability to solve complex problems." "Melissa can straddle novel complexities and the balance between legal and commercial considerations. She responds quickly and is always thoughtful." "Melissa is amazing. She is brilliant, creative, commercial and responsive."
