On May 4, 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-9-22 (EO) to create a regulatory approach for cryptocurrency companies and to determine how to use blockchain technology for state and public institutions. Through the EO, California is becoming a leader in developing new rules of the road for emerging digital currencies and related crypto technologies.

Click here to read the full GT Alert.

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Photo of Barbara A. Jones Barbara A. Jones

Barbara A. Jones is Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Global Corporate practice. Barbara serves as Chair of the firm’s interdisciplinary Blockchain & Digital Assets practice. Barbara maintains a diverse corporate and securities law practice

Barbara A. Jones is Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Global Corporate practice. Barbara serves as Chair of the firm’s interdisciplinary Blockchain & Digital Assets practice. Barbara maintains a diverse corporate and securities law practice across industry groups, emphasizing complex international and domestic transactions, including private and public financings, dual listings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic collaborations and joint ventures, and licensing transactions. She serves as a trusted advisor to public and private company boards of directors on governance matters and complex regulatory reporting and compliance issues. Barbara’s clients include financial institutions, private equity and venture capital groups, and public and private companies in emerging technology, life sciences and biotechnology, defense and security, blockchain and digital assets, telecommunications, information technology, energy (traditional and renewable), mining, media, entertainment and sports. Barbara also represents Olympic and professional athletes and sports-related organizations.

Barbara practiced U.S. law in London from 1990 through 1997 with Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP, and headed the international capital markets practice of Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 1999 to 2003 before relocating to Boston. From 1997 to 1999, she served as Vice-President, Assistant General Counsel and Regional Counsel for capital markets with J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Since returning to the U.S., she has continued to actively represent public and private companies, private equity groups and investment banks in the European, Scandinavian, African and greater Asian markets, including China.

Barbara is a past chair of the ABA’s Subcommittee on International Securities Matters. She is a frequent speaker at conferences relating to cross-border securities matters, strategic alternatives, and digital asset structures. She serves on the Government of Bermuda’s Global FinTech Advisory Board.

Photo of Alice Kessler Alice Kessler

Alice Kessler is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office. She is an accomplished legislative strategist and leader with a track record of rapid advancement grounded in proven strategic and communication talents, collaborative skills, and…

Alice Kessler is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office. She is an accomplished legislative strategist and leader with a track record of rapid advancement grounded in proven strategic and communication talents, collaborative skills, and trusted integrity. Alice has deep relationships with California policymakers, thought leaders, and community-based organizations. She leverages her well-honed skills to build consensus, gain buy-in, and motivate team members and partners.

Alice helped to launch the startup state advocacy practice at one of the largest public affairs consultancies on the West Coast, where she worked to advance the interests of technology firms, automakers, trade associations, and local government entities. As managing partner for one of the fastest growing lobbying firms in Sacramento, she oversaw all business operations and represented clients in the areas of energy, technology, health care, and education.

Photo of Jeremy Meier Jeremy Meier

Mr. Meier has deep experience in regulatory affairs and governmental litigation, representing corporations and individuals doing business in California. He primarily represents national companies in the health care, telecommunications, energy, transportation and financial services sectors. His practice focuses on government contracts, regulatory enforcement…

Mr. Meier has deep experience in regulatory affairs and governmental litigation, representing corporations and individuals doing business in California. He primarily represents national companies in the health care, telecommunications, energy, transportation and financial services sectors. His practice focuses on government contracts, regulatory enforcement, and rulemaking matters involving federal, state and local regulation; procurement; bid protests; writs; commercial litigation; contract negotiations; audits; government investigations; complex false claims matters; and public records and conflicts of interest disputes. Mr. Meier has handled numerous trials and arbitrations, mediations, and administrative hearings and routinely works with state regulators, state attorneys general offices, agency staff, policy makers, and stake holders on governmental and emerging public policy regulatory and civil disputes. He has broad experience in federal and state energy, telecommunications, transportation, health care, and financial services regulatory matters, involving agencies such as the CPUC, CEC, FCC, FERC, CA DHCS and DMHC, and the CA DBO.

Photo of Benjamin M. Saul Benjamin M. Saul

Benjamin Saul is a shareholder in the firm’s Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. For two decades, Ben has handled high-stakes regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters for corporate and individual clients in the consumer finance, specialty finance, fintech, and banking sectors.

Ben has helped

Benjamin Saul is a shareholder in the firm’s Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. For two decades, Ben has handled high-stakes regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters for corporate and individual clients in the consumer finance, specialty finance, fintech, and banking sectors.

Ben has helped clients navigate dozens of contentious supervisory, enforcement, and litigation matters involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and has been a leader in the private bar on CFPB matters since the Bureau’s inception in 2011. He also routinely assists clients in matters involving the FTC, DOJ, HUD, OCC, FRB, FDIC, state financial services authorities, state attorneys general, and state civil rights commissions. Ben’s enforcement matters have concerned fair lending and servicing, unfair deceptive and/or abusive trade practices, other federal and state consumer finance laws, AML/BSA, troubled or failed banks, fiduciary duties, financial institution fraud, supervisory ratings, and other safety and soundness issues.  These matters often have involved parallel proceedings by multiple enforcement agencies and/or private parties.

Ben also advises lenders, servicers, alternative financial service providers, and money service businesses on product and service development, licensing, compliance program enhancement, and the applicability of federal and state consumer credit and other financial services laws. He frequently helps clients understand how financial services law maps onto new technologies and innovative products, having worked on matters involving big data, artificial intelligence, marketplace and online lending, blockchain, digital assets and cryptocurrencies, digital banking, and payment systems.  In addition, Ben provides financial services regulatory support for corporate and capital markets transactions.

Photo of Patrick Shannon Patrick Shannon

Patrick Shannon is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office. Patrick focuses his practice on government relations and administrative law before the California legislature and state regulatory and enforcement agencies. He has deep experience on

Patrick Shannon is the Co-Leader of the California Government Law & Policy Group in the firm’s Sacramento office. Patrick focuses his practice on government relations and administrative law before the California legislature and state regulatory and enforcement agencies. He has deep experience on matters relating to financial services, health care, transportation, insurance, environmental regulation, tax, and government contracts.

He has served as outside government relations legal counsel and a top policy strategist in California, principally at the state but also local level, for more than two decades for several of the world’s largest financial institutions, health care companies, and transportation conglomerates.

Patrick has practiced government relations law and otherwise worked in government relations since 1992. He previously headed the firm’s Silicon Valley government practice before founding Government Relations Counsel in 2008. During his prior tenure in state government, he served as Gov. Pete Wilson’s legislative advisor and liaison on business issues and on all civil and criminal justice matters, overseeing six cabinet-level agency legislative programs. In addition to his senior policy advisory work, Patrick has held executive positions in two technology companies, founded his own corporate affairs consulting firm, and practiced securities law at an international law firm.

Photo of Madeline Orlando Madeline Orlando

Madeline Orlando focuses her practice on both California state and federal regulatory issues. She works with clients to navigate the California regulatory framework, with a particular focus on Prop 65, environmental, and consumer products regulatory compliance. Her practice also includes advising clients on

Madeline Orlando focuses her practice on both California state and federal regulatory issues. She works with clients to navigate the California regulatory framework, with a particular focus on Prop 65, environmental, and consumer products regulatory compliance. Her practice also includes advising clients on federal regulatory requirements and compliance, including regulations under the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Madeline also has litigation experience, representing clients in business and commercial litigation as well as environmental and consumer protection litigation.