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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 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.

The staff of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued a statement explaining how non-custodial crypto wallet providers may offer services and receive fees without broker-dealer registration.


Continue Reading SEC Staff Clarifies Broker-Dealer Registration Expectations for Non-Custodial Crypto Wallet Providers

On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an interpretive release addressing the application of the federal securities laws to crypto assets and related transactions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission joined the interpretation and indicated it will administer the Commodity Exchange Act consistent with the SEC’s approach, reflecting a coordinated regulatory position across the two agencies.
Continue Reading SEC Clarifies Status of Crypto Assets Under Federal Securities Laws, Signals Potential Exemptive and Safe Harbor Framework

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued a joint statement on Jan. 28, 2026, providing greater clarity on the application of the federal securities laws to the category of crypto assets commonly referred to as tokenized securities.

Continue Reading SEC Issues Guidance on Applying Federal Securities Laws to Tokenized Securities

On Sept. 8, 2025, the Nasdaq Stock Market filed a proposed rule change with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to enable the trading of tokenized equity securities and exchange-traded products on its platform. The proposal, published for public comment, represents a significant step toward integrating blockchain-based assets into the existing U.S. equities market infrastructure.

Continue Reading Nasdaq Proposes Rule Changes to Enable Trading of Tokenized Securities

On July 18, 2025, President Trump enacted the GENIUS Act, the first comprehensive crypto legislation in U.S. history. The law introduces rigorous rules for payment stablecoins, including mandatory federal or state approval, 1:1 reserve backing, and enhanced disclosure obligations. Digital asset service providers must fully comply by July 2028.

Continue Reading GENIUS Act Enacted, Establishing a Regulatory Framework for Payment Stablecoins Issued or Sold in the United States

In a recent statement, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance determined that certain types of stablecoins, specifically those designed to maintain a stable value relative to the U.S. dollar and backed by low-risk, liquid assets, do not constitute securities.
Continue Reading SEC Clarifies Stance on Reserve-Backed Stablecoins

On April 7, 2025, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum titled “Ending Regulation by Prosecution” (Blanche Memo), outlining a new Department of Justice approach to digital asset enforcement.

Continue Reading Justice Department Issues Memorandum Realigning DOJ’s Crypto Enforcement Efforts

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) on April 4, 2025, issued its formal notice of rulemaking for digital financial business regulation, following receipt of two sets of 2024 comments on its draft proposed rules for California’s “Digital Finance Assets Law” (DFAL) (AB 39 and SB 401, 2023).
Continue Reading California DFPI Issues Formal Rulemaking for Digital Financial Asset Regulation

On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission took a step towards clarifying its position on crypto mining activities. In a recent statement, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance provided non-binding guidance on the application of federal securities laws to proof-of-work (PoW) mining activities, stating that such activities are beyond the SEC’s purview.
Continue Reading SEC Staff Clarifies Stance on Crypto Mining