On 20 April 2023, the European Parliament adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). The European Council approved MiCA on 16 May 2023; it was published in the
Continue Reading New Rules for Crypto-Assets in EuropeBarbara 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.
SEC Approves Ethereum ETFs For Trading
May 23, 2024, the SEC approved the first investment products linked to the price of Ether for listing and trading on three exchanges, following approval of the first Bitcoin ETFs…
Continue Reading SEC Approves Ethereum ETFs For TradingLawmakers Introduce Resolution to Nullify SEC’s Crypto Accounting Bulletin
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Reps. Wiley Nickel (D-NC) and Mike Flood (R-NE) are working to overturn a controversial Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff accounting bulletin, SAB 121…
Continue Reading Lawmakers Introduce Resolution to Nullify SEC’s Crypto Accounting Bulletin5 Trends to Watch: 2024 Blockchain
- Continued Robust Litigation and Enforcement Actions by Federal and State Regulators and Enforcement Authorities – We will likely see a similar level of anti-fraud prosecutions by the Department of Justice
California Enacts Digital Assets Licensing Law
On Oct. 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed CA AB39, the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL), which is the first comprehensive framework to regulate the digital asset market…
Continue Reading California Enacts Digital Assets Licensing LawSEC Denial of Proposed Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product Arbitrary and Capricious: DC Circuit
On Aug. 29, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Court) vacated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission)’s denial of Grayscale Investments, LLC (Grayscale)’s…
Continue Reading SEC Denial of Proposed Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product Arbitrary and Capricious: DC CircuitSEC Charges Media and Entertainment Co. for Unregistered Offering of NFTs
On Aug. 28, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) charged Impact Theory, LLC, a media and entertainment company, with violating Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of…
Continue Reading SEC Charges Media and Entertainment Co. for Unregistered Offering of NFTs8 Influencers Charged in $100 Million Securities Fraud Scheme
On Dec. 14, 2022, the SEC announced charges against eight social media influencers in a $100 million securities fraud scheme in which they allegedly used social media platforms to tout…
Continue Reading 8 Influencers Charged in $100 Million Securities Fraud SchemeNFT Endorsed by Celebrities Prompts Class Action
Since the early days of the launch of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible tokens (NFTs), several celebrities have promoted the NFTs. On Dec. 8, 2022, plaintiffs Adonis Real…
Continue Reading NFT Endorsed by Celebrities Prompts Class ActionSEC v. LBRY, Inc.: The SEC’s Latest Crypto Victory
On Nov. 7, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire granted the Securities and Exchange Commission’s motion for summary judgment in SEC v. LBRY, Inc.…
Continue Reading SEC v. LBRY, Inc.: The SEC’s Latest Crypto Victory