Engaged by clients including major financial institutions, trade bodies, insurtech startups and payment infrastructure providers, Norton Rose Fulbright advises on matters across the fintech spectrum, including payments systems,  distributed ledger technology, digital assets, decentralised finance and transformative transactions. The practice is jointly led by five partners. Global head of fintech Sean Murphy is well placed to advise on the development and deployment of financial services technology. Co-head of payments Victoria Birch advises clients ranging from governments to start-ups on fundraisings, regulatory compliance strategic investments into fintech companies. Fellow co-head of payments Albert Weatherill advises on a broad range of domestic and cross-border financial services regulatory matters. Hannah Meakin, who heads the fintech regulation department, is an authority on the use of distributed ledger technology in relation to market infrastructure and commodity derivatives. Head of insurtech Nicholas Berry, who completes the leadership team, has an in-depth understanding of the deployment of emerging technology in the insurance space. James Russell and Michael (Mike) Knapper  are further names to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Global reach and office network and a cultural and commercial willingness to work with start-ups/fintechs as well as big corporations.’

  • ‘Strong expertise in trademarks and payments.'

  • 'The team is very knowledgeable at what they do and have stood us in good stead over a consistently long period of time. They are my go-to legal advisors in the UK and I would be lost without their commercial focus and sound advice that I know I can trust.'

  • 'An exceptional team, combining deep expertise from both a legal and a technical and operational perspective.'

Key clients

  • AIG
  • Anansi
  • Aquiline Capital Partners
  • Arch
  • Bybit
  • FMO
  • HSBC Investment Bank
  • Global Parametrics
  • Global Blockchain Business Council
  • IG Markets
  • InsurWave
  • InsurX
  • Kneip
  • Nexus Mutual
  • Northern Trust
  • Pay.UK
  • Paxos (formerly itBit)
  • Paypal
  • Post Trade Distributed Ledger Group
  • Riskbook
  • Revenio Capital
  • SmartCo
  • Stable Group
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • Starling Bank
  • Superfluid
  • TPAY
  • Zego
  • Zurich

Work highlights

  • Advising the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) on its merger with Global Digital Finance Limited (GDF).
  • Advising COWA on its $100 million Series A funding round and follow-on debt and equity rounds.
  • Advising Aquiline Capital Partners LLC on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Ripe Insurance.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sean Murphy, Victoria Birch, Albert Weatherill, Hannah Meakin, Nicholas Berry

Other key lawyers

James Russell, Michael (Mike) Knapper , Matthew Gregory