Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's comprehensive regulatory capacities in the financial sector are regularly called upon by banks, financial institutions and international corporations as well as startups and fintech companies. The team advises on matters pertaining to blockchain, banking as a service (Baas), e-commerce and crypto custody as well as BaFin licensing procedures; the latter was recently utilised in the context of crypto custody transactions. Frank Müller (Munich) is experienced in BaFin licensing procedures as well as in advising financial institutions and fintech companies on cooperation agreements; Alireza Siadat (Frankfurt) specialises in matters pertaining to market entry, passporting, compliance and crypto assets and Susanne Grohé (Berlin) offers expertise in e-money, blockchain and DLT topics as well as e-commerce, money laundering and outsourcing matters; she is supported by senior associate Kemal Ahmedi. The compliance segment was strengthened with the addition of Sebastian Glaab; he joined from an international credit institution in July 2022.

Hengeler Mueller's fintech practice regularly cooperates with the regulatory, M&A and venture capital teams on transactions, financing rounds and regulatory matters; these competencies are frequently called upon by banks, investors, private equity houses and companies. Regulatory matters frequently pertain to the crypto sector, including crypto custody, blockchain and the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), where Christian Schmies regularly takes the lead. The team also includes Vera Jungkind, who covers the data protection interface, as well as joint venture and venture capital investment expert Jens Wenzel.

Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s multidisciplinary team comprehensively advises financial institutions, investors, fintech companies and technology companies on transactions, investments in fintech companies and regulatory issues; the latter also pertains to licensing procedures regarding new business models, including crypto asset-related services. The team frequently cooperates across locations on fintech-based business models, which is complemented by expertise in enforcement procedures and litigation. The practice is led by Axel Schiemann, who covers crypto asset-related issues as well as banking and regulatory issues in connection with fintech innovations, and Markus Krüger, who is well versed in transactions and regulatory matters.

Greenberg Traurig Germany‘s multidisciplinary advice offering covers banking and regulatory issues as well as payment services law matters, practice head Carsten Kociok is a key contact here, which includes e-money products and blockchain technology. The client roster consists of credit, financial services and e-money institutions as well as startups, which the team advises on licensing, blockchain and token-related matters as well as payment products, takeovers and digital platforms. Head of the technology team, co-head of the global FinTech task force and co-head of the global IP & technology practice Viola Bensinger is another key contact and advises on digital payment services and software licensing as well as on e-commerce and data protection issues.

Lindenpartners focuses on banking and securities supervisory law – here, Frank Zingel is a key contact – as well as the competencies demonstrated by Brigitta Varadinek at the interfaces with IT, litigation and banking contract law. The practice advises on matters pertaining to the payment services supervision law (ZAG), the development of digital banking products, cryptocurrency custody solutions as well as compliance and ESG-related topics. Among the client roster are banks, software companies, fintechs and startups. Jessica Glaser (previously at Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband) joined the team as associated partner in April 2023 and is well versed in regulatory matters; payment transaction law specialist Kati Meister left the practice for an in-house role in December 2022.

CMS combines regulatory and IT law expertise in the fintech area. The team assists with transactions, blockchain topics, the integration of payment services into existing business models and the launch of new fintech products. Andrea München is experienced in German, Luxembourg and European regulatory law and a key contact for cross-border matters, while Markus Kaulartz routinely handles matters pertaining to cryptocurrencies and AI as well as IT law.

Norton Rose Fulbright's multidisciplinary fintech team is led by corporate specialist Frank Henkel and focuses on transactions and takeovers. The practice also assists platform operators and (fintech) companies with German market entry, the development of digital payment platforms as well as investment law and regulatory issues pertaining to crypto-based products. Caroline Herkströter and Ute Brunner-Reumann, who both are experienced in regulatory matters, joined DLA Piper in the summer of 2023 and Anne Fischer (corporate and regulatory advice) joined the team from the same firm in November 2022.