A&O Shearman‘s multidisciplinary fintech group is active across a range of transactional mandates including M&A, venture capital investments, and public offerings for fintech companies. Intellectual property protection mandates are also a key workstream. Beyond these capabilities, the  group is able to leverage its expertise in artificial intelligence to give strategic advice to major financial institutions on issues such as AI governance and compliance matters, alongside AI use policy and general risk management measures. William Samengo-Turner heads up the team and counts M&A, joint ventures, private fundraising among his practice strengths. A key contact for clients ranging from leading UK fintechs to international technology companies, Eimear Coady‘s experience extends to commercial collaborations and fundraisings.

Clifford Chance LLP‘s far-reaching practice encompasses commercial contracts, major outsourcing transactions, tech transformation projects and pan-European securitisations. Payments expert Simon Crown leads the team alongside Kate Scott, a specialist in fintech litigation who is additionally equipped to assist clients with contentious crypto matters, and Paul Landless, who counts DLT uses in financial markets trading and risk management among his practice strengths. Adam Craig is active across a wide range of of public securitisations and private bilateral financings.  Cyber incident response planning is a practice strength of Samantha Ward, while Kevin Ingram has wide-ranging expertise in relation to structured debt transactions. Midori Takenaka is a further name to note. André Duminy left to join Kirkland & Ellis in July 2024.

Clients ranging from fintech start-ups to multinational technology providers turn to the ‘strong team’ at CMS for assistance with outsourcing, commercial contracts, growth finance and embedded finance. The unit is also well regarded for its extensive venture capital expertise, with the group equipped to act for investors and targets companies in rounds spanning friends and family to late-stage series fundings. The team is jointly chaired by Anthony Waller, a VC expert, and Ian Stevens, whose broad practice extends to assisting clearing banks with replatforming critical systems to the cloud. Charles Kerrigan is a key contact for projects in blockchain, digital assets, AI and automation. Complex private equity investments and growth capital mandates are part of Tom Jameson‘s corporate focus. Louis Glass is noted for his work with Israeli-based VC clients. Daniel Gallagher is adept at advising on the technology and commercial aspects of fintech transactions.

Praised for its ‘non-hierarchical, collaborative, and collegiate‘ way of working, Hogan Lovells International LLP is well positioned to handle major projects for financial services clients, regularly advising on commercial agreements and arrangements with consumers and retail. The far-reaching offering further encompasses fundraisings, investment transactions and work at the intersection of payments and digital assets. John Salmon, Michael Thomas and the Dublin-based Eimear O’Brien jointly head up the team.  Salmon frequently leverages his digital assets and blockchain experience to advise on complex commercial matters, while Thomas assists clients such as trading venues, clearing houses and data repositories with outsourcing arrangements and distribution deals. Bryony Widdup‘s practice extends to sustainable finance, including advice on green, social and sustainability-linked instruments. Anthony Doolittle is a key contact for M&A work in the fintech space.

Venture capital funding, strategic joint ventures and partnerships, outsourcing agreements and M&A are among the cornerstones of Latham & Watkins practice. Praised for its ‘unwavering commitment to excellence’, the team is sought out by various market participants, ranging from traditional financial institutions to emerging fintechs and Big Tech companies. Team lead Stuart Davis, hailed for his ‘understanding of the corporate and regulatory framework in the UK’, frequently assists with strategic M&A deals and IPOs in the fintech space. Andrew Moyle is well placed to assist fintechs with strategic alliances and new product initiatives. Large-scale technology contracts and complex commercial collaboration mandates fall firmly within the ambit of Christian McDermott‘s expertise. Fiona Maclean is versed in the intricacies of operational resilience risks associated with technology outsourcing in the financial services sector. Alain Traill frequently negotiates complex commercial contracts and advises on outsourcing projects.

Core pillars of the practice at Linklaters LLP include fintech investments, M&A, corporate structuring and technology services contracting, notably in the payments sector. Julian Cunningham-Day co-chairs the practice, and is adept at providing commercial and regulatory advice regarding complex collaborations and servicing arrangements. Fellow co-chairs Fionnghuala Griggs and Lisa Chang excel in international M&A deals involving financial services companies and fintechs. Georgina Kon regularly guides clients through the rollout of transformation and digitisation programmes. Greg Palmer has a strong focus on privacy, and is instructed on a growing number of mandates involving safely and lawfully using AI to maximise the value of data. Domestic and international joint ventures and equity capital markets transaction are strong suits for Katharine Collard, while So Yeon Um is highlighted for her expertise in innovative commercial and technology arrangements.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s established fintech offering spans series fundraising, complex corporate reorganisations, management buyouts and M&A work. The practice is jointly chaired by corporate partners Sean Murphy, Victoria Birch and Nicholas Berry. Murphy frequently assists start-ups, investors and financials institutions with work such as investments, joint ventures and the deployment of fintech. Birch is a payments specialist who is active across a range of corporate transactions, while Berry excels in both transactional and regulatory matters connected to insurtechs. Frequently relied upon by venture capital and private equity clients, Bayo Odubeko focuses on emerging markets and the payments sector. James Russell excels in fintech procurement mandates, while Mark Maurice is often engaged to advise on strategic minority investments into fintechs.

Cornerstones of the offering at Ashurst include open finance, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and digital assets. Venture capital, seed and early-stage fundraisings are an additional area of strength. Etay Katz, one of five partners who head up the team, is a known name for his central bank digital currency expertise. Technology-led procurements are a practice strength of David Futter‘s, while Bradley Rice is an authority on emerging payments infrastructure, and is equipped to advise on its crypto-focused venture capital strategies. Tara Waters is a leading choice for matters concerning cryptoassets, and Jonathan Cohen is a popular port of call for neo-bank clients. Beyond the leadership team, Jacob Gold frequently leads on investments in technology-enabled financial services businesses. The team was bolstered in September 2024 by the arrival of Fiona Ghosh.

Praised for its ‘approach to complex issues in the payments arena’, Bird & Bird LLP‘s fintech team is also strong across corporate transactions, the use of AI and data protection work. Regulatory expert Gavin Punia co-leads the practice alongside the ‘immediately reassuring’ Jonathan Emmanuel. Emmanuel’s far-reaching practice encompasses a range of technology transactions, frequently relating to the integration of APIs. Sanjana Sura focuses her practice on GDPR and e-privacy. Christina Fleming‘s expertise extends to mandates involving software built around, or interacting with, Layer 1 or Layer 2 blockchains.

A number of innovative banks, non-traditional lenders and UK-based fintechs turn to Dentons for a range of ‘business-friendly advice’ on issues such as core payment solutions, IT outsourcing and technology arrangements and M&A. Tristan Jonckheer, who heads up the UK fintech group, is well placed to assist technology platforms with a range of payment services agreements. Other key figures include commercial specialist Martin Fanning, who excels in payments procurement mandates, and Matthew Gilhooly, who is well versed in financial service outsourcing regulations.

Strategic investments, commercial outsourcing transactions, and the drafting and negotiating of sales contracts with tier 1 banks are among the practice strengths at Simmons & Simmons. The emerging technology group is known for its expertise in areas such as AI, digital assets, tokenisation, disruptive litigation and payments. Co-head Angus McLean has a proven track record of advising on M&A deals and investments with a significant IP dimension. He is additionally well placed to act as product counsel for fintechs exploring new products and services. Fellow co-head Frances Doherty excels in transactional work connected to emerging technologies. Completing the leadership team, Sophie Sheldon frequently handles regulated outsourcing mandates. Tom Wales‘ wide-ranging focus encompasses commercialisation and collaboration agreements and strategic partnership transactions.

The fintech group at Slaughter and May works with a range of fast-growth companies, established tech firms, investors, and financial institutions on a range of high-value transactions. The team is jointly chaired by David Shone, David Ives, and James Cook, who between them steer the group on major fundraisings for household name corporates, among other mandates.

Bristows LLP is a key port of call for fintechs, challenger banks, and multinational companies, which seek the firm’s technological expertise in relation to emerging tech such as AI, robotics and DLT. Vik Khurana heads up the team, and excels in outsourcing and technology transaction work. Toby Crick has considerable experience of running global IT and outsourcing projects. Marc Dautlich is a key contact for work at the intersection of technology and data protection, while Julia Cockroft is particularly well versed in the intricacies of tax in the metaverse.

Lauded as ‘ highly commercial and focussed on big picture points’, DLA Piper is geared to assist clients with commercial and partnership agreements, major outsourcing projects and corporate financings. Team head Anthony Day frequently guides clients - including banks, capital markets businesses and insurers - through a range of strategic projects. Sophie Lessar excels in advising on contractual framework for fintech mandates. Chris Rennie is well placed to assist with the negotiation of commercial agreements.

Hailed for its ‘global footprint and expertise’, Goodwin‘s fintech team leverages the firm’s traditional strength in the venture capital space to assist a range of companies and investors, handling mandates ranging from early-stage seed and venture financings to growth financings and exits. Team lead Arvin Abraham, who joined from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP in July 2023, frequently guides private equity and venture funds through transactions in the fintech sector. Gretchen Scott operates at the nexus of commercialisation of technology, AI, data and intellectual property rights. Ali Ramadan has moved to Cooley (UK) LLP.

Praised for its ‘first-class legal support’, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP  routinely advises on corporate transactions, multijurisdictional projects across the fintech ecosystem and contentious fintech work. Caroline Rae, Nick Pantlin, Terence Lau and Alexander Amato-Cravero share leadership duties. Pantlin is adept at handling mandates relating to the adoption of digital assets and blockchain in the financial services and fintech sectors, while Lau frequently assists major financial institutions with the procurement of novel tech solutions. Barnaby Hinnigan is well placed to advise fintech clients such as challenger banks on fundraisings. Ajay Malhotra and Philip Lis are among the key names to note for contentious work.

Working with clients ranging from global financial institutions to newer fintech entrants, Mayer Brown International LLP assists clients in work including acquisitions, product launches and major securitisations. The ‘extraordinary’ Mark Prinsley co-heads the practice, with a proven track record in major outsourcing projects for financial services clients. Fellow co-head Chris Chapman‘s expertise extends to the representation of financial institutions in litigation and arbitration disputes. Oliver Yaros frequently handles agreements related to the use of data and the commercialisation of fintech. Musonda Kapotwe frequently leverages her knowledge of UK financial services regulations to advise on fintech transactions.

Praised for its ‘strategic and practical’ approach, Pinsent Masons LLP‘s wide-ranging fintech offering is distinguished by notable expertise in AI and machine learning, collaboration between banks and fintechs, open banking and Digital IDs. Practice head Yvonne Dunn, who is praised for being ‘ plugged into the market’, frequently assists retail banks with a variety of fintech matters, extending to open banking. Angus McFadyen, an expert in digital identity issues, frequently leads on cross-border fintech transactional work. Luke Scanlon handles a wide range of fintech commercial arrangements, including commercial APIs.

Taylor Wessing LLP boasts expertise in crowdfunding, consumer credit issues, technology outsourcing and corporate governance. Venture capital investments expert Howard Palmer and financial services regulatory partner Charlotte Hill co-lead the practice. Clare Reynolds is well placed to assist financial services clients with technology outsourcing.

White & Case LLP handles a range of work including M&A, disposals, series financings and capital and finance structuring matters. Guy Potel heads up the team, and has a proven track record in transactional work involving fintechs. Helen Pantelides is well placed to advise emerging fintechs on growth equity and venture capital financings. Daniel Turgel is well versed in matters relating to AI, bringing his transactional knowledge to bear on mandates such as investments into new technology. Jonathan Rogers frequently leverages his regulatory experience to assist with corporate matters, such as acquisitions of insolvent regulated businesses. Hyder Jumabhoy excels in multijurisdictional fintech deals.

Burges Salmon LLP‘s corporate and commercial expertise spans corporate M&A; private equity and venture capital investments; technology transactions and outsourcing contracts. Practice head Martin Cook, who divides his time between Bristol and London, is well placed to assist clients with work such as agreements for platform launches and technology procurement. Alex Lloyd, a key contact for start-up and scaling technology businesses, is equipped to handle a range of fundraising mandates. Corporate financings and financial product launches are key focus areas for James Barrett.

Cooley (UK) LLP‘s team is equipped to assist a range of fintech clients with work spanning corporate formations, equity financings, M&A and litigation. Guadalupe Sampedro and Chris Coulter  jointly lead a practice praised for having a ‘deep understanding of its specialised field’.  Sampedro frequently brings her experience to bear when supporting clients with the design and development of global privacy programs, while Coulter’s practice extends to IP transactions. Eric Davison advises a range of venture-backed fintech companies on an array of corporate mandates.

Combining expertise in P2P lending and crowdfunding, Fox Williams LLP boasts strength in mandates that ally corporate and commercial work with the team’s traditional regulatory strength. Chris Hill is praised for understanding  ‘the legal and commercial challenges facing GCs from all levels in a business‘. He joined the team in February 2024 from Deloitte Legal and co-leads the team alongside Jonathan Segal, a key contact for lending and alternative finance mandates. Andrew Woolf is a further name to note.

gunnercooke LLP is well versed in the intricacies of Web3 and crypto matters, such as reinvestment agreements that incorporate token vesting schedules, the establishment of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) and feasibility assessments on unusual new cryptoasset structures and projects. Practice head Kathryn Dodds' broad practice extends to assisting Web3 clients with the crypto and commercial elements of contentious matters. James Burnie is well placed to assist with innovative matters at the intersection of corporate finance and blockchain. Meghan Millward's practice strengths include commercial contracts and simple agreements for future tokens (SAFTS).

Keystone Law‘s deep-reaching practice encompasses activity across technology and outsourcing workstreams, crypto fraud investigations and seed investments. Praised for her ‘exceptional client handling skills’, Vanessa Barnett‘s broad practice covers compliance by design and contractual work for data platforms. Louise Abbott has a well-documented history of success in cryptocurrency fraud and asset recovery, while Rabya Anwar is equipped to assist fintech clients with work relating to blockchain automation and the launch of high-tech platforms.

Praised for its understanding of the ‘nuances and context of the fintech ecosystem’, Shoosmiths LLP is geared to handle an array of projects and deals, covering payments, open banking, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. Leadership duties are divided between Prakash Kerai, described by one client as being ‘at the centre of the fintech universe’, and Luke Stubbs in Manchester, whose outsourcing expertise is relied upon by both customers and suppliers in the fintech space. Sam Tyfield is equipped to advise on the offering, broking and trading of cryptocurrencies.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is trusted by major financial institutions, new market entrants and investors to handle a range of work, including major acquisitions, series fundings and corporate reorganisations. Practice head Simon Toms counts cross-border public and private M&A work and joint ventures among his practice strengths. Joseph Kamyar, who joined from A&O Shearman in October 2023, is active across mandates such as exits, fundraisings and governance matters. Danny Tricot, Bruce Embley and Richard Youle are further names to note.

Praised for ‘working well across borders’, Squire Patton Boggs has developed a market reputation for assisting global banks with a range of corporate transactional matters. The unit is additionally equipped to handle M&A and venture capital work. Team head Robert Bray has a broad practice encompassing follow-on investments and joint ventures. Miriam Lampert is frequently sought out by domestic and international fintech clients for assistance with employment matters. Mahdi Siddique counts strategic investments into fintechs as a key practice strength.

A popular destination for Web3  accelerator programmes in particular, Wiggin LLP‘s fintech team regularly advises on financings, M&A and the establishment and operation of joint ventures. Jason Fisher and Marcus Bagnall jointly head up the practice; Fisher is equipped to handle mandates at the nexus of fintech and gambling, while Bagnall excels in structuring deals and contracts in the technology space.

Payments M&A deals, multijurisdictional commercial contracts (such as merchant agreements), bank processing agreements and loyalty card agreements are core pillars of the practice at Alston & Bird LLP. Key names to note include Richard Willis and Robert Ardern, both of whom are key contacts for corporate transactions. Jonathan Garforth, who joined from Dentons in January 2024, and Gupinder Assi lead on a range of commercial work in the payments space.

Baker McKenzie‘s regular workload spans B2B agreements, a range of corporate tax matters involving fintechs, as well as commercial mandates. Financial services regulatory lawyer Mark Simpson leads the team along side technology lawyer Sue McLean. Sarah Williams advises on anti-money laundering compliance issues.

Browne Jacobson LLP is active across work funding rounds, M&A, tech litigation and outsourcing transactions. The team is additionally well-regarded for its insurtech expertise. Practice head Jon Snade sports a strong track record in multijurisdictional private company transactions. Harry Pearson is geared to assist fintech and insurtech clients with a range of transactional work, while consultant Murdoch Currie further bolsters the group’s transactional strength.

Collyer Bristow LLP handles a range of work including M&A, early-stage corporate advice and master payment services agreements. ‘Exceptional adviser’ Nigel Brahams spearheads the team’s offering, boasting a far-ranging practice that extends to early-stage funding work for fintechs. Other noteworthy individuals include Christian Davison, a key contact for brokers, investment managers and e-money providers.

Gowling WLG is equipped to handle equity and debt investments,  intellectual property and commercial contacts. David Brennan and Sushil Kuner co-lead the team; Brennan is an expert in cross-border M&A, while Kuner focuses on regulatory matters. Kristian Rogers has proven experience in capital raisings in the investment funds sector. Birmingham-based Sean Adams bolsters the firm’s contentious fintech expertise.

Praised for its 'technical fluency', Harbottle & Lewis LLP regularly assists fintechs through the investment lifecycle, from early-stage financings through to exits. Practice head Emma Wright is equipped to handle technology transactions and advise firms on AI strategies. Tony Littner is frequently sought out by investee companies and investment funds for corporate assistance. Charles Lévêque’s busy portfolio of work includes investments, shareholder arrangements and AIM flotations.