Overview

Justin practices at the intersection of law, banking, and innovation. Focusing on bank-fintech partnerships, regulatory and licensing matters, and commercial contracting, Justin helps bank and fintech clients de-risk the future of financial services. Regardless of the legal issue or the technology involved, Justin prides himself on being his clients’ go-to attorney for navigating novel legal and regulatory issues.

Justin is a partner in Barack Ferrazzano’s Financial Institutions Group. Clients seek out Justin for help with managing and negotiating partnerships (Fintech and BaaS), payment issues (real-time, wires, ACH, card networks, BIN sponsorship), digital asset matters, and other technology-focused concerns (financial privacy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and data analytics and usage).

Justin helps scores of bank and fintech clients identify and evaluate prospective partners, negotiate program management and partnership agreements, obtain regulatory approval for BaaS and other strategic endeavors, and manage ongoing partnerships. In the last few years alone, he has helped clients launch products and services including credit, debit, and prepaid cards, payment processing, real-time and faster payment services, commercial and consumer loans, digital asset custody, and investment products.

Private equity, venture, and traditional clients also retain Justin to thoroughly evaluate and diligence investment or acquisition targets. He specializes in evaluating licensed, regulated targets, including state and national banks, trust companies (including special purpose and non-depository trusts), payments companies (including payment facilitators, payment processors, and ISOs), lenders, loan servicers and debt collectors, money transmitters, insurance companies, and digital asset companies.

Justin also combines his deep understanding of technology and financial regulation to obtain licenses, no-action letters, and legal opinions from federal and state regulators across the country. His prolific advocacy has caused regulators to seek Justin out to help educate bank examiners and enforcement attorneys on the relevant risks of BaaS, Fintech partnerships, digital assets, and other technologies.

A cited authority on digital currency, lending, and fintech issues, his notable accomplishments in the field include creating a Financial and Emerging Technologies course that he teaches at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, founding the Fintech practice at two AmLaw200 law firms, and organizing the first legal-themed digital currencies conference, the Block (Legal) Tech Conference.

Credentials

Admissions

  • State of Illinois

Education

  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2007
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., History, summa cum laude, 2004

Experience

Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) & Fintech Partnerships

  • Guided over two dozen bank clients (with assets ranging from $200 million to over $10 billion) through partnerships with fintech companies and in connection with providing BaaS products.
  • Helped Fortune 500 payments company navigate multi-million-dollar payment processing and sales relationships with two of the five largest banks in the country.
  • Negotiated program management, partnership, and other agreements with digital asset wallet providers, cryptocurrency sub-custodians, lenders, card issuers, payment processors, and other technology companies.
  • Designed the legal and compliance operations for multiple community banks launching BaaS programs.

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Working with AmLaw 100 firm, advised large international investor regarding a potential 9-figure investment in a multi-faceted financial services business that possessed state MTLs and multiple state trust charters.
  • Advised multi-billion-dollar private equity client evaluate potential investment in an Earned Wage Access company.
  • Supporting AmLaw 50 firm, advised large global investor firm regarding its acquisition of a large U.S.-based payments company.
  • Coordinating with AmLaw 20 firm, advised private equity client in connection with eight-figure investment in digital asset-backed payments company.

Licensing & Regulatory

  • Represented digital asset exchange in connection with obtaining money transmitter licenses and no-action letters from state banking authorities.
  • Obtained regulatory approval for community banks seeking to offer new products and services, including BIN sponsorship and digital asset custody.
  • Represented cryptocurrency company in connection with IRS Title 31 Audit and in advocating before FinCEN, OFAC, and other regulatory agencies.

Commercial Contracting

  • Prepare treasury management agreements, payment processing agreements, terms of service and terms of use, wire agreements, ACH agreements, DDA and other account agreements, compliance policies and procedures, business plans, regulatory correspondence, breach notices, and related documents for community bank clients.
  • Draft terms and conditions, terms of service, privacy policies, consulting, and other commercial agreements for dozens of Fintech clients.
  • Advised international venture investor evaluate dozens of investments in digital asset projects, including deals involving SAFTs, SAFEs, and token warrants.

Newsroom

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Recognitions

  • Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and FinTech Trailblazer, National Law Journal (2018)
  • Emerging Leader, BAI (2018)
  • Pro Bono Award, Northern District of Illinois (2017)
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2018-present)

Organizations

  • Founder and Chair, Chicago Bar Association Financial and Emerging Technologies Committee (2017-Present)
  • American Bar Association Banking Committee
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