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Debevoise & Plimpton

Institutional-grade fintech and crypto counsel with deep financial regulatory expertise

New York, USAEst. 1931750+ lawyers
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Quick Facts

Best For
Financial institutions, banks, and asset managers navigating the intersection of traditional financial regulation and digital assets
Pricing
Premium BigLaw rates

Overview

Debevoise & Plimpton's fintech and crypto practice is built on one of the firmest institutional finance foundations in BigLaw — making it the natural choice for banks, asset managers, and established financial institutions entering the digital asset space. The team handles crypto fund formation, digital asset product structuring for institutional clients, regulatory compliance, and complex fintech transactions, with particular strength in matters that require deep understanding of both traditional financial regulation and crypto-specific legal frameworks.

Focus Areas

Institutional Digital Asset ProductsCrypto Fund FormationFinancial Regulatory ComplianceDigital Asset Product StructuringFintech M&ABanking Crypto Entry Strategy

Who They Work With

Banks & Financial InstitutionsAsset Managers Entering Digital AssetsCrypto FundsInsurance Companies in CryptoInstitutional Crypto Product Teams

Notable Work

Digital asset product structuring and regulatory compliance for major financial institutions entering crypto; crypto fund formation.

Key Contacts

  • Nicholas Kathmann
  • Satish Kini

Office Locations

LondonWashington DCFrankfurtMoscow

Frequently Asked Questions about Debevoise & Plimpton

What makes Debevoise & Plimpton well-suited for institutional digital asset clients?
Debevoise is built on one of the firmest institutional finance foundations in BigLaw — representing banks, asset managers, and insurance companies across the most complex financial regulatory matters. This means its crypto practice genuinely understands the internal compliance frameworks, regulatory relationships, and risk tolerance of large financial institutions entering digital assets, rather than approaching the sector from a pure crypto-native perspective.
What types of clients does Debevoise primarily serve in the crypto space?
Debevoise serves banks and financial institutions, asset managers entering digital assets, crypto funds, insurance companies with digital asset exposure, and institutional crypto product teams. The firm is less focused on token issuers or DeFi protocols and more oriented toward the established financial services sector's engagement with blockchain and digital assets.
Who are the key contacts in Debevoise's fintech and crypto practice?
Nicholas Kathmann and Satish Kini lead the firm's fintech and cryptocurrency practice. Debevoise is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Washington DC, Frankfurt, and Moscow — with the New York and Washington DC offices being most relevant for US digital asset regulatory work.
Does Debevoise work with crypto-native startups or only TradFi institutions?
Debevoise's practice is principally oriented toward TradFi institutions and large established businesses. Crypto-native startups seeking standard token structuring or DeFi legal advice would typically be better served by practices with deeper crypto-native experience such as Perkins Coie or Latham & Watkins. Debevoise's value is most evident when the client already has a regulated financial services background.
What services does Debevoise offer for digital asset products?
The firm's digital assets services include institutional digital asset product structuring, crypto fund formation, financial regulatory compliance, fintech M&A, and banking crypto entry strategy. A particular strength is helping traditional asset managers and banks structure compliant digital asset investment products — navigating both securities law and digital asset-specific regulatory requirements simultaneously.
What does Debevoise charge for crypto legal work?
Debevoise charges premium BigLaw rates consistent with its positioning as one of New York's elite firms. Specific billing rates are not published, but engagements with institutional-grade complexity typically run into the six or seven figures. For institutional clients with ongoing digital asset programme needs, the firm can structure retainer or programmatic arrangements.

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