Bird & Bird LLP

Bird & Bird LLP’s UK fintech practice works closely with its corporate, commercial, and financial regulation teams, advising start-ups, scale-ups, and major global financial institutions on a wide array of matters. Sectors the team covers include payments, open banking, crypto, AI, digital banking, venture capital, IP, and data protection. Recent significant work matters include advising on a stablecoin-based payment platform, launching a non-custodial crypto wallet, drafting AI contractual frameworks, and advising on cross-border expansion plans for payments firms. On the contentious side, the team has recent experience advising on trademark infringement litigation in the IPEC. Jonathan Emmanuel, co-head of the firm’s UK fintech team, brings sector-leading expertise advising on open banking, payments, crypto, AI, and outsourcing matters. Gavin Punia, fellow co-head, focuses on digital transformation in financial services, advising on payments, e-money, and regulatory compliance. Ruth Boardman, co-head of the firm’s international privacy and data protection group, advises adtech and edtech clients on data and privacy compliance. Mark Rundall specialises in venture capital transactions and complex funding transactions, while Christina Fleming advises on blockchain infrastructure, open banking APIs, payments technology, and digital wallet products.