Financial Institutions

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Derivatives team is led by lawyers with prior government experience at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Capitol Hill and the White House. Team members bring a wealth of knowledge, insight and familiarity with exchange-traded derivatives, over-the-counter derivatives and commodities, their markets and the regulatory oversight regime. We frequently provide regulatory counsel, legislative advice and representation on complex regulatory, compliance and interpretive derivatives issues before the CFTC, SEC and the U.S. federal banking agencies.

In the derivatives space, we have a unique understanding of the agencies’ structures, politics, processes and players. Our lawyers have firsthand experience drafting and interpreting Dodd-Frank rules and CFTC no-action relief.

Our diverse derivatives-related client base enables us to understand a range of issues from the perspective of various market participants. Our clients include swap dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, sovereign wealth funds, commercial end-users, insurance companies and other financial end-users, clearinghouses, swap execution facilities, futures commission merchants and trade associations.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technology team advises financial institutions, corporations and service providers on the U.S. state and federal regulatory regimes and legislative issues surrounding decentralized digital currencies and blockchain technology, as well as international and cross-border matters related to their use.  This includes virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin.  Our lawyers have a current, substantive and technical understanding of the ever-evolving world of virtual and digital currencies and the blockchain technology behind them – a competence that sets our team apart and is essential for comprehensive client counseling.

We assist clients in evaluating the practical uses and legal effects of introducing decentralized digital currencies and blockchain technology into their businesses.  We frequently counsel clients in preparing and implementing the necessary anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requirements imposed on money services businesses, including entities using or considering the use of decentralized digital currencies.  Our lawyers also help in the creation, structuring and use of financial products involving these currencies and/or blockchain technology, including derivatives.  We additionally often advise on compliance with U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to privacy, cybersecurity, data security and related issues.

Our team members have a wealth of extensive experience in private practice and at senior government levels, bringing knowledge from different disciplines to create a uniquely diverse group.  This allows us to address seamlessly all significant issues – from regulatory impact to policy concerns to cybersecurity issues to product development and implementation.

We have a thorough understanding of U.S. federal regulatory agencies and their rules, including those arising from:

• The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
• The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• The Federal Election Commission (FEC)

We have a deep familiarity as well with federal legislative developments and policy efforts surrounding decentralized digital currencies.  We counsel on relevant state law requirements and legislative developments, including those arising under the New York Department of Financial Services’ (NYDFS) new regulations.  And our team can guide clients through virtual currency developments in countries and organizations around the world.

With our sophisticated substantive capabilities, we are effective client advocates before regulatory agencies and the U.S. Congress and can guide our clients through the implementation and registration processes that cut across regulatory agencies at state, federal and cross-border levels.  As relevant laws develop globally, our Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technology team is well-equipped to advise on compliance and implementation and to advocate on our clients’ behalf.

Team members are frequent speakers on issues relating to digital currencies and blockchain technology and have published articles and alerts on related topics.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Commodities and Derivatives Enforcement group has substantial experience handling Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) enforcement investigations as well as defending claims brought under the Commodity Exchange Act by the CFTC and private plaintiffs, including class actions.  The group brings together the firm’s unmatched trial capabilities, global government investigation experience, substantive knowledge and cross-disciplinary expertise.  Our lawyers bring a keen understanding of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and physical commodity products, their markets, and their regulatory oversight regimes.  Many of them have substantial experience working at regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including the CFTC, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Our firm’s reach allows us to handle all aspects of these often highly complex matters, which can simultaneously include foreign and domestic governmental criminal and regulatory actions, multijurisdictional civil litigation, and U.S. Congressional investigations.  Our Commodities and Derivatives Enforcement lawyers have deep cross-disciplinary proficiency, and they regularly work with our Derivatives team’s regulatory lawyers, who counsel clients on all aspects of derivatives regulation and compliance.  Our lawyers also have comprehensive capabilities and familiarity drafting and challenging rules promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act and the Dodd-Frank reforms.

Our Commodities and Derivatives Enforcement group has three key strengths.

First, we try cases. The American Lawyer named Gibson Dunn its 2020 Litigation Department of the Year, recognized as the “best of the best.”  This unprecedented achievement was the firm’s fourth win in the last six years of the publication’s biennial “Litigation Department of the Year” competitions, and the sixth time in a row the firm has been a finalist.  We achieved that distinction because our lawyers regularly try cases, especially complex ones involving interrelated law enforcement, regulatory and civil litigation.

Second, we have a global reach.  Gibson Dunn has vibrant offices worldwide, but of particular importance to commodity and derivatives matters, we have a leading litigation presence in London, the seat of so much commodity and derivatives trading.

Finally, our lawyers have many decades of combined experience in government enforcement and litigation against the CFTC, DOJ, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, UK regulators, and others.  Our lawyers’ knowledge of how government agencies conduct investigations and prosecute enforcement actions enables them to assist our clients in navigating those processes successfully.