Overview
Innovation occurs daily in the fintech world. Over the past few years, the fintech industry has become a multibillion-dollar global alternative lending sector. Originated loans and credit products are actively sold to investors through marketplaces, whole loan facilities and securitization. We work with token and cryptocurrency issuers and traders in advising on best practices to mitigate legal and regulatory risk.
We have a world-class six-continent fintech practice. Manatt works with over 150 established platforms and investors, helping them raise capital to support consumer and small business lending, alternative credit and point-of-sale products, real estate development, and additional smaller projects.
We also provide extensive services to blockchain, token and cryptocurrency developers in all aspects of capital raising, licensing, fund formation, trading and exchanges. We provide securities, commodities and tax compliance, and onshore and offshore guidance to this fast-moving dynamic industry.
Our lawyers and professionals know the legal and regulatory traps and can help you navigate them in a cost-effective manner. Our team works with platforms, investors, fund sponsors and service providers to provide comprehensive solutions. We tailor legal solutions to align with your specific business objectives and market constraints.
From the start, we’ll work with you hands-on to perform a customized risk-based assessment and develop an action plan to get and keep your organization moving as efficiently as possible.
Our lawyers are recognized thought leaders in the space, speaking and writing throughout the year at and for the most authoritative events and publications. One of our partners is the chair of the prestigious Practising Law Institute Alternative Finance Summit, a one-of-a-kind assembly of attorneys who regularly address the most pressing legal issues in the industry. We have also been honored by Chambers Global and other legal ratings services.
Additionally, we dialogue regularly with federal and state legislators and regulators to keep you apprised of continuing developments and advise you on best practices.
Our lawyers appear in leading media and speak at the leading events globally, including:
- AltFi Europe Summit
- AltFi Global Summit
- American Banker’s Marketplace Lending + Investing Conference
- CFPA Education Summit
- Crowdfunding Global Expo
- FinFair Conference
- Fintech Global Expo
- Lend360
- LendIt
- LendIt Europe
Who we work with
We work actively with the largest companies in the industry as well as smaller startups and investors from North America, Europe and Asia to guide them through this dynamic landscape.
What we do
Fintech involves several legal areas, including:
- Securities and state blue sky laws
- Venture capital
- Bank regulatory
- Investment advisory
- Broker-dealer
- Lender licensing
- Bank/warehouse finance
- Fund formation
- Intellectual property
- Digital media
- Privacy and data security
- Securitization
- Tax, employee benefits and labor
Experience
- AssetFort Advisors, a wealth management company, in creating a platform and a $50 million fund for investments in fixed income assets in the United States and the Cayman Islands.
- Bolstr, a Chicago-based tech startup, in the sale of its digital lending platform to national financial services company KeyBank. The fintech software, which was created to connect small businesses to institutional and retail-accredited investors, will allow KeyBank to provide faster and easier access to both Small Business Administration loans and traditional capital. Manatt also assisted Bolstr in the launch of this platform and provided regulatory counsel.
- Cadence Group, Inc., in its structure and execution of a $40 million whole business securitization transaction for FAT Brands Inc., a NASDAQ-listed global franchising company, with an additional $40 million additional issuance of subordinated notes in connection with the purchase of the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain, as well as establishment of the retail investment platform and regulatory advice.
- CaliberCos Inc. in its $50 million Reg A transaction qualified by the SEC. The company completed its initial closing of $2 million and is working to effect a public transaction in 2021. The company also is working on the acquisition of a company with $100 million of assets under management.
- Centrifuge, Inc., an open, decentralized operating system aimed at connecting the global financial supply chain, with creating and structuring a blockchain syndicate investment company for both domestic and foreign investors.
- CircleUp Network, Inc., an online marketplace connecting consumer and retail brand entrepreneurs to accredited investors, and its affiliates in the successful closing of a $150 million financing transaction with Community Investment Management, as well as fund formation and subsequent financings.
- Cross River Bank with regulatory compliance issues—including state licensing and CFPB, FDIC and other regulatory agency compliance—in connection with its online lending platforms and litigation related to various matters.
- GMO-Z.com Trust Company Inc. before the New York State Department of Financial Services in its application for a trust charter to operate as a limited liability trust company under the New York Banking Law.
- Groundfloor, an Atlanta-based real estate investment site, in extensive equity and debt financing transactions pursuant to SEC Regulation A+.
- Idea 247, Inc. (dba Idea Financial), a leading marketplace lender, in securing a $70 million warehouse loan facility with Cross River Bank and in subsequent financings and refinancings.
- Jiko Group, Inc., a digital bank and brokerage service, as the first fintech to complete the acquisition of a national bank—Mid-Central National Bank (fka Mid-Central Federal Savings Bank).
- Kraken, a San Francisco-based digital assets exchange, in its approval as the first digital asset company in U.S. history to receive a bank charter recognized under state law; Kraken will be the first regulated, U.S. bank to provide comprehensive deposit-taking, custody and fiduciary services for digital assets.
- LendingHome, a San Francisco-based real estate lending site, in its marketplace platform and financing product.
- LendingUSA in a $150 million financing transaction and in subsequent financings.
- Market Rebellion, a financial education company, in negotiating a joint venture with cryptocurrency broker Voyager Digital Ltd. to enable crypto asset trading and in other regulatory advice.
- Money Metals Exchange, an Idaho-based national precious metals investment company, in launching its precious metals loan program and ongoing regulatory counsel.
- MoneyLion, a New York-based personal finance, banking and lending site, in warehouse financing and the successful launch of the Invest in America Funds.
- Sharestates, a New York-based real estate site, in the launch, maintenance and fundraising of its successful retail commercial and residential lending site.
- UpLift, Inc., a payment marketing platform for travel companies, e-commerce merchants and nonprofit organizations, with ongoing regulatory counsel in connection with a $100 million financing and subsequent financings.
- Yieldstreet, a retail investment platform, in fund formation, investment advisory, broker-dealer and regulatory advice.
Related Practices
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Corporate and Finance
Digital and Technology Transactions
Financial Services Transactions
Manatt Financial Services
Clients
Blockchain Finance (BlockFi)
Centrifuge, Inc.
Citadel SPV
Climb Credit
Cross River Bank
CrowdOut Capital
GMO-Z.com Trust LLC
Groundfloor
LendingHome
LiftForward
LendingUSA
MoneyLion
Idea Financial
Percent
Pier Asset Management
Platinum Auto Finance
YieldStreet
