The Trump Administration and the new Republican-led Congress are expected to create a friendlier governmental approach to crypto assets.  Among other things, key nominees to serve as senior administration officials are known to favor a friendlier approach, including Paul Atkins, who has been tapped to become Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission.  In Congress, a crypto advocate is set to become the next chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise reportedly intends to prioritize crypto legislation in the first 100 days of the new Congress. 

What does this all mean?  Let’s look at the SEC first, then Congress. 

Read the full post on Proskauer’s Regulatory & Compliance blog.

Photo of Frank Zarb Frank Zarb

Frank Zarb is a partner in the Corporate Department, where he concentrates his practice on regulatory matters under the U.S. federal securities laws, as well as on equity finance transactions regulated under those laws.

He counsels public and private companies, broker-dealers, hedge funds…

Frank Zarb is a partner in the Corporate Department, where he concentrates his practice on regulatory matters under the U.S. federal securities laws, as well as on equity finance transactions regulated under those laws.

He counsels public and private companies, broker-dealers, hedge funds, as well as other investors, on a wide range of transactional and securities regulatory compliance matters

Photo of Jeffrey Neuburger Jeffrey Neuburger

Jeffrey Neuburger is a partner, co-head of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, a member of the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group and editor of the firm’s New Media and Technology Law blog.

Jeff’s practice focuses on technology, media and advertising-related business transactions…

Jeffrey Neuburger is a partner, co-head of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, a member of the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group and editor of the firm’s New Media and Technology Law blog.

Jeff’s practice focuses on technology, media and advertising-related business transactions and counseling, including the utilization of emerging technology and distribution methods in business. For example, Jeff represents clients in online strategies associated with advertising, products, services and content commercialized on the Internet through broadband channels, mobile platforms, broadcast and cable television distribution and print publishing. He also represents many organizations in large infrastructure-related projects, such as outsourcing, technology acquisitions, cloud computing initiatives and related services agreements.

Serving as a collaborative business partner through our clients’ biggest challenges, Jeff is part of the Firm’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team helping to shape the guidance and next steps for clients impacted by the pandemic.

Photo of Wai Choy Wai Choy

Wai Choy has deep expertise in technology, media, outsourcing and intellectual property-related transactions and counseling and is a partner in Proskauer’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, Life Sciences Group, Privacy & Cybersecurity Group and Blockchain Group. He serves as a trusted advisor to

Wai Choy has deep expertise in technology, media, outsourcing and intellectual property-related transactions and counseling and is a partner in Proskauer’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, Life Sciences Group, Privacy & Cybersecurity Group and Blockchain Group. He serves as a trusted advisor to clients at various stages in their development and across industries, including technology, life sciences, financial services, entertainment, e-commerce, sports and advertising.

Wai helps clients navigate legal and business issues and leads the structuring, drafting and negotiation of a wide range of contracts, such as:

  • Service agreements for a variety of services, including software as a service (SaaS) and other hosted services, data analytics, digital marketing, software and website development, systems integration, technology implementation, payment processing and outsourcing;
  • In the biotech, pharma and medical device arena, agreements covering research and development collaborations, intellectual property licenses, manufacturing, supply and distribution services, sponsored research, grants, revenue sharing and other strategic partnerships among commercial entities, academic institutions and/or charitable organizations;
  • Collaboration agreements between strategic partners for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of new technology, products and services;
  • Software license agreements and other complex intellectual property license and assignment agreements;
  • Terms of use, privacy policies and end user license agreements for websites, mobile apps and other software;
  • Content production, license and distribution agreements covering various business models and distribution methods;
  • Revenue sharing, joint venture, reseller, supply, equipment purchasing, manufacturing and other types of general commercial agreements; and
  • Advertising-related agreements spanning digital, radio and billboard media, including programmatic advertising platform agreements, lead generation service agreements, advertising reseller and affiliate agreements, insertion orders and advertising terms and conditions.

In the context of mergers, acquisitions and financings, Wai:

  • Guides clients through technology, intellectual property, privacy and data security matters;
  • Leads teams in conducting legal due diligence; and
  • Drafts and negotiates key transaction documents, such as purchase, merger, transition services and intellectual property license agreements.

Wai also counsels clients and provides strategic advice regarding:

  • Blockchain and distributed ledger technology development, structuring and implementation, the establishment of U.S.-regulated digital asset trading platforms and hedge funds, token offerings and associated legal issues;
  • Privacy, cybersecurity, confidentiality, intellectual property, right of publicity and defamation laws and issues;
  • Use of open source code under various permissive and copyleft licensing schemes, including structuring combinations of open source code with proprietary code; and
  • Internet, digital marketing and media-applicable U.S. laws.

Wai serves as Co-Editor of Proskauer’s Blockchain and the Law blog and has been a guest lecturer on blockchain technology at Fordham University School of Law. Prior to joining Proskauer, Wai worked in the Business & Legal Affairs departments of Marvel Studios in Los Angeles and Marvel Entertainment in New York on a variety of licensing, film and television production, merchandising and publishing matters. At the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Wai served as Senior Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.