Lilya Tessler focuses her practice on representing digital asset trading platforms, blockchain technology companies, US and non-US broker-dealers, financial services firms, and cryptocurrency funds. Lilya is co-head of the Firm’s FinTech and Blockchain Group and leads the firm’s broker-dealer practice.

Lilya advises technology companies on blockchain token offerings, including so-called ICOs. She also counsels financial institutions and digital asset exchanges with day-to-day securities issues, private placement agent requirements, custody rule requirements, cross-border regulatory issues, money services business registration requirements, as well as FINRA and SEC regulatory inquiries. She also advises several US and non-US FinTech companies, including robo-advisors and high-frequency trading firms in evaluating the broker-dealer and investment advisor registration requirements.

Lilya works with transactional lawyers on structuring deals involving financial services and technology companies, digital asset exchanges, and blockchain token offerings. She regularly assists both financial services firms and their vendors in negotiating US and cross-border technology agreements for all types of services and considering the US securities laws and broker-dealer regulatory issues associated with such technologies.

Lilya is a frequent speaker and writer on various topics in FinTech, with a particular focus on distributed ledger technology, blockchain tokens, and digital asset trading platforms.

Lilya is a certified public accountant, FINRA dispute resolution arbitrator, and previously held FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses.