Aug 4, 2015

Morrison & Foerster fintech practice boosted by attorney hire

Washington, DC / San Francisco, CA--Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Sean Ruff is rejoining the firm as of counsel and co-head of the FinTech Practice Group. Ruff’s practice focuses on advising clients in the rapidly growing FinTech sector, including emerging and established FinTech organizations encompassing both non-bank and traditional banking institutions, with respect to complex regulatory and transactional matters. Ruff will lead the FinTech Practice Group, along with Obrea Poindexter and Eric McCrath.

Ruff is rejoining the firm from Square, Inc., a leading FinTech payments company, where he served as director, lead payments and regulatory counsel. He has particular experience with funds transmission and related compliance matters, Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering regulation, alternative lending, traditional and non-traditional electronic payments and payment cards, and other consumer financial services initiatives.

Ruff’s experience is complementary to Morrison & Foerster’s industry-leading, cross-disciplinary financial services regulatory and technology practices and has a strong nexus with the firm’s work for FinTech clients on intellectual property protection; data protection and security; commercial agreements, licensing and alliances; M&A; initial public offerings; and related financing matters.

Brad Lui, managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office, explained: “Sean is well-respected in the FinTech space, and we are delighted to add his talents to our market-leading team. Sean brings a unique skill set to the practice with his work at the cutting edge of financial services, regulation, and technology.”  

“The FinTech world is one of the financial services industry’s fastest growing areas, and the legal issues have become more complex and diverse in the increasingly regulated environment,” added Obrea Poindexter, co-head of Morrison & Foerster’s FinTech Practice Group and global co-chair of the Financial Services Practice Group. “Having expertise in this multifaceted and dynamic area will become even more critical as existing financial institutions and emerging companies turn to technology to rethink the way financial services are offered. Sean is very much in the mix with the professionals who are at the forefront of evolving the FinTech space, and we look forward to working with him again.” 

“Morrison & Foerster stands apart for its sophisticated and integrated financial regulatory, technology, and intellectual property capability. FinTech businesses face an increasingly regulated and complex landscape, and changes to the delivery of financial services will continue to reshape the industry. Technology has been the driving factor in creating new financial businesses, and it will continue to fuel innovation in the sector. This makes for a dynamic and complex environment – one which Morrison & Foerster understands from all angles on a global scale,” stated Ruff.