Latham Grows Emerging Companies Practice with Financial Institutions and Fintech Lawyer in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP¹ is pleased to announce that Barrie VanBrackle has joined the firm as a partner in the Emerging Companies Practice, the Financial Institutions and Fintech Industry Groups, and as a member of the Corporate Department. VanBrackle's practice focuses on payments and consumer financial services compliance. This includes transactions involving payment systems participants, payment issuance, co-brand agreements, payment card industry data security issues, and payment regulatory matters.

"We are thrilled to welcome Barrie to the firm. Her work is on the cutting edge of payments and fintech matters and her counsel will be particularly valuable to our emerging companies and financial institutions clients," said Dan Lennon, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins' Washington, D.C. office. "In addition, Barrie's vast regulatory experience will be of tremendous benefit to clients in our other corporate practices, such as Capital Markets and M&A."

VanBrackle advises clients on three primary areas within the fintech space: consumer-facing financial and banking services, and regulatory counseling and investigations for the payment card industry (including brand operating rules and data security standards); money transmission; and prepaid card access on behalf of leading merchants, payment processors, and industry vendors. She also supports corporate and private equity clients in M&A contexts as well as other investments in fintech and has complementary experience in the consumer lending and platform regulatory space.

John Chory, Global Chair of Latham's Emerging Companies Practice, noted: "Our clients are continuing to change the way traditional payment products and services function. Barrie's substantive legal experience and leadership in this space, as well as her sterling market reputation, will bolster our services for clients looking for a deep understanding of complex payments matters."

"Barrie is an authority on the evolving regulatory and compliance issues surrounding payments and e-commerce matters, and her extensive background representing players across the fintech ecosystem—major banks, investors, emerging companies, tech giants, and beyond—will be an asset to Latham's diverse client base," added Rafal Gawlowski, Global Chair of Latham's Financial Institutions Industry Group. "Barrie's sophisticated understanding of the complex legal issues at the intersection of technology and financial services further enhances our ability to anticipate and understand changes in the industry and offer innovative solutions to our clients."

VanBrackle said: "I admire Latham for its first-rate financial regulatory and fintech platform. They've built the premier global payments practice, and I'm excited to be a part of it. The firm's leading transactional and enforcement capabilities will benefit my clients across the financial and emerging companies spaces."

VanBrackle received her JD from the Washington University School of Law and her BA from Johns Hopkins University. She joins Latham from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in Washington, D.C.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)
Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors
¹ Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Contacts
Dan Lennon, Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner, +1.202.637.2347
John Chory, Global Chair, Emerging Companies Practice, +1.617.948.6032
Rafal Gawlowski, Global Chair, Financial Institutions Industry Group, +1.212.906.2964

SOURCE Latham & Watkins