Bank Regulatory and Fintech Duo Join Morgan Lewis in New York and Washington, DC – News

WASHINGTON, DC/NEW YORK, November 28, 2022: Morgan Lewis’ market-leading 150-lawyer investment management practice continues to add depth with the arrival of Christopher Paridon, a former Davis Polk attorney who previously served in the Federal Reserve System, and Kristin Lee, formerly senior vice president and assistant general counsel in Citi’s banking regulatory group. Chris and Kristin join as partners living in Washington, DC and New York respectively. They will continue their broad-based banking regulatory work, including consideration of traditional banks, fintechs and digital assets, and cryptocurrencies.

“The arrival of Chris and Kristin comes at a time of growing demand from clients for comprehensive expertise in banking regulatory, transactional and enforcement matters,” said Chairman Jami McKeon. “With their in-house and significant law firm experience, they will guide our banking and financial institution clients through the myriad challenges and obstacles they face in achieving their business goals.”

In addition to advising and acting as a trusted advisor to clients on regulatory matters, including enforcement actions, Chris has nearly two decades of experience working and advising on bank mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions involving financial institutions. He also has an extensive background advising on private equity investments involving banks and bank holding companies and Volcker Rule issues. During his time in the Legal Department of the Board of Governors at the Fed, Chris concentrated on the regulation of banks and bank holding companies and advised on mergers and acquisitions involving banks, bank holding companies and non-bank subsidiaries.

Kristin has spent more than a decade handling a variety of banking regulatory issues, most recently holding leadership positions in Citi’s banking regulatory group, and previously worked at USAA and in Sullivan & Cromwell’s finance group. During her career, Kristin has developed a thorough knowledge of bank and bank holding company regulation and has handled securities transaction work, debt agreements, digital assets and crypto initiatives.

“Chris and Kristin are welcome additions to our investment management and financial services teams and key to enhancing our banking regulatory offerings,” said Tim Levin, who leads Morgan Lewis’ global investment management practice. “Their straightforward and pragmatic approach to advising clients during a period of increased regulatory oversight is a boon to our firm.”

Earlier this year, Morgan Lewis added to its global investment management practice with the addition of a four-lawyer investment funds team anchored by partners Zeke Johnson and Brian Jacobson and, more recently, Divya Thakur who joined as a Singapore-based partner.