Lilya Tessler

Partner, Sidley Austin LLP

Lilya Tessler is a partner and the New York head of Sidley’s FinTech and Blockchain group. She focuses her practice on representing digital asset trading platforms, blockchain technology companies, U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers, financial services firms and cryptocurrency funds.

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 advises several U.S. and non-U.S. 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 U.S. and cross-border technology agreements for all types of services and considering the U.S. securities laws and broker-dealer regulatory issues associated with such technologies. Lilya has testified before the New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on the economic development opportunities presented by blockchain technology innovation.

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. She recently participated in the Legislating Certainty for Cryptocurrencies Roundtable hosted by Congressman Warren Davidson.

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

Prior to joining Sidley, Lilya was co-head of the FinTech and Blockchain Group and a leader of the broker-dealer practice at another global law firm.

Related Sessions

Track A: Blockchain Governance and Security Location: Rm 280A - SLS Classroom Building Date: June 10, 2019 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm View session

View full schedule