Cryptocurrency and stablecoin dynamics in France, the US, and beyond – what arbitration practitioners need to know

Presentation

Join us for a panel of disputes and cryptocurrency experts to discuss the rising prevelance of crypto currency disputes and arbitration

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche issue. It has entered mainstream finance, and the rising prevalence of stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of a ‘fiat’ currency such as USD, EUR, or GPB, has only fueled that integration. As a result, cryptocurrency issues have entered the arbitration area, and sophisticated knowledge of these issues empower arbitration practitioners to operate is this dynamic area. Please join Derek Patterson (FRA), Meredith Fitzpatrick (FRA), Anne Marechal (De Gaulle Fleurance), Charlie Morgan (HSF Kramer) for a timely conversation on:
• The current state of play in France for cryptocurrency exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and market makers
• MiCAR implications and the future outlook
• A perspective from the US and the rise of civil enforcement action as a means to settle cryptocurrency disputes
• How stablecoin adoption will impact the future of finance, and, in turn, financial disputes
• A perspective from French market-makers and liquidity providers
• Technical and expert witness considerations in arbitration cases involving crypto

About the speakers:
• Meredith Fitzpatrick is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of Forensic Risk Alliance. Meredith Fitzpatrick is a leading subject matter expert in cryptocurrency money laundering and helps clients navigate complex crypto investigation and AML compliance needs. She is a former FBI Special Agent with deep experience investigating cryptocurrency-enabled money laundering, crypto market abuse, and computer intrusion incidents, and was an early member of the FBI's elite Virtual Currency Response Team.
• Derek Patterson is a partner at the London office of Forensic Risk Alliance and has over 25 years’ experience leading complex forensic accounting investigations, disputes, and international arbitrations. Recognized as a “highly sought after forensic expert,” he is known for his expert witness testimony, clear analysis, and pragmatic advice in large-scale fraud, bribery, and corruption matters. Derek interprets and analyzes complex financial records and is adept at identifying and quantifying red flags and issues.
• Anne Marechal is a Partner at De Gaulle Fleurance, a full service law firm in Paris specializing in business law. Anne brings over 30 years of experience in financial markets law and has comprehensive expertise in both traditional financial law and emerging blockchain regulations, advising her clients on the growing challenges of blockchain technologies, particularly in finance and decentralized finance (DeFi). She has held high-level positions in public institutions, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Autorit? des March?s Financiers (AMF). At the AMF, Anne played a pivotal role in actively participating in the development of the regulatory framework for cryptoassets introduced under the French Pacte Act. This innovative framework directly inspired the European MiCA regulation.
• Charlie Morgan is an international arbitration partner at HSFK in London, specialising in energy, technology and VC disputes. With over a decade of arbitration experience, Charlie covers investment disputes, fraud claims, post-M&A, joint ventures and shareholder disputes. He handles complex contractual and non-contractual disputes under energy contracts (upstream, midstream, downstream and renewables), as well as technology-related contracts, such as business process outsourcing, cloud computing, AI, telecoms and cryptocurrency/digital assets disputes. Charlie is at the forefront of integrating technology in arbitration, bringing advancements in IT, legal processes, data science and automation to the efficient and effective resolution of disputes.
• Esperanza Barrón Baratech is Senior Counsel at De Gaulle Fleurance and specializes in commercial and investment arbitration, and she has acted as both counsel and arbitrator in 30 arbitrations. Before joining De Gaulle Fleurance, Esperanza Barrón Baratech practiced as a lawyer for over ten years in a top-tier US law firm. She joined De Gaulle Fleurance to launch an Ibero-American international arbitration practice. Her clients and the market praise her for her expertise in highly technical arbitrations, as well as for her scientific and creative approach to the quantification of damages, including interests