Getting into the BlockTech Game

Judie Rinearson is a partner in the firm’s New York and London offices. Ms. Rinearson concentrates her practice in emerging payments, including: prepaid, mobile, P2P and electronic payments; crypto/virtual currencies and blockchain; reward and loyalty programs; and payment basics such as ACH, credit and debit card compliance. She has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 18 years at American Express’s General Counsel’s Office. Her expertise focuses particularly in the areas of emerging payments and compliance with state and federal consumer protection laws, anti-money laundering laws, state money transmitter licensing laws and abandoned property laws. She also spent nearly two years in her firms’ London offices, working with authorized e-money institutions and payment institutions, as well as various EU/UK payments laws including PSD2, GDPR and MLD4/5. Judie currently co-chairs the Firm’s Global Fintech group, and has spearheaded the Firm’s Blockchain Initiative.

Jeff Neuburger is a partner, co-head of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, a member of the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group and editor of the firm’s Blockchain and the Law blog and co-editor of the firm’s New Media and Technology Law blog. Jeff’s practice focuses on technology, media and intellectual property-related business transactions and counseling, including the utilization of emerging technology and distribution methods in business. For example, Jeff represents clients in blockchain implementations, cryptocurrency-related issues and online strategies associated with advertising, products, services and content. He also represents many organizations in large infrastructure-related projects, such as outsourcing, technology acquisitions, cloud computing initiatives and complex services agreements.

In addition, Jeff represents clients in a wide range of data related issues, including “big data” issues, biometric and other privacy issues, data security matters, advising on corporate governance on related issues, and the implementation of policies and the management of sensitive information.

Jeff is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Law teaching E-Commerce Law, and is co-author of two books, Doing Business on the Internet and Emerging Technologies and the Law. He lectures extensively on a range of issues, including computer and e-commerce law, emerging technology developments, intellectual property, outsourcing, privacy and data security. He also has served on advisory panels to Congress, and is regularly quoted by mainstream general and trade publications. Prior to practicing law, Jeff began his career working in the information technology field. He completed General Electric Company’s two-year Information Systems Management Program and spent an additional four years in Information Systems Management at GE Capital. His undergraduate degree is in computer science and applied mathematics

Josias "Joe" N. Dewey serves as Holland & Knight’s Innovation Partner and chair of its Innovation Committee. He is a member of the firm’s Practice & Operations Committee and also serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Technology Industry Sector Group. Mr. Dewey maintains a financial service and real estate finance practice. Over the last five years, his practice has expanded to include extensive experience handling matters involving Blockchain and distributed ledger technology. Mr. Dewey is the co-author of the book, "The Blockchain: A Guide for Legal and Business Professionals," published by Thomson Reuters.

Mr. Dewey is also an experienced software developer who has developed workflow applications to speed up the life cycle of financing and other transactions by reducing the inefficiencies caused by repetitive, process level tasks, such as manual transcription of deal terms and tracking the status of closing deliveries. By leveraging machine learning models and natural language processing tools, Mr. Dewey and his team are able to automate many of these manual processes. In 2018, Mr. Dewey was named by the Financial Times as one of the ten most innovative lawyers in North America.

Mr. Dewey is also an adjunct professor of law at the University of Miami School of Law, teaching a real estate transactions course where he places a heavy emphasis on how technology is changing the way transactions are structured and counter party risks are allocated, as well as what skills students will need to succeed in law during the next 20 years and into the future.

Moshe Malina is Associate General Counsel at Citi, with responsibility on a global basis for Citi’s intellectual property matters and information security and cyber legal issues. Mr. Malina also serves as General Counsel to Citi Ventures & Innovation, which partners with and invests in firms developing innovative financial solutions and technology, and supports internal innovation initiatives.

Before joining Citi in 2004, Mr. Malina was an associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton working on both transactional and litigation IP matters.

Mr. Malina simultaneously received a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science as part of Columbia’s Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education Program.

Mr. Malina is a member of the bar in New York and a registered patent attorney.