SciTech Focus on Blockchain: What Business Lawyers Need to Know

Harriet Territt's practice is centered on banking and financial litigation, with a focus on disputes relating to complex and innovative financial products such as synthetic CDOs and credit derivatives. She also counsels and acts in disputes arising out of fund management disputes, syndicated facilities, asset-backed finance, and restructurings.

Harriet has particular experience in multijurisdictional financial disputes, including securities fraud litigation, and she works closely with Jones Day's New York FILR team, including on Jones Day's representation of the various Lehman entities in bankruptcy.

Harriet also represents clients in connection with investigations and proceedings brought by regulatory and enforcement agencies such as the Financial Services Authority and the Serious Fraud Office, with significant experience in the application of financial sanctions. She deals with related regulation and law such as compliance with bribery and corruption legislation, has undertaken highly confidential internal investigations and compliance reviews for clients, and assists with crisis management.

Harriet has extensive know-how in fraud-related litigation, including asset tracing and trust litigation. As a result, she has substantial experience advising banks and trustees on the coordination of litigation in many other jurisdictions, including the United States, Italy, Brazil, and Russia, offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. Harriet has acted in a variety of claims in the High Court involving allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

Harriet is an external member of the Standards Committee of the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) in the UK. The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors in the UK.

Adrienne Valencia Garcia is currently IBM’s Senior Counsel for Blockchain Solutions, a first-of-a-kind role created in April 2017 while she was completing a three-year assignment in Latin America. As the Senior Counsel for Blockchain, Adrienne is the worldwide legal executive focal for all blockchain engagements and oversees the global members of the law department who support blockchain transactions. She is a trusted adviser the senior leadership relies upon to navigate complex legal, policy and regulatory issues. Consequently, Adrienne has become a recognized thought leader in establishing IBM’s positions in these areas and is a sought-after speaker in the space.

Adrienne joined IBM in June 2006 after practicing as a litigator in NYC for 10 years. After various client-facing roles focused on closing key strategic deals around IBM’s varied portfolio, in August 2014, she relocated to Mexico City to be the Lead Counsel for IBM’s Latin America Global Consulting Services business and co-leader for IBM’s internal Latin America law department education efforts.

Adrienne holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in NYC and received her B.A from the State University of NY at StonyBrook. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion; and is currently serving as a 2018 Fellow of the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) which works to identify high-potential attorneys from diverse backgrounds and set them on the path to leadership in their organizations. Adrienne is also a proud co-chair for the launch of the NYC Chapter of Diversity in Blockchain (https://diversityinblockchain.com/), a nonprofit organization focused on empowering everyone from all walks of life to engage with blockchain technology in order to ensure equal participation and distribution.

Stephen Obie advises multinational corporations and individuals on U.S. securities and commodities law compliance and on blockchain and cryptocurrency. He has been recognized by The National Law Journal as a Regulatory and Compliance Trailblazer (2015) and as a Cryptocurrency/Blockchain/FinTech Trailblazer (2018). For more than 20 years, he has represented clients in enforcement investigations before the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Stephen's extensive experience includes investigating and litigating cases involving: false reporting of pricing benchmarks, including LIBOR; manipulation of electricity options; manipulation and false reporting in the natural gas market; foreign currency fraud; insider trading; disruptive trading (spoofing) by an algorithmic trader; whistleblowers; disclosure of material and nonpublic information; and misuse of customer funds, segregation violations, and failure to supervise.

Stephen currently represents Overstock.com and its financial technology subsidiary t0.com concerning their use of blockchain technology to trade securities. He led the team that obtained the first ever effective registration statement that contemplates a public offering utilizing blockchain technology. Prior to joining Jones Day, Stephen held top positions at the CFTC, including Acting Director of the CFTC's Division of Enforcement, and co-chair of the Securities and Commodities Subcommittee of the President's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. While at the CFTC, he advised senior management and presidential appointees on enforcement and policy matters, interacting frequently with federal authorities and international regulators.

Stephen is a regular panelist on legislative, regulatory, and enforcement developments in the commodities and derivatives markets and has been interviewed by leading newspapers and television programs.