Hailey Lennon is a corporate partner in the Firm’s Digital Commerce group.

Hailey provides clients with front-end advice on regulatory requirements related to fintech and crypto companies, including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Hailey also handles SEC investigations and enforcement actions concerning the cryptocurrency space. She also assists clients in obtaining state money transmitter licenses, the New York Bitlicense, Wyoming special purpose depository institution (SPDI) license, and National Trust and Bank Charters. Hailey is a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS).

Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Hailey was regulatory counsel at leading cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase and bitFlyer. At Coinbase, Hailey helped oversee regulatory relationships with the SEC, CFTC, OFAC and state regulators. She worked with the New York Department of Financial Services to obtain approvals for new products, services and digital assets and managed the companies’ Bitlicense and Trust Company supervisory relationships, reporting and audits. She also assisted with the Crypto Rating Counsel and reviewed securities law analysis of coins considered for listing and custody; managed external law firm relationships and lobbying efforts; obtained state lending licenses; and assisted with the launch of Coinbase’s margin product in 23 states.

At bitFlyer, Hailey helped the company’s expansion into the United States, obtaining money transmitter licenses for 33 states, as well as the coveted New York BitLicense. She oversaw bitFlyer’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) program, including internal policies and procedures, training, audits, and required reporting. She also managed meetings with FinCEN, DEA and other regulatory agencies, as well as the company’s strategy with respect to CFTC and SEC. Her regulatory responsibilities included response to subpoenas requesting customer information, to questions from FinCEN and OFAC, and to Attorney General requests.

During her tenure at bitFlyer, Hailey served as board secretary for the Virtual Commodity Association, a working group seeking to establish an industry-sponsored self-regulatory organization for the cryptocurrency industry.

Previously, Hailey was AVP of regulatory compliance at Silvergate Bank, a leading digital asset bank, where she conducted compliance and legal reviews for prospective cryptocurrency customers looking to bank at Silvergate. She also worked in conventional currency exchange, as a consultant at FX Depot, and as in-house counsel and director of compliance at Dolarex.  

Hailey is a frequent speaker at cryptocurrency conferences and is a contributing author for Forbes and Bitcoin magazines. She is frequently quoted on cryptocurrency matters in financial and cryptocurrency media, including CoinDesk, Yahoo, Bloomberg, and CoinCentral.