Orrick Partner Discusses CFTC Willingness to Help Incubate Fintech

Bloomberg BNA
February.21.2017

In a recent Bloomberg BNA article, Nikiforos Mathews gave his take on J. Christopher Giancarlo’s, the acting chairman of the CFTC, position on helping incubate financial technology more than other federal regulators.

Nik noted that "of the U.S. regulators, it seems Giancarlo has been the most vocal about working with fintech firms and allowing them room to innovate. The approach he's taking is, listen and learn. Have [fintech innovators] come up with their models and products and keep a close eye on them, but you don't have to put up obstacles left and right." He added that "at the end of the day, with early regulatory involvement, regulators are going to understand the market better [and eventually] put out smarter rules."

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Nikiforos Mathews Partner, Derivatives, Structured Finance

New York

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D:+1 212 506 5257
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Finance Sector
Derivatives
Structured Finance
Energy
Infrastructure

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Nikiforos Mathews Partner

New York

His practice focuses on representing financial institutions, governmental and regulated entities, hedge funds and corporate end-users in developing, structuring and negotiating a broad range of fixed income, foreign exchange, commodity, energy and credit derivative products. Among other things, he has successfully negotiated numerous domestic and cross-border lien-secured hedging transactions relating to leveraged loans and infrastructure transactions, as well as deal-contingent hedges. In addition, Nik has significant experience in foreign exchange and fixed income prime brokerage issues, as well as various structured products. He also regularly advises clients in connection with derivatives regulation, including the application of the Dodd-Frank legislation and related regulations. Also, Nik provides counsel on close-out netting matters and UCC issues relating account control arrangements for collateral. Nik regularly advises on the structuring and negotiation of energy and commodity hedging transactions, as well as swap regulatory matters relating to VPPAs. Moreover, on a regular basis, Nik represents market participants on the termination and close-out of derivatives and other products, including providing advice on related bankruptcy matters.

Nik is lead editor of Orrick’s publication, Derivatives in Review, which periodically highlights important legal, regulatory and other newsworthy developments in the area of derivatives. He has also published articles in several journals, including on rating agency hedge criteria in connection with structured finance transactions.

Before joining Orrick, Nik was vice president and assistant general counsel at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and director and counsel at UBS AG. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas Tsoucalas of the United States Court of International Trade.

From 1999 to 2007, Nik held a commission as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, where he was qualified to practice as a Judge Advocate. A veteran of both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he served as an Operational and Administrative Law attorney in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.