How We Got Here and How We Get Out – Defining Security Status

Collins Belton – Managing Partner, Brookwood P.C.

Collins Belton is the Managing Partner of Brookwood P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in advising early and growth-stage companies, venture capital investors, and developers of financial platforms with a particular emphasis on cryptocurrency enterprises. He frequently serves as outside general counsel for his clients, providing comprehensive counsel on securities, regulatory, and corporate matters.

Mr. Belton’s practice often involves work with projects and businesses deploying decentralized financing offerings, developing innovative financing structures, or pioneering novel digital asset frameworks. Drawing on a decade of legal experience, he helps founders and investors navigate the complex commercial and regulatory landscape around blockchain-based offerings, often coordinating multifaceted, global advisory teams to ensure compliance and execution across different jurisdictions.

Prior to founding Brookwood P.C., Mr. Belton built his expertise at Wilson Sonsini and later helped establish the blockchain practice at Atrium LLP, a former San Francisco-based law firm and startup. Mr. Belton's practical experience as an active user of blockchain protocols and applications provides him with unique insights into both the technical and legal dimensions of this rapidly evolving sector, informing his practical approach to advising clients and investors.

Sarah Brennan – General Counsel, Delphi Ventures

Chris Brummer – Professor of Financial Technology, Georgetown Law

Chris Brummer is the Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Financial Technology at Georgetown Law and CEO of Bluprynt, a startup enabling crypto-native disclosure and compliance for Web3.  He also recently launched the Fintech Foundation, a nonprofit fostering public-private dialogue on financial technology, and is the proud founder of DC Fintech Week, a free event for the public.

A leading legal scholar in digital assets, Dr. Brummer's work has shaped the field of crypto law, with many of his articles considered foundational. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CoinDesk, and more. A strong advocate for public service, Dr. Brummer has advised FINRA, the SEC and CFTC, New York’s DFS, and ESMA. His views are routinely sought by policymakers, central bankers, and regulators around the world.

Dr. Brummer graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis, earned his J.D. with honors from Columbia Law School, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.  He serves on the boards of several financial technology companies including Fannie Mae, PayPal Digital, and Public.com.

Lewis Cohen – Co-Chair, CahillNXT

Lewis Rinaudo Cohen is the Co-Chair of CahillNXT, Cahill’s globally recognized Digital Assets and Emerging Technology practice. Mr. Cohen helps clients navigate their most challenging transactions and regulatory compliance matters involving blockchain technology, crypto assets, and tokenization. His work frequently involves cross-border fundraisings and other transactions across a wide array of economic sectors.

Mr. Cohen brings his career-long experience advising traditional financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies on initial public equity and debt offerings and a wide range of securitization and other structured financing transactions to the blockchain sector, drawing on a deep knowledge of both traditional financial regulation and the rapidly changing world of blockchain regulation.

Mr. Cohen is a frequent public speaker on the topic of blockchain technology, crypto assets, and financial markets. Prior to joining CahillNXT, Mr. Cohen co-founded and ran one of the leading boutique law firms focused on blockchain technology, and was a corporate partner in the New York offices of two AmLaw Global 25 firms.

Coy Garrison – Partner, Steptoe

Coy Garrison is a partner at Steptoe LLP in Washington, DC, and co-leads the firm’s Blockchain & Cryptocurrency practice. Mr. Garrison provides regulatory counsel to help clients in the crypto industry meet their legal obligations, manage risk, and achieve their business goals. He also blends his public policy experience with his granular knowledge of the securities laws to guide clients in legislative and regulatory advocacy. His financial services practice involves counseling public companies on SEC reporting and disclosure requirements. 

Prior to joining Steptoe in 2022, Mr. Garrison served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce and held a number of leadership positions in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance during his eight-year tenure at the Commission. 

Mr. Garrison also clerked as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit after earning his J.D., magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law and his B.A. from University of Maryland.  

Teresa Goody Guillen – Partner, BakerHostetler

Teresa Goody Guillen leads BakerHostetler’s Digital and Innovative Markets team and co-leads its Web3 and Digital Assets team. A respected leader in securities law, her practice spans litigation, investigations, and corporate matters with a strong focus on financial and digital asset markets.

Ms. Goody Guillen represents clients in high-stakes litigation before the SEC, other regulators, and is a former attorney in the SEC’s Office of the General Counsel. She advises on corporate governance, compliance, capital raising under Regulations S, D, A+, and CF as well as the adoption of emerging technologies and the development of innovative products, including DLT-based networks, digital assets, and AI. She helps market participants navigate the evolving digital assets regulatory landscape.

A recognized thought leader, Ms. Goody Guillen is engaged in shaping a digital assets regulatory framework. She has hosted Bulls, Bears, and Blockchain^TM, previously taught Digital Law & Policy at Georgetown, and is a frequent contributor to leading media outlets including Fox Business, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and CoinDesk. She is recognized by Chambers for Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies, Securities Docket as “Enforcement Elite,” and The AmLaw Litigation Daily as Litigator of the Week. She also holds an MBA and is a Certified Cryptocurrency Tracing Examiner and Certified Fraud Examiner.

Publications: 

• Paving the Path for Crypto Clarity: A Framework for Digital Asset Regulatory Structure Discussion Draft
• 10 Commandments for Federal Securities Laws

Miles Jennings – General Counsel, a16z crypto

Miles Jennings is General Counsel at a16z crypto, where he advises on legal, regulatory, and policy matters. He also supports a16z crypto’s portfolio companies in navigating regulatory uncertainty and collaborates with policymakers to shape effective crypto legislation.

Mr. Jennings has written extensively on decentralization, tokens, DeFi, DAOs, governance, NFTs, and securities laws. Previously, he was a partner at Latham & Watkins, where he co-chaired its global blockchain and cryptocurrency task force.

Since entering crypto in 2017, he has served as primary counsel to top venture firms and startups, helping design investment structures widely used in the industry today. In addition to his crypto work, he specialized in global debt and equity capital markets, securities laws, and startup representation.

Troy Paredes – (Moderator). Founder, Paredes Strategies LLC

From 2008 to 2013, Troy A. Paredes was an SEC Commissioner, appointed by President George W. Bush. Presently, he is the founder of Paredes Strategies LLC, a consulting firm advising on financial regulation, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance. 

Mr. Paredes was a professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis before joining the SEC. He also has been a Distinguished Policy Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NYU School of Law, and a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.

Mr. Paredes is the author of numerous academic articles on securities regulation, corporate governance, innovation, behavioral economics, and administrative agencies. He is a co-author (beginning with the 4th edition) of a multi-volume securities regulation treatise with Louis Loss and Joel Seligman entitled Securities Regulation. Mr. Paredes holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Berkeley and earned his J.D. from Yale Law School.

Lee Reiners – Lecturing Fellow, Duke Financial Economic Center and Duke Law

Lee Reiners is a lecturing fellow at the Duke Financial Economics Center and Duke Law. At Duke, Mr. Reiners has taught classes on FinTech Law and Policy, Cryptocurrency Law and Policy, Financial Regulatory Policy, Climate Change and Financial Markets, and Cybersecurity Law and Policy. He is widely recognized for his unbiased commentary and analysis on cryptocurrency regulation, and he has testified three times on the subject before Congress.

His broad research agenda focuses on how new financial technologies and climate change fit within existing regulatory frameworks. His work has examined the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and related products, the novel regulatory issues presented by the emergence of cryptocurrency, the rise of digital investment advice, corporate governance failures within the financial industry, and climate-related financial risks.

Mr. Reiners has published articles related to financial regulation and cryptocurrency in mainstream financial news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, American Banker, The Hill, and Coindesk. He has participated in cryptocurrency-related forums on mainstream television networks such as CNBC, CNN, Fox Business Network, and ABC, and he is frequently quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, and similar media outlets.

Publications:

• Dazed and Confused: Breaking Down the SEC’s Politicized Approach to Digital Assets
• Two Agencies That Should Become One

Benjamin Schiffrin – Director of Securities Policy, Better Markets

Benjamin Schiffrin is Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that fights for a financial system that serves society and supports the productive economy. Mr. Schiffrin leads Better Markets’ work regarding securities across the policymaking process, focusing on the SEC. Mr. Schiffrin’s work includes commenting on proposed rules, formulating policy recommendations, authoring original materials, and engaging with all interested stakeholders regarding issues impacting securities regulation and the securities markets.

Before joining Better Markets, Mr. Schiffrin worked at the SEC for 18 years. He was an Associate General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel from 2016 to 2022. From 2008 to 2016, Mr. Schiffrin served as an appellate litigator in the Office of the General Counsel. Mr. Schiffrin started his career as a staff attorney in the Office of Adjudications in 2004.

In 2007, Mr. Schiffrin received the Manuel F. Cohen Outstanding SEC Younger Lawyer Award. He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University.

Rodrigo Seira – Special Counsel, Cooley LLP

Rodrigo Seira is Special Counsel at Cooley LLP, where he serves as outside counsel to crypto founders and investors.

Mr. Seira previously was Special Counsel and Co-Head of the Policy Lab at Paradigm, a crypto-focused investment fund.

Mr. Seira earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Middlebury College.

John Reed Stark – John Reed Stark Consulting LLC

John Reed Stark's name has become synonymous with data breach response, cybersecurity and digital regulatory compliance. As President of John Reed Stark Consulting LLC, a data breach response and digital compliance firm, he quarterbacks teams of technical, compliance and legal experts in cyber-incident response, digital forensics, security science, cyber-risk resilience and investigations for public and private companies, professional service firms, and government agencies.

Mr. Stark served for more than 18 years in the SEC's Enforcement Division, including 11 as Chief of its Office of Internet Enforcement. Mr. Stark left the SEC to serve for five years as managing director of global data breach response firm Stroz Friedberg, including three years heading its Washington, D.C., office. He worked for five years teaching a cyber-law course as Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University Law School, and worked for 15 years teaching several courses as Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center on the juxtaposition of law, technology, and crime.

Mr. Stark authored "The Cybersecurity Due Diligence Handbook” and has written more than 100 articles on cyber and securities regulation, including numerous columns for Compliance Week, Law360, and Securities Docket” as well as op-eds for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Among his many professional accolades, Mr. Stark was awarded the Stanley Sporkin Award for his "tenacious and insightful contribution to SEC Enforcement."