by Diana Beavers
If you’re like us, the New York Times story about the programmer with only two password guesses left to access his $220 million Bitcoin fortune kept you up at night. But if you’re also like us, the idea of paying anyone with cash instead of an app seems barbaric (and unhygienic). Fintech was built to thrive in a pandemic and it’s officially taken over the zeitgeist, with even Walmart getting in on the action as they partner with Ribbit Capital on a new fintech startup.
At Whistler Partners, we’re seeing record numbers of in-house jobs for fintech attorneys. Which is great if you’re already a fintech expert! But if you aren’t, those in-house jobs are out of reach until you have experience, but breaking into a relatively new field may seem daunting.
The good news is, almost any type of attorney can add fintech to their practice. If you’re an M&A associate, actively try to get involved in M&A deals for fintech clients. Same goes for finance, IP, regulatory, and litigation associates. If your firm doesn’t have any fintech work, consider making a move to a firm better known for its fintech deals. Adding fintech to your expertise will open doors down the road, be it for partner opportunities or in-house jobs. Remember, there may be hundreds of M&A or finance associates of your class year in your region, but only a handful will have fintech experience.
