Neal Kumar is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department focusing on commodities and derivatives law, and a member of the Willkie Digital Works practice. Neal represents major financial institutions, participants within the digital asset eco-system, trading companies, exchanges, and clearing organizations, in a variety of regulatory, enforcement, legislative, and transactional matters involving commodities, digital assets, and derivatives.
Chambers USA (2022) recognized Neal in the area of Derivatives (National), where he is commended for his “deep understanding of Dodd-Frank-related regulations.” In addition, the Futures Industry Association (FIA) named Neal as a Rising Star.
Neal has extensive experience representing clients in derivatives regulatory matters, including the application of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and National Futures Association (NFA) rules, regulations, and guidance. He has also spearheaded client representations involving CFTC, NFA, and exchange investigations on a large number of matters such as pricing screen manipulation, rules applicable to CFTC registrants, swap data reporting, wash trading, and position limits amongst other matters.
He also concentrates on advising clients, including major exchanges, defi protocols, proprietary traders, and asset managers, on the regulation of digital assets. This includes advising on the application of State regulation and the intersection between digital assets and derivatives regulation, including the latest legislative developments. Neal is also advising a number of startups and established financial institutions regarding the use of blockchain, digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences regarding regulatory and enforcement related issues in derivatives and digital assets.
Neal is on the FIA Law & Compliance Executive Committee, an active member of the D.C. Bar committee on Derivatives, Securitization & Project Finance, and an advocate for greater diversity in the financial services industry.