Jacob Farber

Co-founder Ouroboros LLP

Jacob Farber is the co-founder of Ouroboros LLP, a blockchain- and fintech-focused law firm and strategic consultancy. Jacob represents clients on matters relating to blockchain and cryptocurrency law and regulation, technology and IP transactions and licensing, M&A, and financial services regulatory matters. Since 2012, Jacob has been at the forefront of the legal and regulatory frameworks related to cryptocurrency and blockchain/distributed ledger technology (DLT), and is recognized as a leading legal thinker in the space. Jacob has represented clients before numerous national and international financial services regulators where he has helped to shape the evolving regulatory frameworks.

Prior to co-founding Ouroboros LLP, Jacob served as general counsel and head of regulatory affairs of R3, the consortium of over 80 global banks and financial institutions exploring blockchain/DLT solutions for financial services transactions. Before going to R3, Jacob helped build Perkins Coie’s blockchain practice. While at Perkins Coie, Jacob was counsel to dozens of clients in the blockchain space, from the first wave of bitcoin companies and the Bitcoin Foundation to global banks and Fortune 20 companies. Now at Ouroboros, Jacob continues to represent blockchain companies and ventures ranging from early-stage start-ups to leading industry players and global financial services companies. Among other things, Jacob has provided legal and regulatory counsel and strategic advice in connection with over 20 token sales, beginning with Mastercoin, the first token sale ever conducted, and including many high-profile sales such as Bancor and tZERO.

In addition to blockchain/DLT, Jacob advises clients on e-commerce matters, mobile payments and financial services, traditional and emerging payment systems, online payments, internet marketplaces and financial services regulation. His compliance counsel covers various U.S. financial regulatory regimes, including the SEC, CFTC, federal money service business laws, state money transmitter laws, consumer credit and protection laws, PCI and other data security and technology standards, and privacy and data security matters, as well as various foreign and international regulatory bodies. Jacob works with clients, from startups to major global companies, in a wide variety of technology-centric transactional and counseling matters: complex tech transactions, commercial contracting, M&A, general corporate matters, internet and e-commerce agreements, intellectual property licensing, technology and software acquisition, licensing and strategic procurement. As one of the first attorneys working with blockchain and virtual-currency innovators, Jacob has earned a reputation as an authority on emerging trends and enforcement. He has been a featured speaker at Money 20/20, the National Forum on Emerging Payment Systems, the American Bankers Association Annual Meeting and numerous other financially focused forums.