Jonathan Garforth

• Global lawyer to a global B2B payments fintech company on matters including its sale from public to private ownership, the launch of new payments and credit offerings, and the sale of its European tolls business.
• Advised an American multinational fintech company operating an online payments system on its acquisition of a crypto asset business.
• Advised multiple clients, including fintech businesses, on regulatory permission applications with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in respect to crypto assets and “buy now, pay later” permissions.
• Advised an international financial center on its establishment of a payments regulatory framework.
• Advised on the £14 billion sale of a British bank’s “bad bank” assets to a U.S.-based private equity house.
• Advised on a British multinational universal bank and financial services holding company’s recovery, resolution planning, and ring-fencing projects.
• Advised on IPOs in the online payments, online banking, and small business loans sectors.

Jonathan Garforth established his career working with some of the world’s leading financial regulatory practitioners, initially at a top Australian firm before joining the Magic Circle in 2010.

Before fintech was coined as a buzzword term, Jonathan was following his passion for financial innovation, pivoting away from traditional high street bank regulatory work to focus on fintech clients and their disruptive business models.

His fintech clients include digital payments and credit providers, P2P platforms, digital assets businesses, and others whose products harness blockchain technology and AI. He continues to advise banks and investors like private equity and venture capital firms on fintech and consumer finance deals.

His clients are international, with clients – particularly those from North America and Australia – turning to Jonathan for strategic advice on new product launches, regulatory change projects, M&A, and corporate finance transactions in the UK and Europe. Jonathan works closely with his market-leading fintech team colleagues to serve his clients’ needs more broadly throughout the U.S.

Beyond financial regulation, Jonathan’s become a trusted advisor to his clients who rely on him to navigate broader matters such as employment, IP, data protection, and tax, as well as regulatory breaches. He is recognized by Chambers UK for Financial Services: Payments Law and by Who’s Who Legal in the Fintech & Blockchain category.

Bar Admissions

• UK SRA Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales
• High Court of Australia
• Supreme Court of Queensland

Education

• The University of Queensland (BCom. & LL.B. Hons, 2005)

Memberships