Kristin S. Teager

KRISTIN TEAGER advises a broad range of entities across the U.S. payments ecosystem — including banks, fintech platforms, digital asset businesses, payment processors, money transmitters, and technology providers — on the regulatory, transactional, and strategic matters that shape the design and delivery of financial products and service. Kristin provides counsel on the development and distribution of innovative payments, blockchain, and other fintech products, offering thoughtful, practical guidance for navigating the complexities of an evolving regulatory environment.

Kristin is nationally recognized for her innovative work at the intersection of payments, financial services, and technology. She is ranked by Chambers Fintech Legal (Nationwide, 2026) for Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies and Chambers USA (Nationwide, 2026) for Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance). Kristin was named a Fintech “Rising Star” by Law360 (2026) and among the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Banking and Finance Law (2026, 2027). Kristin also serves on the Law360 Editorial Advisory Board for Fintech.

Kristin works with clients to structure their product initiatives, negotiate commercial agreements supporting those products, develop customer interfaces and regulatory disclosures, evaluate licensing requirements, and engage with federal and state regulators. Her work spans both traditional payments systems and the latest in blockchain initiatives, including crypto trading platforms, stablecoins, and agentic payments.

Kristin serves as primary outside counsel to both established high-growth technology companies and innovative start-ups. She advises clients on compliance with key financial regulatory frameworks, including the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), interchange requirements (Reg II), UDAAP standards, federal anti-money laundering laws, state money transmission statutes, and federal and state regimes governing digital assets and virtual currencies. Kristin also has significant experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements supporting financial services offerings and strategic partnerships. Kristin has helped negotiate credit card program agreements governing billions of dollars of receivables across co-brand and private label programs in sectors ranging from retail and e-commerce to digital platforms.

While at Sidley, Kristin co-founded Women in Fintech and Financial Services (WIFFS), a networking group for women working as in-house counsel, in private law firms, and at government agencies in the field of financial services. WIFFS holds regular meetings and is dedicated to thought leadership in payments and fintech. She is also a frequent speaker and writer on banking, payments, and fintech developments.

Representative matters include:

• Negotiated credit card program agreements on behalf of some of the largest U.S. technology companies to support the launch of innovative co-branded credit card arrangements governing billions of dollars of credit card receivables.
• Advised a number of major U.S. fintechs, traditional financial services companies, and national trust banks on their launch of digital asset wallet and spot trading services, including strategic guidance on product structure, negotiating commercial agreements with strategic partners, developing customer-facing terms and disclosures, evaluating regulatory obligations, applying for regulatory authorization or licenses, and interfacing with federal and state regulatory agencies.
• Advised major U.S. fintechs on strategic structure and regulatory considerations for USD and stablecoin rewards programs.
• Negotiated complex payment processor agreements on behalf of merchant acquirers and payment facilitators in connection with USD and stablecoin settlement services.
• Represented digital assets brokers, traders, custodians, exchanges, DeFi developers, and platforms on a wide range of novel operational and strategic compliance considerations.
• Provided strategic advice and assisted with comment letter with respect to proposed rulemakings implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
• Advised on debit and credit programs on product structuring related to compliance with Regulation II (Durbin Amendment) and payment card network rules.
• Advised payment processors, payment facilitators, marketplace platform providers, and their investors on federal and state licensing and other regulatory obligations associated with their roles in payment transactions, including providing guidance on structuring relationships to avoid licensing concerns and lessen regulatory burdens.
• Advised on enacted and proposed payments, mobile commerce, and related legislation and regulation, including in the areas of consumer protection, safety and soundness, licensing, anti-money laundering, banking, cybersecurity, online gambling, e-money, money transmission, e-commerce, mobile payments, and virtual currency.