Joel D. Feinberg

JOEL FEINBERG is a co-leader of Sidley’s Banking, Payments and Fintech practice, co-head of the M&A and Private Equity group in Washington, D.C., and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Joel advises operating companies and investors in the financial services and fintech space in regulatory counseling, public policy, licensing, M&A, and transactional matters. He represents banks and their holding companies, investment funds, payment networks, platform companies, money transmitters, prepaid program managers, payment processors, e-commerce firms and others in the fintech space. Joel also works extensively on payments-related matters, including as relates to blockchain/crypto, funds transmission products, mobile payment products, and debit and prepaid products. In the counseling aspect of Joel’s practice, he works closely with clients on their most important compliance issues, including in the areas of anti-money laundering and economic sanctions.

“Joel is exactly what I look for in an external counsel. He is knowledgeable about the law and our internal requirements, exceedingly accessible and responsive, and creative.”
Chambers FinTech 2024

“Joel is a trusted advisor; he understands our business and provides guidance that is comprehensive and practical.”
Chambers USA 2024

Strong leadership in advising clients has earned Joel awards and acknowledgement in numerous industry publications, including:

• Chambers FinTech, FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending, USA – Nationwide (2018–2025) (Band 1)
• Chambers USA, Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance), Nationwide (2021–2025)
• IFLR1000, “Rising Star,” Financial Services Regulatory, United States (2014–2021)
• Co-leader of the practice that was named 2019 “Financial Services Regulation Law Firm of the Year” by Chambers USA
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law and  Financial Services Regulation Law (2026)

• Represented clients with respect to regulatory issues on both the buy and sell side of M&A transactions involving money transmitters, finance companies, fintech companies, depository institutions and their holding companies.
• Represented a G-SIB bank over a multi-year period in connection with the regulatory and transactional aspects of development, growth, and sale of a multi-national prepaid card business.
• Represented numerous banks in all aspects of commercial credit card programs, including the development of model agreements, negotiation of domestic and cross-border customer agreements and regulatory counseling on issues including AML/CFT and economic sanctions.
• Advised a money center bank regarding the legal risks associated with participation in a new electronic payment system.
• Represented a wide range of financial services and commercial clients with all aspects of AML/CFT compliance, including the development and evaluation of AML/CFT program documents, examination prep, employee training, government interactions, product development, deal diligence, and ongoing advice.
• Represented a financial services client in economic sanctions compliance, deal diligence, planning, and enforcement matters.
• Provided strategic regulatory counseling and advocacy for banks and other financial services companies with respect to licensing, consumer protection and prudential supervision requirements relating to deposit taking, payment cards and other payment products (P2P, B2B, G2C, etc.), mobile services, money transmission, and financial data processing. 
• Advised banks, payments companies and trade associations in connection with federal and state legislation affecting financial services and regulatory rulemakings by federal and state banking agencies and FinCEN.
• Represented established and start-up companies in multi-state money transmitter licensing and compliance efforts.
• Represented prepaid industry participants, including program managers and card issuers, in a broad range of regulatory issues, including state and federal laws applicable to money transmitters, state and federal gift card laws, state payroll card laws, state escheatment laws, federal regulation of payroll cards, government-funded cards, and general-use prepaid cards.  
• Advised clients regarding licensing and regulation of virtual currency business activities, including investment fund activities and trading operations.
• Advised banks, savings associations, industrial loan companies, credit card banks, and trust-only banks, as well as investors in such institutions, regarding control issues, permissible activities issues, affiliate transaction and antitying issues, and other day-to-day compliance matters.