Matthew B. Kulkin, Former CFTC Official and Futures and Derivatives Law Leader, Joins WilmerHale

Matthew B. Kulkin, Former CFTC Official and Futures and Derivatives Law Leader, Joins WilmerHale

Attorney News

WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Matthew B. Kulkin, a former Commodity Futures Trading Commission official, has joined the firm as a partner and member of its industry-leading Securities and Financial Services group. He will lead the firm’s futures and derivatives practice.

Kulkin joins WilmerHale from another international law firm where he practiced since November 2019 and co-chaired its financial services practice group. His clients included a wide range of financial services and corporate institutions, as well as blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. He advised clients on legislative, regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters.

While CFTC-related matters have been a particular focus of his practice, his broad legal, policy, and regulatory knowledge has allowed him to help clients navigate other federal financial regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the US Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Kulkin is also a highly regarded thought leader and a frequent speaker and author on financial services regulatory issues, speaking at professional and industry forums and writing for various publications.

From 2017 to 2019, Kulkin was director of the CFTC’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight. In this role, he led a broad range of CFTC activities, including rulemakings and enforcement matters regarding swap dealers, intermediaries, trading venues, and investment funds. During his time at the commission, Kulkin was also deeply involved in cases of first impression regarding cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

“Matt is a versatile and substantive leader in his field with an enviably strong track record of success in both private practice and government service in a highly technical area which will greatly benefit our clients,” said Robert Novick, co-managing partner of the firm.

“I’m thrilled to join WilmerHale and work with so many talented and experienced financial services lawyers,” Kulkin said. “I look forward to helping WilmerHale’s clients develop new technologies, products, and services and navigate a rapidly-changing regulatory environment.”

Kulkin earned a BA in French and International Relations from Tufts University in May 2002 and a JD from the George Washington University Law School in May 2005.

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