Jeffrey L. Steiner is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is Chair of the firm’s Derivatives Practice Group and Co-Chair of the firm’s Financial Regulatory practice group. Mr. Steiner is also the Co-Chair to the firm’s Fintech and Digital Assets Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions, Energy and Public Policy Practice Groups. Mr. Steiner advises a range of clients, including commercial end-users, financial institutions, dealers, hedge funds, private equity funds, clearinghouses, industry groups and trade associations on regulatory, legislative, enforcement and transactional matters related to OTC and listed derivatives, commodities and securities. He frequently assists clients with compliance and implementation issues relating to the Dodd-Frank Act, the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Futures Association and the prudential banking regulators. He also helps clients to navigate through cross-border issues resulting from global derivatives requirements, including those resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act, the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) and the rules of other jurisdictions.
Mr. Steiner also advises a range of clients on issues related to digital assets, cryptocurrencies and distributed ledger technology, including analyzing and advising on regulatory and enforcement matters relating to their application and use. He regularly works with clients on structuring products involving the use of digital assets and the application of blockchain technology, including digital token issuances and cryptocurrency trading. He also analyzes the cross-border impacts relating to clients’ use of digital currencies and blockchain technology.
Mr. Steiner has been named a 2018 Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Fintech Trailblazer by The National Law Journal. Additionally, Chambers Global ranked Mr. Steiner as an international leading lawyer for his work in derivatives. He has also been recognized as a leading derivatives lawyer in Chambers USA from 2014-2023 and has been ranked in Band 1 for Derivatives: Mainly Regulatory, with clients saying that he is “a phenomenal attorney and business adviser,” “very aware of all aspects of derivatives regulation in the US, UK, and EU,” and that “he’s someone that can speak knowledgeably.”
Prior to joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Mr. Steiner was special counsel in the Division of Market Oversight at the CFTC where he handled issues relating to trading and execution of futures and swaps, designated contract markets (DCMs), market maker and incentive programs, exempt markets, reporting, swap data repositories (SDRs) and off-exchange derivatives transactions (block trades, EFRPs). He served as team lead for the Real-Time Public Reporting of Swap Transaction Data rulemaking team for both the proposed and final rules, both of which he presented before the CFTC for public vote. While at the CFTC, he also worked on resolving and advising on issues relating to Title VII of the Dodd Frank Act, including reporting, trading and execution in all asset classes (i.e., interest rates, credit, FX, equity and other commodity), SDRs, swap execution facilities (SEFs), block trades and extraterritoriality. Prior to being a special counsel at the CFTC, he served as an attorney-advisor in the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight from 2009 – 2010. Mr. Steiner began his career in private law practice where he focused on representing clients on OTC derivatives, futures and commodities related matters, capital markets transactions and hedge fund formation.
Mr. Steiner is a frequent speaker and author on issues relating to derivatives, the CFTC, digital assets and blockchain technology. He graduated from Tulane Law School in 2004. While at Tulane Law School, he served as a Business Editor of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal. Mr. Steiner received his B.B.A. in 2001 from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
Recent Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Roadmap to 2024 Market Structure” at the ISDA Annual Legal Forum in New York, NY (October 26, 2023)
- Speaker, “Sourcing Collateral and Managing Liquidity” at the ISDA/SIFMA AMG Derivatives Trading Forum in New York, NY (September 21, 2023)
- Speaker, “Around the World in 60 Minutes” at the FIA Forum: Commodities 2023 in Houston, TX (September 14, 2023)
- Speaker, “CPO/CTA Issues” at the 2023 FIA Law and Compliance Conference in Washington, DC (April 27, 2023)
- Speaker, “End-User Panel” at the ABA Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Meeting in Hilton Head, SC (February 4, 2023)
- Speaker, “Remaining Challenges” at the ISDA Benchmark Strategies Forum in New York, NY (June 7, 2022)
- Speaker, “Market Infrastructure” at the ABA Futures & Derivatives Subcommittee Virtual Winter Meeting (January 24, 2021)
- Speaker, “Trading Desk Issues” at the Futures and Derivatives Association’s Law & Compliance Virtual Conference (October 8, 2020)
- Speaker, “The Legal & Regulatory Framework – An International Perspective” at the ISDA Legal Technology and the Future of Derivatives Conference in New York, NY (November 20, 2019)
- Speaker, “Uncleared Swaps: No “Margin” for Error” at the Futures Industry Association’s 41st Annual Law & Compliance Conference in Washington, DC (May 10, 2019)
- Speaker, “Lawyers and Technology: Supporting Innovation While Managing Legal Risk” at the ISDA Symposium – Smart Derivatives Contracts – The Future of Derivatives Documentation and the Legal Implications in New York, NY (March 6, 2019)
- Speaker, “Regulatory and Political Overview of Derivatives and Blockchain” at the European Association of Corporate Treasurers’ and International Group of Treasury Associations’ Joint Annual Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic (September 15, 2018)
- Panelist, “Supervise This!” at the Futures Industry Association’s 40th Annual Law & Compliance Conference in Washington, DC (May 2, 2018)
- Panelist, “Ensuring Federal Regulatory Compliance During the FinTech Revolution” at the American Conference Institute’s FinTech and Emerging Payment Systems Conference in New York, NY (April 30, 2018)
- Speaker, "Regulatory and Political Overview of Derivatives and Blockchain " at the European Association of Corporate Treasurers' and International Group of Treasury Associations' Joint Annual Meeting in Berlin, Germany (September 16, 2017)
- Speaker, "Oversight of Commodity Derivatives Markets in the US" at International Swaps and Derivatives Association conference in New York, NY (September 27, 2016)
- Speaker, "Regulatory and Political Overview of Derivatives" at the European Association of Corporate Treasurers' and International Group of Treasury Associations' Joint Annual Meeting in Dublin, Ireland (September 17, 2016)
- Panelist, "Virtual Currencies" at Gibson Dunn Webcast (April 14, 2015)
- Speaker, "Scrutiny Over SEF Rules: CFTC Commissioner Giancarlo's Whitepaper" at DerivSource Podcast (March 4, 2015)
- Moderator, "Operational Issues and Concerns for Derivatives End-Users" at the Coalition for Derivatives End-Users Summit in Washington, DC (February 26, 2015)
- Panelist, "Financial and Non-Financial End Users" at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Winter Meeting in Naples, FL (January 22, 2015)
- Speaker, "Derivatives Regulation" at the Conference Board's Council of Corporate Treasurers Meeting in Washington, DC (September 30, 2014)
- Panelist, "Financial and Non-Financial End Users" at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Winter Meeting in Naples, FL (February 6, 2014)
- Speaker, "Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act: Regulatory & Legislative Update" at the CPE, Inc. Dodd-Frank Conference 2013: A Practical Guide for Corporates & Financial Institutions (June 12, 2013)
- Moderator, "Swap Dealer Perspective – What do end-users need to know?" at the Edison Electric Institute's CFTC Dodd-Frank Compliance Forum in Washington, DC (December 10, 2012)
- Presenter, "SEFCON III Wrap-up: So, what did we learn today?" at the 2012 SEFCON III (Swap Execution Facility Conference) in New York, NY (November 12, 2012)
- Panelist, "Putting Together a Recordkeeping and Reporting Compliance Plan," at the Edison Electric Institute's Dodd-Frank Compliance Forum in Washington, DC (June 25, 2012)
- Panelist, "Dodd-Frank Reporting Rules," at the ISDA Symposium - Dodd-Frank Transaction Reporting: Are You Ready? in New York, NY (June 7, 2012)
- Panelist, "The Nuts and Bolts of Reporting and Recordkeeping," at The Futures Industry Association & Law & Compliance Division Spring Conference in Baltimore, MD (May 11, 2012)
Capabilities
- Derivatives
- Energy Regulation and Litigation
- Energy and Infrastructure
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
- Financial Regulatory
- Fintech and Digital Assets
- Investment Funds
- Public Policy
- Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance
Credentials
Education:
- Tulane University - 2004 Juris Doctor
- Emory University - 2001 B.A. Business Administration
Admissions:
- District of Columbia Bar
- Maryland Bar