Perkins Coie has strengthened its regulatory depth by adding Ted Dowd, former acting senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Dowd joins fellow former OCC director for Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Policy, James Vivenzio.
Dowd brings more than a decade of leadership at the OCC, where he directed legal strategy, licensing and high-profile regulatory matters that shaped the trillion-dollar U.S. banking system. He also played a leading role in the emergence and oversight of fintech, blockchain and digital assets within the federal banking system.
“Banking and the delivery of financial services are rapidly evolving, both in traditional finance and fintech, and our clients need and expect the best guidance to succeed in a highly competitive and regulated marketplace,” Molly Moynihan, firmwide chair of Perkins Coie’s financial regulation practice, said. “Ted’s deep insights in shaping national banking law and policy will be a tremendous asset to clients who are navigating this complicated regulatory environment.”
“Fintech and blockchain companies face an unprecedented combination of innovation, competition and regulatory scrutiny,” Joe Cutler, chair of Perkins Coie’s fintech industry group, said. “With Ted joining Jim, we offer clients a rare mix of deep regulatory insight and strategic support to launch, scale and operate confidently in today’s evolving financial services landscape.”
At Perkins Coie, Down will counsel banks, fintech platforms, crypto custodians and private equity sponsors on bank chartering, mergers, regulatory approvals, enforcement response, anti-money laundering policy and sanctions compliance and risk management. He will also advise clients on digital asset strategies.
“I am excited to join Perkins Coie at this pivotal moment for financial services,” Dowd said. “Working with my former OCC colleague Jim Vivenzio, I look forward to leveraging our combined experience to help clients navigate regulatory challenges and drive innovation in banking, fintech and blockchain.”
