![Image: Heena A. Merchant](https://images.ctfassets.net/t0ydv1wnf2mi/115023_Prof_HiRes/3e155ddaca188ad3d93690446f57f309/115023.jpg)
Overview
Heena Merchant is Of Counsel in Paul Hastings' Global Fintech and Payments Group and is based in the firm's Dallas office. She represents a broad range of financial services clients, including banks, traditional depository institutions, non-bank financial institutions, Fintech companies, payment processors, trusted platform companies, payment networks, digital asset platforms, and private equity and investment firms investing in Fintech companies.
Ms. Merchant has deep expertise in federal and state financial services laws, money-laundering laws, payments regulatory laws, the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation E, federal and state money transmission laws, federal and state gift card laws, consumer protection laws, card network and ACH rules, and other state and federal statutes related to payments. She regularly advises traditional financial services and FinTech clients on issues such as ongoing regulatory compliance, assisting clients in all aspects of product development, including structuring of such products with regulatory considerations in mind, and commercialization of payments product offerings. Ms. Merchant also regularly advises clients in the development of digital asset products with regulatory considerations in mind, and frequently assists technology clients in developing strategic partnerships with financial institutions and payment providers, including drafting and negotiating commercial agreements with such partners, and structuring and negotiating large commercial transactions between parties in the global payments space. She also regularly assists private equity, investment and venture fund clients in FinTech acquisitions and capital-raising activities.
Ms. Merchant has deep expertise in financial services licensing and registration, frequently assisting clients in the license application process, changes of control, and related regulatory filing and inquiries. She frequently represents financial services clients in inquiries and matters before federal and state regulatory agencies.
Education
- Cornell University, J.D., 2012
- Vanderbilt University, B.A. in Psychology and Political Science (cum laude), 2008
Representations
- Advising leading payment card networks on a broad range of regulatory issues, structuring and negotiating new product offerings on behalf of card networks, and assisting in regulatory diligence in connection with acquisitions;
- Advising leading private equity firms in the acquisition and sale of payments and financial services companies;
- Advising large banks, Fintechs and trusted platform companies on a broad range of regulatory issues related to product development and acquisitions of payments and technology companies;
- Advising leading digital asset trading platforms in obtaining and maintaining federal and state licenses, as well as commercialization of new products;
- Assisting in the structuring, negotiating and launch of various rewards and loyalty programs offered by banks and large Fintech companies;
- Assisting leading property management software companies and travel provider platforms on production development, contract negotiations and ongoing regulatory compliance; and
- Assisting Fintechs on federal and state financial services licensing matters, including obtaining licensure, responding to regulatory inquiries and conducting regulatory due diligence in connection with transactions.
news
insights
- U.S. Proposes a National Framework for the Regulation of Fintech - August 9th, 2018
- CFPB Payday Rule: A Ban or a Blueprint for the Future of Short-Term Consumer Lending? - October 19th, 2017
- Compliance Alert: CFPB Releases New Guidance Regarding Phone Pay Fees - August 11th, 2017
- OCC to Banking Entities—Give Us Input to Help Improve Implementation of the Volcker Rule - August 10th, 2017
- State Regulators Mount Counter-Offensive Seeking to Stop OCC’s Fintech Charter - May 3rd, 2017
- The OCC’s Proposed Fintech Charter: If It Walks Like a Bank and Quacks Like a Bank, It’s a Bank - December 13th, 2016
- Back to the Future—Trump Administration Seeks to Roll Back Financial Services Regulation - November 30th, 2016
- The CFPB’s Project Catalyst: Is It Worth the Risk? - November 4th, 2016
- Money Transmitters Face New Requirements under Proposed New York Cybersecurity Rule - October 6th, 2016
- Online Lenders Beware—CashCall Decision another Example of True Lender Risks - September 29th, 2016
- Addressing ECOA Risk in Marketplace Lending - August 25th, 2016
- Are You Ready to Comply with the CFPB’s Final Amended Mortgage Servicing Rules? - August 10th, 2016
- CFPB Proposes New Rule Targeting Small Dollar Loans, Relies on UDAAP Rulemaking Authority for First Time - June 14th, 2016
- FinCEN Guidance Highlights Continued Regulatory Focus on Anti-Money Laundering Risks Posed by MSB Agents - March 29th, 2016
- CFPB—2015 in Review and What is Ahead for 2016? - January 14th, 2016
- Has the CFPB Essentially Banned Marketing Services Agreements Under RESPA? - October 21st, 2015
- Banking on the Green Rush: Financial Institutions Face New Challenges in Serving the Legal Marijuana Industry - September 29th, 2015
- Cybersecurity as a Global Concern in Need of Global Solutions: Some Recent Financial Regulatory Developments - September 1st, 2015
- Elder Financial Abuse on the Rise: What Financial Institutions Can Do to Address Increasing Regulatory Scrutiny Designed to Protect At-Risk Customers - August 25th, 2015
- Is Your Business Ready to Comply with the Final Amended Department of Defense Military Lending Act Regulation? - August 5th, 2015