Meghan K. Spillane

Meghan Spillane is a partner in Goodwin’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice and serves as Co-Chair of the Digital Currency & Blockchain Technology practice. She also works closely with the Firm’s FinTech practice and Financial Restructuring Group.

Meghan provides advice on regulatory and compliance issues and counsels companies involved in government investigations and civil litigation. Her experience includes the defense of corporations and individuals in both criminal and civil matters, including securities fraud, market manipulation, insider trading, and corporate governance violations. Meghan also regularly defends clients in matters involving allegations of business torts, fraud and breaches of contract or fiduciary duties. In addition to her litigation experience, Meghan has substantial experience advising clients in connection with contract negotiations and employing litigation-avoidance strategies.

Meghan also advises technology clients in the digital currency and blockchain industry to solve business problems and provide advice on regulatory and compliance issues, including with respect to digital asset transactions and platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and related securities law and regulatory matters.

Meghan represents companies and individuals at all stages of government investigations and complex civil litigation, including defending clients in several criminal and civil trials.

Examples of Meghan’s representative matters include:

Blockchain and Fintech

• Technology companies and investment funds in responding to investigations brought by the SEC, DOJ, CFTC and state securities regulators concerning products in the Web3 and digital assets space
• Fintech, blockchain and digital asset companies, investors and network participants with respect to securities and regulatory advice concerning digital asset transactions, platforms, and products
• Cryptocurrency mining companies in connection with regulatory inquiries and civil litigations pending in state and federal court
• A crypto intelligence company in defending claims of defamation in the Southern District of New York
• Fintech companies and other Software as a Service (SaaS) providers in navigating disputes arising out of loan products, alternative financing arrangements (e.g., income share agreements, factoring, merchant cash advances), payments, deposits, and insurance

Complex Civil Litigation

• Medical professionals in defending claims of defamation arising from the filing of a Citizens Petition with the FDA in the Southern District of New York
• A financial institution in defending claims related to its underwriting of municipal bonds in the District Court of Puerto Rico
• An international financial institution in an antitrust class action concerning interest rate swaps in the Southern District of New York
• The CEO of a technology company in defending allegations of breach of contract and fraud in the Southern District of New York
• Companies engaged in disputes concerning breach of contract, other business torts, and fraud arising out of commercial transactions in state and federal court

Bankruptcy Litigation

• A secured lender in bankruptcy proceedings related to lien priority disputes and 2004 discovery requests made by committee and noteholders in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
• An official committee of unsecured creditors in litigation related to sale process in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware

Government Investigations

• An executive of a school network in a criminal investigation into sexual misconduct involving former teachers
• A major institution of higher education in conducting an internal investigation concerning donations from, and interactions with, Jeffrey Epstein
• A financial institution in a multi-year False Claims Act investigation into mortgage lending and appraisal practices; the government declined to intervene on the qui tam complaint
• A former hedge fund portfolio manager of in defending against criminal and SEC allegations of insider trading
• The former CEO of a Fortune 30 health care company in an SEC investigation of alleged fraudulent disclosure and insider trading violations, during which, after engaging in an extensive Wells process, no charges of any kind were brought against our client 
• Individuals under investigation by various criminal and civil regulatory agencies concerning allegations of securities fraud, market manipulation, insider trading, and corporate governance violations

Meghan gained significant trial experience as a Special Assistant District Attorney for the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office in 2012, where she prosecuted numerous felony cases and conducted several jury trials and evidentiary hearings.

Meghan serves as the co-chair of the New York Council of Women@Goodwin, is a member of Goodwin’s Attorney Review Committee and serves of the Partner Counsel Development Committee. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Council, the New York City Bar Association, and the Women’s White Collar Defense Association.

Meghan serves on the Advisory Council of Fintech Women, an inclusive community helping women in fintech advance professionally and build a successful and diverse ecosystem.

Meghan maintains an active pro bono practice, representing indigent criminal defendants in a variety of state and federal matters. For example, since 2008, she has been actively involved in the representation of a criminal defendant in the appeal of his death sentence in Alabama state court.

Before joining Goodwin in 2008, Meghan taught at Public School 48 in Bronx, New York, as part of the Teach for America program.

Meghan was most recently recognized by The Legal 500 US for Fintech and Crypto, in which clients note that her “expertise in litigation makes her standout” and her “experience in handling high-stakes litigation cases, especially those involving emerging technologies, equips her to effectively manage legal disputes and challenges that are characteristic of this dynamic field.” Meghan has also been recognized as a Law360 White Collar “Rising Star” and named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List,” recognizing the most promising emerging talent in litigation. She is also recommended for her corporate investigations practice as a Future Leader by Who’s Who Legal.

While attending law school, Meghan was a member of the Fordham Urban Law Journal, an editor on the Fordham Moot Court Board and a member of the Stein Scholars program.

Meghan is a regular contributor to Goodwin’s Digital Currency + Blockchain Perspectives blog and its Securities Snapshot series. She is also a frequent writer and speaker on blockchain and cryptocurrency, initial coin offerings (ICOs), and SEC investigations and enforcement.

Meghan’s recent publications include:

• Co-Author, “2022 Year in Review: Digital Currency and Blockchain Litigation and Enforcement Developments,” Goodwin Insights, February 2023
• Co-Author, “CFTC Attempts to Extend Liability to DAO Participants,” Goodwin Client Alert, October 2022
• Co-Author, “Central District of California Authorizes Service of John Doe Summons on Cryptocurrency Dealer,” Digital Currency + Blockchain Perspectives, September 2022
• Co-Author, “SEC Alleges “Crypto Asset Securities” Insider Trading; Case Has Significant Implications For The Digital Asset Industry,” Goodwin Client Alert, July 2022
• Co-Author, “Grayscale Investments Petitions D.C. Circuit For Review Of SEC’s Decision To Disapprove Proposed Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product,” Securities Snapshot, July 2022
• Co-Author, “Cryptocurrencies as Investment Options in 401(k) Plans,” FinTech Law Report, Volume 25 Issue 3, June 2022
• Co-Author, “SEC Complaint Against Ripple (XRP) And Possible Regulatory Signals Ahead For 2021,” Goodwin Client Alert, January 2021
• Co-Author, “BitMEX Founder’s Charges Highlight Risks for DeFi,” CoinDesk, November 2020
• Author, “Department of Justice Announces “Cryptocurrency: An Enforcement Framework,” Digital Currency + Blockchain Perspectives, October 2020
• Co-Author, “SEC Announces Settlement with Unikrn, Pierce Issues Statement in Opposition,” Digital Currency + Blockchain Perspectives, September 2020
• Co-Author, “Building Blocks U.S. – Regulatory and Legal Developments in Digital Currency + Blockchain: Q1 2020,” May 2020
• Co-Author, “SEC Wins Injunctive Relief to Prevent Telegram’s Distribution of $1.7B Worth of Cryptocurrency,” Digital Currency + Blockchain Perspectives, March 2020
• Co-Author, “Building Blocks: Recent U.S. Regulatory And Legal Developments in Digital Currency + Blockchain,” Goodwin Insights, March 2020

Meghan also co-authors a chapter titled “Privilege: The US Perspective” in Government Investigations in the Global Investigations Review (GIR)’s “Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations,” which is updated annually since 2017.

Meghan’s recent speaking engagements include:

• Panelist, “Global Regulation – Harmonization or Lack Thereof,” Women in Digital Assets Forum, June 2024
• Moderator, “Exploring the UK and EU Regulatory and Legislative Landscape and How it Compares to the US,” Goodwin’s Digital Currency & Blockchain – UK and EU Regulatory Considerations and Market Insights Event, New York City, May 2024
• Moderator, “Regulatory Roundup: Recent US, UK, and EU Developments,” Goodwin’s Digital Currency & Blockchain – Regulatory Perspectives from Both Sides of the Pond Event, London, November 2023
• Speaker, “Staking in the Regulatory Spotlight: Implications and Innovations,” Fordham Law Blockchain Regulatory Symposium, October 2023
• Speaker, “Federal Digital Asset Regulation: A Moderated Debate,” Boston Blockchain Week, September 2023
• Speaker, “Masterclass on Digital Asset Regulations- A look at what’s to come in 2023,” InvestaX (virtual webinar), March 2023
• Speaker, “Blockchain & Digital Assets Year in Review & Look Ahead,” Goodwin CLE Days, January 2023
• Speaker, “Blockchain in Business, Pop Culture, and Everyday Life,” Real Talk: Blockchain presented by FintechWomen, November 2022
• Moderator, “Web3 Innovation and Opportunities,” ABA Blockchain & Digital Currency National Institute (virtual), October 2022
• Speaker, “The Coming Dominance of Stablecoins,” ABA Blockchain & Digital Currency National Institute (virtual), September 2021
• Speaker, “U.S. And European Growth Equity Deal Trends In The Current Environment,” Remote, July 2020
• Speaker, “New Girls on the Block,” ABA Women in Litigation, Chicago, November 2019
• Speaker, “Cryptocurrencies and Securities Regulation,” NYSBA Business Law Section, New York, May 2019
• Speaker, “Perspectives on SEC Engagement Concerning Digital Assets,” Consensus, New York, May 2019
• Speaker, Jeanensis Globally Local Blockchain Fintech and AI Symposium, New York, May 2019
• Speaker, ABA Blockchain Technology, Digital Currency, and ICO National Institute, New York, April 2019

Meghan’s media mentions include:

• Contributor, “New CFTC Bill Could Overrule SEC but Leaves Fate of Many Crypto Tokens Unresolved,” Blockworks, August 2022
• Contributor, “What the Fate of 9 Small Tokens Means for the Crypto Industry,” Protocol, August 2022
• Contributor, “Navigating the Ground Rules for Building a Blockchain Business,” Quartz, June 2019
• Interviewee, “Interview with 'Rising Star' Meghan Spillane,” Q&A with the Women Criminal Defense Attorneys Blog, October 2018