Kirkland & Ellis Adds Fintech Regulatory Partner Kara Kuchar

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Kara Kuchar, a fintech regulatory lawyer with a focus in payments, licensing and regulatory compliance, has joined the Firm as a partner.

“Kara is highly regarded for leading regulated financial services providers through complex transactions, especially in rapid growth areas such as payments and digital assets, where many of our clients are active and where we expect continued demand,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “Kara adds depth to our existing fintech regulatory team, and we’re excited to welcome her to Kirkland.”

Ms. Kuchar advises leading private equity firms, fintech companies and money service businesses on transactional, licensing and compliance, and enforcement matters related to payments products and services, including e-commerce marketplaces, money transmitters, B2B payment solutions providers, stablecoin issuers, rewards companies, prepaid card managers, payroll processors, digital wallet providers, cryptocurrency exchanges and emerging payment companies. She also counsels on buy-now-pay-later offerings, merchant cash advances and commercial lending licensing matters. Ms. Kuchar regularly writes and speaks on payments and other fintech topics, including in forums sponsored by the Money Transmitter Regulators Association.

“I’ve had the pleasure to work with Kirkland lawyers over the years as co-counsel, and I’m excited to team up on the powerful Kirkland platform,” said Ms. Kuchar. “I’m grateful for the terrific experiences I had and the industry relationships I formed over the prior two decades, and I am confident this move to Kirkland will best serve our clients.”

Ms. Kuchar joins Kirkland from McDermott, Will & Schulte, where she was a partner.