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Adam Chernichaw

Partner

Email

adam.chernichaw@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 212 610 6466

Offices

New York

Links

LinkedIn

V-CARD

Adam is U.S. Head of Digital, Data, IP and Technology. His practice is deal-focused.

He is highly regarded by both clients and adversaries alike, as a business and results oriented negotiator who facilitates and structures complex (and often innovative and transformative) commercial transactions to help clients execute their strategic goals.

Adam advises clients across a diverse number of industry sectors including financial services, Web3 and digital assets, social media, life sciences, food services, telecommunications, sports, hospitality and entertainment. Adam has had a particular focus in the financial technology (fintech) and digital assets sectors (including blockchain platforms and NFTs), representing buy-side and sell-side institutions, users of fintech products and services, and companies seeking strategic alliances and product integrations. 
 
Adam’s practice been at the forefront of innovation and he oftentimes finds himself working for clients that are adopting or collaborating with others to create and launch game-changing new and innovative technologies. He has extensive experience working on deals in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, digital transformations, information technology and business process outsourcings, system integrations, cloud and "as a service" offerings, payment processing services (including BIN Sponsorship arrangements, P2P payments systems, and other payment services), mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.


Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  •  A financial institution in the outsourcing of its global email, electronic messaging and records management system.
  • A global social media platform in connection with various payments matters and in the development of a new blockchain and stablecoin.
  • A number of clients in developing their enterprise-wide AI governance and contractual frameworks.
  • A global messaging platform in connection with various international payments matters, including a large scale technology, commerce and product integration deal associated with a multibillion dollar investment in a company facilitating the creation of an online retail marketplace.
  • A multinational technology company in connection with the launch of its social networking services’ digital collectables product as well as other NFT related products and services.
  • A life sciences company in the establishment of a “community of vendors”, which involved parallel and consecutive negotiations of global framework agreements with a multitude of service providers, aligned to a common risk tolerance, to allow for an expedited and more efficient bidding process for procuring managed and project-based services. It also established a robust community governance protocol to allow for collaboration and cooperation among the vendor community.
  • A global financial institution in connection a strategic, multi-year partnership with Google Cloud aimed at accelerating the bank’s transition to cloud services and the co-innovation of new products and services.
  • A financial services and digital payments company in connection with founding the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance, a non-profit community formed to encourage the adoption and advancement of cryptocurrency technologies.
  • A global financial institution in the establishment of its US online retail banking platform (a “bank in a box”).
  • A public petroleum and natural gas company and its IT and services subsidiary on a strategic outsourcing for systems integration, application development and maintenance for IT systems to run one of the largest integrated chemical facilities in the world. The transactions include four separate Framework Agreements covering the complete automation of the facilities and integration of the systems of the various facilities that are associated with the project.
  • A global financial institution in outsourcing certain human resources functions (such as recruitment processes, travel and entertainment services, background screening, commission payment and employee benefit plan administration) and "software as a service" transactions.
  • An international baked goods company in what was, at the time, one of the largest information technology outsourcing transactions for Latin America.
  • A wireless communications network in connection a joint venture to develop of a wireless payments platform. Work included advising on the structure of technology and IP contributions, vendor selection and negotiation of the sourcing and licensing arrangements with the various parties engaged to build the platform, commercial terms and potential royalty and value streams, as well as the rights as between the venture and the participating carriers and third-party licensees.
  • A Global Financial Institution in the outsourcing of its asset management investment platform to BlackRock and onboarding to BlackRock’s Aladdin platform.

Published Work

  • "Crypto-tunities: Transaction strategies in the challenging crypto markets", Allen & Overy update, July 13, 2022
  • "Oh no, where's my crypto? What happens to crypto assets when a custodian fails", Allen & Overy update, June 23, 2022
  • Chernichaw, Petrasic, Shukla and Bronfrieund (2018) “The Year of Blockchain: Global Legal Framework Begins to take Form”, SA Financial Regulation Journal.
  • Chernichaw (2017), Introduction and Contributing Author for “Chambers 2017 Legal Developments in the Global FinTech Sector Guide"

Speaking Engagements

  • Mainstage Keynote discussion with Catherine Porter, VP of Global Partnerships at Meta Financial Technologies, “The Future of Financial Services Within Web3”, Fintech Nexus USA, June 2022
  • Moderator, "Innovation through Partnerships and Collaboration”, Fintech Week Tel-Aviv, March, 2022. Panel member, “Lessons Learned from Failed IT Projects”, International Technology Law Association Webinar, May 27, 2020
  • Panel member, “Risk Management Issues and Challenges Around Growth Strategies”, AON Consulting Industry Symposium, June 13, 2017.
  • Speaker, “New Developments in Software Law”, International Bar Association Annual Conference, September 2016.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Law360 Fintech Editorial Board, 2022
  • Adam serves his community as a volunteer firefighter.

Recognition

“Adam's experience and demeanour sets him high above most people in his field. His knowledge is wide and current.”
Chambers Fintech 2023
“He has become a well trusted member of our team, I have been impressed with the manner in which he keeps up with trends in such new territory.”
Chambers Fintech 2023

Awards

  • Ranked Lawyer, FinTech Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies - USA Chambers Fintech, 2021-2023
  • Ranked Lawyer, Nationwide Technology, Chambers USA 2021-2022 
  • Ranked Lawyer, Nationwide Outsourcing, Chambers USA 2022
  • IAM Patent 1000, 2012-2022
  • Band 1 – Chambers USA Fintech, 2024, Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies
  • Band 3 – Chambers USA New York 2023, Technology

Qualifications

Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024

Admitted: Bar of the State of New York, 1996

US District Court for the Southern District of New York

US District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Academic

JD, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1995

BA, State University of New York at Albany, 1991

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.