Baker McKenzie announced that Sebastian Dey will join its German Banking & Finance practice group as a Senior Counsel on 1 September 2026. This move aims to significantly strengthen the firm's expertise in financial market supervision law. The focus is on comprehensive advice at the interface of traditional capital market activities, product-related regulatory law, and the growing field of digital assets.
The strategic expansion particularly includes advising on the tokenisation of financial instruments and assisting both traditional and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)-based market infrastructures. Baker McKenzie is thus pursuing the expansion of its leading position in financial market supervision law, capital market law, and the digitalisation of the financial sector. Mr Dey's appointment also underscores the ambitious further development of the Digital Assets and Capital Markets advisory services.
Focus on Digital and Traditional Capital Markets
With this new hire, Baker McKenzie is driving the consolidation of its financial market supervision practice and strengthening its market position in the Digital Assets & FinTech sector within Germany and the EMEA region. The advisory services for banks, fund managers, financial market infrastructures, and companies regarding both traditional and digital capital market products will be substantially expanded. Sebastian Dey joins from Linklaters, where he held the position of Head of Digital Assets Germany. His expertise was highlighted by Legal 500, particularly for his advice on the issuance of crypto securities and DLT-related capital market issues.
Mr Dey is admitted as a lawyer in Germany and as a solicitor in England & Wales. His specialisations include DLT-based capital market products, the tokenisation of traditional financial instruments, as well as structured capital market products and financings. He combines his proven competence in the field of digital assets with extensive experience in classical capital market business. His advice covers derivatives, repo and securities lending transactions, promissory note loans and registered bonds, as well as their regulatory and equity-related treatment under banking regulation, including the use of Credit Risk Mitigation (CRM). He also possesses extensive experience with regulatory frameworks such as CRR/CRD, CSDR, EMIR, MiFID II, MiFIR, DLT Pilot Regime, and MiCAR.
Dr Conrad Ruppel, Partner in financial market supervision law at Baker McKenzie in Frankfurt, expressed delight at the addition. He emphasised that Mr Dey connects classical capital market products, product-related regulatory law, and technological innovations in a way that is valuable to clients. This is a strategically important step for expanding the established financial market supervision and digital assets practice. Dr Oliver Socher, EMEA Chair of Baker McKenzie's Banking & Finance Practice, added that Sebastian Dey will enable even more comprehensive client support in the conception and implementation of digital business models and innovative financial market products. The firm will thus more strongly link its advisory areas in digital assets, derivatives, capital markets, and regulatory affairs with the competencies of its transactional practice in Germany and its global network.
Integrated Advisory Approaches
Within Baker McKenzie, Sebastian Dey will further develop advice on digital assets, derivatives, and product-related regulatory law, and integrate it more closely with existing practice groups. The objective includes deepening existing client relationships, acquiring new mandates in the digital capital market, and strengthening the firm's thought leadership through publications, client events, and an active role in the digital assets ecosystem. Sebastian Dey explained that the digitalisation of financial markets is increasingly moving beyond the experimental phase and becoming an integral part of the established financial and capital market architecture. This opens up new opportunities for banks, financial institutions, and companies, but also comes with complex regulatory and legal questions. He looks forward to contributing his experience in digital assets, derivatives, structured products, and product-related regulatory law, and to shaping the further development of these markets together with the team.
