• 13,756 Department or Organisation Rankings
• 29,840 Lawyer Rankings
• 3,060 Newly Ranked Lawyers
• 2,522 Up-and-Comers and Associates to Watch

General Counsel Insights and Strategic Assessment

A significant new feature of the 2025 Global Guide is the inclusion of General Counsel (GC) Tables, offering deep insights into the evolving role of 270 in-house lawyers across key regions, including Africa, Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Greater China Region, Latin America, the Middle East, the UK, and the USA. These tables provide a strategic assessment of legal team development and management, focusing on best practices in internal team structuring, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. The insights are further enriched by contributions from private lawyers, offering a comprehensive overview of the relationship between in-house teams and external counsel.

More information on how to participate in future editions will be provided in due course.

Regional Insights

AMECO (Africa, Middle East, and Caribbean Offshore)

Despite conflicts in parts of Africa and the Middle East, AMECO experienced one of its busiest years, with rankings surpassing 2,000 for the first time. Notably, 2158 rankings across 100 jurisdictions reflect the growing importance of this region, with new tables launched in 2025, including:

• Israel Investment Funds
• Mauritius Banking & Finance
• Nigeria Capital Markets and Competition
• Saudi Arabia Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs
• Somalia General Business Law
• UAE Regulatory: Financial Services, TMT (Media, Entertainment & Sport), and Transportation: Aviation

The top firms by Band 1 rankings continue to be largely dominated by international outfits, though leading local firms such as South Africa’s Webber Wentzel and Israel’s FISCHER, Herzog Fox & Neeman, and Meitar also notably feature in the top 10 list.

Also of note, an increased emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) during the research period led to nearly doubling the number of ranked associates from 50 to 90, further promoting diverse junior lawyer recognition in the region.

Caribbean Market: Renewed Activity and Regulatory Developments

While the Cayman Islands experienced a period of relative quiet since 2023 due to rising interest rates and bank failures, there are early signs of a rebound in key areas such M&A, finance, and securitisation. In response to growing regulatory demands, Cayman law firms have made substantial investments in strengthening their financial regulatory capabilities to better support their clients.

Meanwhile, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have witnessed notable growth in the funds sector, driven by the popularity of new BVI fund products and the emergence of regulatory challenges in the Cayman Islands, positioning the BVI as an increasingly attractive jurisdiction for fund-related activities.

Africa: Post-Election Recovery and Emerging Opportunities

The African market has shown resilience amidst post-election uncertainty, particularly in South Africa, where initial investor hesitation due to market volatility is gradually giving way to increased activity in transactional markets.

Kenya continues to solidify its status as a technology hub for Eastern Africa, attracting startups that favour efficient dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration over lengthy court processes. This emphasis on streamlined resolution has created a favourable investment climate, supported by internationally recognised dispute resolution frameworks. Additionally, Kenyan tax litigation remains highly active, driven by the Kenya Revenue Authority’s increasingly assertive approach, resulting in growing client demand in this area.

In Angola, interest from large clients is expanding due to the Lobito Corridor, a key infrastructure project that will enhance transportation for the mining sector while supporting the country’s efforts to diversify its economy, particularly through alternative energy initiatives spearheaded by Middle Eastern investors.

Saudi Arabia and UAE: Regulatory Developments and Market Expansion

The Saudi legal market is undergoing significant transformation with continuous regulatory changes. New policies limit legal advisory work on Saudi law outside the country to 30%, prompting international law firms to establish local offices. These firms are expanding their presence through lateral hires, benefiting from the emergence of a new generation of highly skilled Saudi lawyers.

In the UAE, the alignment of ranking tables with lawyer specialisations has enhanced recognition accuracy. Gender parity has also improved significantly, with female representation exceeding 30% in several areas, although Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A, and Capital Markets still have room for growth.

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1. Referees Are Critical to Rankings

• Client feedback is one of the most important factor in Chambers research and one of the easiest ways to improve rankings.
• High-quality feedback matters—encourage referees to provide detailed comments rather than simply selecting top scores.

2. Understanding the System’s Limitations

• The user-facing portal differs from what Chambers researchers see, meaning not all inputted information carries over.
• Not all fields matter—focus on name, email, and referring lawyer fields, while fields like physical address and phone number are largely irrelevant.

3. Common Issues and How to Fix Them

• Invalid emails: Ensure referees have chambers.com in their safe senders list and provide the correct email.
• Unsubscribed referees: A written confirmation must be sent to Chambers to re-enable contact.
• The Three-Month Rule: If a referee was contacted recently, they won’t be contacted again unless they explicitly opt in.
• Missing referees: Sometimes, referees don’t appear in the system immediately—wait before taking action.

4. Strategy for Maximizing Referee Impact

• Submit referee lists early—this helps avoid conflicts and ensures Chambers researchers have full visibility.
• Diversify referees—using different referees for different practice areas maximizes feedback opportunities.
• Monitor response rates—track who responded and replace underperforming referees in future submissions.

5. Post-Submission & Research Follow-Up

• Once research begins, send reminders to referees—but space them out in coordination with Chambers’ reminders.
• Use the “Latest Update” feature in the portal to track when referees were last contacted before following up.
• Post-research, contact the researcher sparingly—only for critical issues, as they may already be working on another section.

Looking Ahead

Chambers continuously updates its referee management process, with potential changes to the Three-Month Rule and other enhancements on the horizon. Staying informed and proactive is key to leveraging the system effectively.

For those who missed the webinar or need further clarification, feel free to reach out. Mastering the Chambers referee process can be the difference between staying ranked and moving up the tiers.

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Improving the representation of women in the rankings, alongside other DEI concerns, has become a particular area of focus for the directories. Women continue to make up a minority of ranked lawyers and efforts to improve these statistics has resulted in notable, albeit gradual, progress- currently, women make up around 22.5% of all rankings for individuals in Chambers Global 2024, a figure that has improved by around 1% in each of the last five guides.

This is line with a long list of initiatives in the profession, such as the Women in Law Pledge in the UK, launched by the Law Society, Bar Council, and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in order to encourages firms to set measurable gender diversity goals and hold leadership accountable for achieving them, while in the U.S., there are programs such as the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) focus on supporting women in senior legal roles.

These initiatives collectively aim to address challenges such as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and barriers to work-life balance.

Initiatives by Legal Directories to Promote Women in Law

• Dedicated Awards and Recognitions: Directories like Chambers have established awards specifically to honor women in the legal field. For instance, the Chambers Women in Law Awards celebrate outstanding female lawyers and their achievements, providing a platform for recognition and inspiration.

• Diversity and Inclusion Metrics: Legal directories are increasingly incorporating diversity metrics into their evaluation processes. This approach ensures that firms with significant female representation and inclusive practices are acknowledged, encouraging a more equitable legal landscape. There is now a greater emphasis on ranking categories such as Up & Coming, which aims to improve representation of women by offering a greater coverage of junior lawyers. Researchers at directories such as Chambers are also provided full training on implicit bias in order to identify any latent prejudices in the information they receive.

• Spotlight on Female Leaders: By featuring interviews and profiles of leading women lawyers, directories offer role models for aspiring female professionals. These stories highlight the diverse paths to success and the impact of women in various legal sectors.

Women in Business Law (WIBL) Awards

The Women in Business Law Awards, organized by Euromoney Legal Media Group, recognize leading women lawyers and law firms that have developed progressive initiatives towards diversity and inclusion. These awards celebrate the contributions of women in business law and acknowledge firms that support the advancement of female legal talent.

Recent Developments

• Increased Female Representation: According to the American Bar Association, as of 2024, women constitute 41% of all U.S. lawyers, with the number growing each year. Notably, 56.2% of law school students are women, outnumbering men and indicating a promising trend for future representation.

• Leadership Appointments: In 2024, Shabana Mahmood MP was appointed as the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in the UK, becoming only the second woman and the first Muslim to hold this position. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in promoting diversity at the highest levels of the legal profession.

• Recognition of Female Legal Practitioners: The Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers Awards in 2024 recognized several women for their pioneering work in various legal fields, such as artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and data privacy. These accolades highlight the growing influence of women in shaping the future of law.

Strategies for Women to Leverage Legal Directories

1. Building Compelling Submissions: Women lawyers should focus on articulating their unique contributions and leadership roles in their submissions.

When highlighting significant cases, use strong, action-oriented language. Choose words like “initiated,” “pioneered,” “transformed,” or “negotiated” to convey proactive involvement, and avoid underselling contributions with phrases like “part of” or “assisted in”; instead, take ownership.

2. Visibility: Include mentions of published articles, speaking engagements, or panel participation to show expertise.

3. DEI: Highlight involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives if relevant, as these are highly valued. Showcase efforts to mentor women or underrepresented groups in law and mention involvement in gender equality initiatives or programs.

4. Engaging in Networking Opportunities: Participating in events and forums organized by legal directories can expand professional networks and increase visibility within the industry.

5. Seeking Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building relationships with mentors who have navigated the submission process successfully can provide valuable guidance and support.

Impact of Recognition in Legal Directories

Achieving recognition in esteemed legal directories can significantly enhance a woman’s professional standing. It leads to increased client trust, greater opportunities for career advancement, and serves as a testament to expertise and leadership in the field.

Conclusion

Legal directories are instrumental in promoting women in law by providing platforms that recognize and celebrate their achievements. By actively engaging with these directories and utilizing the available resources, women lawyers can elevate their profiles, inspire the next generation, and contribute to a more inclusive legal profession.

The post Empowering Women in Law: Navigating Legal Directories for Recognition and Growth appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Understanding IFLR1000

IFLR1000 specializes in covering various aspects of corporate financial and transactional work across multiple practice areas. These areas include:

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Financial Services Regulatory (FSR)
• Investment Funds
• M&A/Transactional Private Equity
• Project Development/Projects
• Restructuring and Insolvency

The importance and relevance of these practice areas can vary significantly based on jurisdiction as well as the volume of work conducted by the firms in those regions. Firms need to be particularly attentive to how they align their practices with IFLR1000’s requirements.

Submission Guidelines: The Portal is Key

One of the major updates emphasized during the webinar is that all submissions and referee lists must be submitted exclusively through the designated portal. It’s crucial to remember that submissions sent via email will not be accepted.

The portal offers several benefits, including:

• The ability to preview past submissions, providing an excellent reference point for crafting current submissions.
• Ensuring that when creating an account, it is done using the law firm’s official email domain, maintaining professional integrity.

Eligibility Requirements: What You Need to

Participate

To participate effectively in the IFLR1000 research process, firms must meet several criteria:

• Physical Presence: A tangible office must exist in the jurisdiction where the submission is being made.
• Local Licensing: Both the firm and the lawyers involved must be licensed to practice locally.
• Core Practice Areas: The firm should practice in one or more of the core areas defined by IFLR1000, ensuring their expertise aligns with the submission requirements.

Detailed Breakdown of the Research Form

The research form itself is structured with clear sections that demand careful consideration.

Section 1: Lawyer Nominations

• A new change this year, the first section exclusively focuses on new lawyers, specifically those who are currently unrated by IFLR1000. This change signifies a shift towards recognizing emerging talent within the legal industry.
• When nominating, it’s essential that all nominated lawyers work within the specified jurisdiction for the submission.

For lawyers who are already rated, maintaining their ratings hinges on several factors:

• The submission of  deal evidence showcased in Section 3 of the form.
• Gathering and considering both client and peer feedback, which are integral components of the evaluation process.

Notably, the Lawyer Survey has returned this year, providing an opportunity for self-nomination and allowing lawyers to present additional deal evidence.

What if the lawyer is rated for one practice area but not another?

• In that case you can put down the lawyer’s name for the other practice area.

Section 2: Overview of Practice

In this section, firms must present a comprehensive overview of their practice. This entails selling their unique competitive advantage to the IFLR evaluators. Relevant data regarding market share should be included, and firms are encouraged to provide information on their impact in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) space, if applicable.

Section 3: Prioritize Complex Deals

When it comes to Section 3, firms are directed to prioritize their top 10 deals that are characterized by complexity, impact, and innovation. It is critical not to leave the innovation section blank, as this could raise questions regarding the firm’s capacity for creative and impactful work—something that is vital in the eyes of IFLR’s research methodology. It is important to prioritize this section as it is the most decisive factor in IFLR’s research methodology

Referee Form Details

This year, IFLR is requesting feedback from only 20 referees per practice area. It is important to confirm with referees prior to listing them to maximize the likelihood of positive engagement. Each referee can provide insights on multiple lawyers, and it is recommended that about half of the referees can be linked to deals in the submission.

Moreover, firms can proactively inquire about the percentage of client feedback received, which can serve as a useful metric for understanding the firm’s standing.

Important Timetable to Note

Firms should be particularly aware of the key deadlines associated with the IFLR research cycle:

– Submission Deadlines fall on either February 12 or June 30 depending on your jurisdiction.

– Research interviews will take place from February to August.

– The lawyer survey will be sent out in March/April.

– Research publication dates are to be announced in early Spring 2025, with all firm and lawyer rankings being released simultaneously.

Good luck to all of those submitting this year! If you would like any help or assistance with your upcoming submissions, please feel free to reach out to our Tier One team.

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1. Core Elements of a Strong Submission

• Work Highlights: Submissions should include detailed and significant matters from the past 12 months. Focus on innovation, complexity, and relevance to the market.
• Referee Feedback: Chambers places significant weight on feedback from clients and peers. Ensure referees can speak to your technical expertise, client service, and cross-border capabilities where applicable.

2. Submission Strategy: Tailor for Impact

• Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: For jurisdictions or heavily subscribed categories, focus on your firm’s most impressive highlights. However, aim to include the maximum number of matters (20) to demonstrate the depth of your practice.
• Referee Management: Submit all referees at the earliest deadline to streamline contact and avoid the “three-month rule,” which may limit repeated outreach.
• Adapt for Practice Areas: While the core submission principles are consistent across Chambers guides, adjust for jurisdictional nuances, such as the UK’s granular practice area categories versus broader global listings.

3. Optimizing Lawyer and Firm Presentation

• Bios: Highlight key achievements and a snapshot of recent, impactful work. Use concise, specific examples and avoid overly generic descriptions.
• About Us Section: Focus on what makes your team unique—industry expertise, generational depth, or specific standout capabilities. Avoid generic claims and ensure clarity.
• Feedback Section: Provide objective insights into market dynamics, competitor comparisons, and your firm’s positioning to strengthen your case.

4. Refining Matters for Submissions

• Grouping Matters: Combine related cases (e.g., similar transactions for the same client) but avoid overloading a single highlight with disparate elements.
• Cross-Practice Submissions: It’s acceptable to use the same highlight across different practice areas, but tailor the narrative to emphasize the relevant aspects for each area.

5. Interactions with Chambers Researchers

• Interviews: Partner interviews are an opportunity to provide clarity on niche practice areas or unique strengths but will not directly influence rankings. Prepare to use this time effectively.
• Market Feedback: Researchers also gather insights from peers in the market, which may influence their understanding of your firm’s standing.

6. Practical Tips for Success

• Stay On Time: While missing deadlines won’t automatically penalize you, late submissions may result in less thorough review.
• Include All Relevant Team Members: Acknowledge all contributors to a matter, even from other practice areas, but clarify their roles to avoid confusion.
• Use Data Effectively: Highlight deal values in transactional practices, but emphasize innovation and complexity in non-transactional areas.

Conclusion

Chambers submissions are both an art and a science, requiring a blend of strategy, precision, and storytelling. By focusing on your firm’s unique strengths, carefully managing referees, and adhering to submission best practices, you can enhance your rankings and visibility in this competitive landscape.

For additional support or tailored advice, feel free to reach out to Tier One Rankings for expert guidance. Stay tuned for more webinars and resources to help your firm excel!

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Perhaps the most common error a Chambers researcher will encounter when reading submissions is where a firm has provided excessive  reams of information. These issues can include too many work highlights, or individual highlights running for multiple pages. Often a lot of this information is impenetrable and goes far too close into the fine technical detail. When determining rankings, researchers typically take ten to fifteen minutes reading and analysing each submission. Therefore, anything that makes it difficult to quickly comprehend the information is often a pet peeve for researchers. The ideal length of a work highlight is one side of A4, which means that the matter description should be around two to three paragraphs. It’s very rare for a matter to genuinely require more space than this.

Providing too little information.

Ironically, this issue is typically the next most common problem with submissions! The submission document is ultimately a balancing act; the document is designed to be a specific length so that a researcher can make a reasoned decision on the quality of that firm in a reasonable amount of time. Whilst matter summaries should be succinct, providing just one or two sentences is likely not enough to fully understand what the matter is about. Furthermore, if a firm is unable to provide 20 work highlights, researchers will likely conclude that it is not acting on enough significant work to warrant a ranking.

Adding extra matters outside of work highlights.

A technique often used by firms to circumvent the limits of the submission document is to group together multiple matters into a single work highlight. For example, grouping any work done for the same client or the same type of work being collated together. Grouping a few related matters together like this is acceptable, but this technique should not be used to abuse the document and filling it up with an excessive number of additional matters. The work highlights should ideally remain just one page of A4. Furthermore, listing additional work in other areas such as lawyer bios or team summary should also be avoided beyond quick headlines.

Getting the wrong focus on certain lawyers.

One of the most challenging aspects of writing a strong submission that achieves a firm’s aims is in providing enough coverage around individual lawyers. As space is limited, it’s common for some lawyers to present more evidence to the disadvantage of others. One effective workaround is to list all lawyers who were involved in each work highlight to give them due credit for the same matter. Lawyers who are already ranked should continue to demonstrate a good stream of work (at least 2-3 work highlights), but when it comes to unranked lawyers, firms should consider who they want to focus on supporting and provide them with the most support both in terms of the submission and the number of referees.

Using hyperbolic language.

Sometimes firms are prone to using superlatives in order to promote some of the work they present (for example, describing a deal as ‘one of the best in the market’ without elaborating on why.) Researchers are trained to look beyond ‘marketing speak’ and just drill down into the facts of the evidence. The evidence that a firm presents should be allowed to speak for itself.

Ignoring or mishandling the feedback section.

Section C2 on the Chambers submission offers firms the opportunity to comment on the existing rankings and how accurate they believe current coverage is. Firms often instead use the space to express frustration about rankings without any constructive feedback. This can instead be used as a chance for a firm to describe why they are underranked and where they believe the current coverage is going wrong, or by drawing comparisons to firms in higher bands. These insights will both get the firm’s point across and provide insight that researchers will find helpful.

Misunderstanding the confidential/publishable format of the submission template.

The standard template on a Chambers submission contains space for both publishable and confidential information in order to allow firms to confidently share any sensitive data without any risk of publication. This template includes 10 publishable matters and 10 confidential, and firms often interpret this as needing to specifically include this number of each. In reality, as much or as little confidential information can be included, and the template can be adapted to include more or fewer sensitive matters.

Mislabelling confidential information.

It’s surprisingly common for the same information in a submission to be variously labelled as publishable or confidential in different parts of the submissions. Matter values, client names and other specific details are often affected by this. Whilst this doesn’t affect ranking decisions, it is significant in writing editorial, as researchers will not include information that is at any point labelled as confidential.

Bios.

It’s common for lawyers to cut and paste their bios directly into this space, when a link to their website will provide the same information. The bio space is best used to provide a very brief summary of what that lawyer’s particular strengths are and a few headline achievements.

Quoting rankings in other directories as evidence.

Chambers does acknowledge data from third parties such as press releases or data from Mergermarket. However, notes about rankings in other directories are usually disregarded by researchers. The methodology of directories varies slightly, so it should be anticipated that they produce slightly different results.

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Key Developments Across the Region

The 2025 Guide sheds light on emerging trends and critical updates shaping the South and Southeast Asian legal markets. Below is a summary of notable advancements in various jurisdictions:

India: Driving Innovation in Tech, Media, and Capital Markets

India’s legal market continues to reflect the country’s growing global stature. Significant trends include:

• Digital Transformation:

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) 2023 has introduced new compliance challenges for businesses, with law firms advising major tech companies like Amazon and Google. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has also driven legal work, particularly in fintech innovations such as speech-to-text AI and third-party payment systems.

• Media & Entertainment Sector Growth:

The increasing regulation of OTT platforms, high-profile defamation cases, and generative AI’s influence on media are fueling demand for legal expertise. Cases such as *The Kerala Story* and celebrity endorsement disputes have been pivotal. Chambers has responded by introducing a dedicated Media & Entertainment table.

• Capital Markets Rebound:

Despite global economic challenges, India’s IPO activity remains robust, exemplified by Ola Electric’s landmark listing. The Social Stock Exchange has also emerged as a groundbreaking platform, enabling non-profits to list and access capital markets.

• Indonesia: Emerging Fintech Hub

Indonesia’s fintech sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by widespread digital payment adoption and evolving regulatory frameworks. Legal firms are increasingly focused on navigating cryptocurrency regulations, solidifying Indonesia’s position as a critical fintech market.

• Malaysia: Cybersecurity Takes Center Stage

Malaysia’s legislative advancements in technology law, highlighted by the Cybersecurity Bill 2024, signify a commitment to secure digital transformation. The establishment of the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur further cements its role in fostering technological progress.

• Singapore: Leadership in AI Governance

Singapore is leading the way in AI governance, having unveiled a draft framework for generative AI. Legal practitioners are addressing challenges posed by AI disruption across industries and advising on significant investments in AI startups.

Capital Markets Across APAC: A Mixed Outlook

• Australia:

Capital markets have been subdued, influenced by inflation and geopolitical tensions. However, an optimistic forecast for 2024 suggests potential growth in equity markets.

• Hong Kong:

While the region continues to face a third consecutive year of decline, privatization deals are on the rise. New regulations targeting startups and tech companies hint at a potential recovery.

• Japan:

Low interest rates and active private equity markets have spurred significant M&A activity, including Toshiba’s $13.5 billion take-private deal.

Mergers and Acquisitions: Resilience Amid Challenges

Southeast Asia is witnessing a resurgence in M&A activity despite global economic headwinds. Singapore leads the region in deal volume, while Japan is experiencing an increase in unsolicited takeover bids, driven by recent regulatory changes. In India, domestic M&A remains strong, with Reliance’s $8.5 billion joint venture with Disney being a standout transaction.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Legal Market

Diversity remains a focal point, with women comprising 23.5% of ranked lawyers in the 2025 guide. While smaller markets like Laos and Sri Lanka lead in gender representation, larger jurisdictions such as Japan and South Korea still have room for progress.

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Fintech Funding & M&A

The global FinTech funding landscape is facing challenges, as recent KPMG data highlights a decline in equity funding. Although interest rates have dipped slightly, the overall market remains subdued. Sectors like PropTech and consumer FinTech are experiencing slower growth, while transactional work, startups, and regulatory trends dominate industry conversations. In spite of this, $51.9 billion in funding was raised in the first half of 2024, emphasizing the sector’s continued investment potential.

Notably, many M&A deals have been delayed during the first half of 2024, as stakeholders await the outcome of the US election. This pause underscores the broader uncertainty in the market but also highlights opportunities for growth and innovation in areas that prioritize resilience and adaptability.

Crypto in the US and Around the World

Cryptocurrency continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial landscape, especially in the US. The industry has a history of engaging with the political sphere, exemplified by high-profile donations such as those from Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX. The 2024 election cycle has ushered in what is considered the most pro-crypto Congress in history, with promises to implement regulatory reforms.

President-elect Trump has vowed to replace SEC Chair Gary Gensler, a long-time critic of cryptocurrency, and introduce measures such as a crypto advisory council and a strategic bitcoin reserve. The crypto market is closely watching for clarity in areas like digital asset regulation, SEC and CFTC rulemaking, and the cessation of “regulation by enforcement.” Businesses are particularly eager for advancements in cryptocurrency bank accounts and broader regulatory approvals, which would provide a more stable foundation for growth.

Crypto Industry’s Increased Political Influence in US Elections

The cryptocurrency industry has significantly amplified its political influence in recent years, with the 2024 U.S. elections marking a watershed moment in its engagement with the political process. While crypto donations to political campaigns are not new—most famously exemplified by Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX’s contributions to both parties—the 2024 election cycle saw a more strategic and focused approach. Industry-aligned political action committees (PACs) like the Fair Shake PAC raised over $160 million, channeling funds to support pro-crypto legislators and target crypto skeptics. High-profile donors, including Coinbase, Ripple Labs, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and the Winklevoss twins, played a pivotal role in this effort.

In Ohio, crypto-backed groups invested $40 million to support blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno, who successfully unseated Senate Banking Chair Sherrod Brown, a known critic of the industry. Similarly, in California, crypto PACs influenced primary races by spending $10 million to oppose Representative Katie Porter’s Senate bid, favoring the pro-crypto Adam Schiff instead. This aggressive, bipartisan approach to campaigning and lobbying has resulted in what commentators have dubbed “the most pro-crypto Congress ever.” The crypto industry’s concerted efforts to shape the political landscape underscore the growing significance of regulatory debates in digital assets and reflect a new era of political engagement for the sector.

AI in Financial Services

Artificial intelligence is transforming the FinTech sector, as companies increasingly integrate AI into their offerings to enhance efficiency and service delivery. Notably, OpenAI has raised $6.6 billion in funding, achieving a valuation of $157 billion, reflecting the growing importance of AI in financial services. Financial firms are also exploring ways to leverage AI for client research, but critical questions persist: What liabilities arise if AI produces errors? How can firms ensure the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs before delivering them to clients?

The enthusiasm for automation is particularly strong in historically labour-intensive areas such as compliance, sanctions, anti-money laundering, and fraud detection. By embracing AI, companies aim to reduce costs and time inefficiencies while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Tokenization of Real-World Assets

The tokenization of real-world assets is experiencing significant growth, driven by innovations in stablecoins like gold-backed cryptocurrencies. The ability to trade assets such as gold more efficiently and accessibly—enabled by fractional ownership—has spurred widespread interest in this space. Tokenization offers new avenues for investment and trading, breaking down barriers that have traditionally limited participation in high-value asset markets.

As the FinTech industry continues to evolve, tokenization is poised to play a central role in democratizing access to tangible assets, opening up exciting possibilities for investors and market participants alike.

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