Key Takeaways
- • Morgan Lewis hired Arnaud Grünthaler as a Paris-based partner to strengthen its global digital assets, fintech, and investment management practice, effective May 7, 2026.
- • Grünthaler joins from Forvis Mazars Avocats with deep expertise in EU financial regulation, blockchain applications, and fintech market entry strategies across France and Europe.
- • The hire is part of Morgan Lewis's broader European expansion strategy, including a separate 54-lawyer team addition from Kramer Levin, positioning the firm as a global leader in digital assets advisory.
- • The firm identifies tokenized investment products and blockchain-based applications as key growth areas, with clients seeking regulatory clarity and structuring guidance as the digital assets landscape evolves rapidly.
- • Morgan Lewis emphasizes that financial services clients are navigating "fast-changing regulatory and market conditions" in digital assets and fintech, creating demand for experienced advisors on EU regulatory frameworks.
Summary
Morgan Lewis strengthened its digital assets and fintech capabilities by recruiting Arnaud Grünthaler as a partner in its Paris office on May 7, 2026. Grünthaler, who previously advised on banking and financial regulatory matters at Forvis Mazars Avocats, brings specialized expertise in EU financial regulation, blockchain applications, and disintermediated finance structures. His experience encompasses regulatory advisory, market entry strategy for France, and engagement with supervisory authorities across the European Union.
The hire directly addresses client demand for sophisticated guidance on emerging financial products and regulatory compliance. Firm Chair Jami McKeon emphasized that "clients across the financial services sector are navigating fast-changing regulatory and market conditions, particularly in areas such as digital assets and fintech." Grünthaler's appointment enhances the firm's ability to counsel financial institutions and market participants on the intersection of asset management, financial services, and digital assets—a space characterized by rapid product innovation and evolving regulatory expectations.
Tim Levin, global leader of Morgan Lewis's investment management practice, identified tokenized investment products as a strategic priority. He noted that Grünthaler's experience with EU regulatory frameworks and fintech market participants will bring "valuable perspective to our work with clients addressing novel products and evolving regulatory expectations." The focus on tokenized assets reflects broader market developments where institutional investors and financial services firms are exploring blockchain-based alternatives to traditional investment structures.
This Paris-based addition is part of a larger European expansion strategy. Morgan Lewis simultaneously announced a separate addition of 54 lawyers from Kramer Levin, further building the firm's footprint on the continent. These moves position Morgan Lewis to serve global financial services clients seeking integrated advice on digital assets, regulatory compliance, and market development across multiple jurisdictions. France's regulatory support for fintech innovation, combined with its status as a major European financial center, makes the Paris office expansion particularly strategic for capturing cross-border digital assets and investment management opportunities.
The hire directly addresses client demand for sophisticated guidance on emerging financial products and regulatory compliance. Firm Chair Jami McKeon emphasized that "clients across the financial services sector are navigating fast-changing regulatory and market conditions, particularly in areas such as digital assets and fintech." Grünthaler's appointment enhances the firm's ability to counsel financial institutions and market participants on the intersection of asset management, financial services, and digital assets—a space characterized by rapid product innovation and evolving regulatory expectations.
Tim Levin, global leader of Morgan Lewis's investment management practice, identified tokenized investment products as a strategic priority. He noted that Grünthaler's experience with EU regulatory frameworks and fintech market participants will bring "valuable perspective to our work with clients addressing novel products and evolving regulatory expectations." The focus on tokenized assets reflects broader market developments where institutional investors and financial services firms are exploring blockchain-based alternatives to traditional investment structures.
This Paris-based addition is part of a larger European expansion strategy. Morgan Lewis simultaneously announced a separate addition of 54 lawyers from Kramer Levin, further building the firm's footprint on the continent. These moves position Morgan Lewis to serve global financial services clients seeking integrated advice on digital assets, regulatory compliance, and market development across multiple jurisdictions. France's regulatory support for fintech innovation, combined with its status as a major European financial center, makes the Paris office expansion particularly strategic for capturing cross-border digital assets and investment management opportunities.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.