Biography
Neal Kumar is Co-Head of the Commodities & Derivatives Practice and a member of the Willkie Digital Works group. Neal represents major financial institutions, trading companies, end-users, intermediaries, dealers, exchanges, and clearing organizations, in a variety of regulatory, enforcement, legislative, and transactional matters involving commodities, derivatives, and digital assets. He is regularly ranked in Chambers USA in the area of Derivatives, and frequently speaks at conferences on a wide-variety of subjects relevant to the industry.
Neal has extensive experience representing clients in derivatives regulatory matters, including the application of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and National Futures Association (NFA) rules, regulations, and guidance. He also works closely with clients to register in various capacities with the CFTC and NFA. Furthermore, he often spearheads client representations involving CFTC, NFA, and exchange investigations on a large number of matters such as potential market manipulation, rules applicable to CFTC registrants, registration requirements, swap data reporting, wash trading, and position limits amongst other matters.
Neal frequently advises clients, including major exchanges, defi protocols, proprietary traders, and asset managers, on the regulation of digital assets. This includes advising on the application of State regulation and the intersection between digital assets and derivatives regulation, including the latest legislative developments. Neal is also advising a number of startups and established financial institutions regarding the use of blockchain, digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Prior to Willkie and his work at another law firm, Neal worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the CFTC where he advised on new Dodd-Frank rulemakings and ongoing enforcement matters. His prior work at the CFTC allows Neal to provide valuable insight to clients on regulatory and enforcement matters that go beyond the written words in a rule, preamble, or other advisory.
Neal is also an active member of the D.C. Bar committee on Corporation, Finance and Securities Law, and is the Co-Head of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility subcommittee.