The Law & Blockchain: Episode 4: Brian Brooks on Coinbase’s Legal and Regulatory Initiatives

Brian Brooks is Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase, an $8 billion Silicon Valley startup that is one of the largest digital currency platforms in the world. At Coinbase, Brian is responsible for the company’s legal, compliance, internal audit, government relations, and global intelligence groups. Brian talks about his approach in managing compliance at one of the most prominent cryptocurrency-related companies in the industry. Brian joined Coinbase in September 2018 from Fannie Mae, where he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Fannie Mae, ranked 22nd on the 2019 Fortune 500, is the largest financial institution in the United States as measured by its assets of $3.2 trillion. Brian was elected to Fannie Mae’s Board of Directors in March 2019 and currently serves on the Risk Policy & Capital Committee and the Strategic Initiatives and Technology Committee. Brian previously served as Vice Chairman of OneWest Bank, where he worked closely with future Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and future Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting. He was also a member of the board of directors and the executive committee of the California Bankers Association. Brian began his career as an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where he served as chair of the firm’s financial services practice group, managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, and a member of the firm’s 12-person board of directors. He received his A.B. cum laude from Harvard University and his J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago Law School. Twitter: @BrianBrooksCB Linkedin: Brian Brooks, Coinbase