Nick Wittek has a unique skill set of combining structured finance, derivatives, and asset management experience with technological innovation, with a current focus on blockchain. With more than 15 years of experience, he is a go-to adviser for financial institutions, asset managers, and institutional clients to advise on the structuring, regulation, and documentation of structured finance transactions.
Nick has an extensive background working on securitizations, loan funds, asset-backed securities (ABS), collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), Schuldschein loans, asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) programs, International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA)-based swaps and derivatives, (secured) repos, structured covered bonds, repackagings, secured note programs, asset-based lending, factoring and supply chain financings, as well as portfolio transactions.
Nick has a wide range of experience in capital markets, clearing, securities settlement, and tax issues related to derivatives and financing transactions. He regularly advises on regulatory questions regarding financial products, including European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), Capital Requirements Directive/Regulation (CRD IV/CRR), Solvency II, Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), and the German Capital Investment Act (Kapitalanlagegesetz), and regulatory investment restrictions under the Investment Ordinance (Anlageverordnung).
Nick is recommended by JUVE for structured finance transactions. He has (co-)authored several articles on securitizations and loan funds in Germany and also ran a webinar series on debt funds in Germany.
Experience
Additional Publications
- December 2019
Blockchain-Technologie in der Unternehmensfinanzierung - Spielerei oder Gamechanger? - November 2019
BAI Newsletter V/2019 – Wertpapiere auf der Blockchain: Auswirkungen einer neuen Assetklasse im Rahmen der Fondsstrukturierung - August 2018
BAI Newsletter IV/2018 - Blockchain und Asset Management
Speaking Engagements
- October 27, 2020
BAI (Bundesverband Alternativer Investments) Webinar - Das Gesetz zur Einführung von elektronischen Wertpapieren - das deutsche Wertpapier- und Depotrecht im Umbruch! - October 2, 2020
TSI Congress 2020 - Market talk: Crypto assets 4.0 – Consequences of asset tokenisation for the securitisation of these assets and preferred assets for tokenization - September 29, 2020
15. Fachsymposium Derivate & Recht - Digital Update - aktuelle Entwicklungen im Bereich Krypto Assets und Digitalisierung - October 9, 2019
WM-Seminar Recht der FinTechs - Blockchainbasierte Wertpapiertransaktionen - September 25-26, 2019
TSI Congress 2019 - Crypto assets: How important are cryptocurrencies, tokens, ICO and other types of digital assets for securitisation purpose? - June 13, 2019
Jones Day German Client Conference 2019 - Blockchain-The future is now - April 26,2018
ERA Seminar - Corporate Governance for Banks in the Post-Crisis Environment - January 16, 2019
Protos Blockchain Summit 2019 - International Investment Regulation and Privacy - January 16, 2019
Blockchain: A U.S. Perspective and Implications for the Banking Business - September 27-28, 2018
TSI Congress 2018—Securitisation and Asset-Based Finance in Times of Change - June 22, 2018
ERA Seminar - FinTech: regulatory and supervisory challenges from a national and supranational perspective - June 7, 2018
Jones Day German Client Conference 2018 - Blockchain-Hype or Revolution? Discovering the potential for the industry of tomorrow - April 17, 2018
Solar-Workshop: Energiewende - Blockchain - Kryptowährung - June 12, 2017
Jones Day German Client Conference 2017 - Blockchain Decoded 4.0: What It Is, How It Works and How It WillShape Financial Markets - September 28 & 29, 2017
TSI Congress 2017 - Credit funds vs. managed CLO–new market developments and key drivers - March 24, 2017
BAI (Bundesverband Alternativer Investments) Workshop Private Debt: Fond- and securitisation structures for German VAG and Solvency 2 investors to access the private debt market - September 8 - October 20, 2016
Webinar: Debt Fonds - Praxisreihe zu Aufsatz, Rendite und Strukturen & Co. - September 8 - October 20, 2016
Debt funds – a webinar series on structuring and practical issues as well as returns achievable with debt funds - June 14-16, 2016
Global ABS 2016 - January 21, 2016
Jones Day Breakfast - Credit Funds: A reality check - Taking the view of a management company (Kreditfonds: Grau ist alle Theorie – Die Praxis aus Sicht einer KVG) - January 21, 2016
Credit Funds: A Reality Check - Taking the View of a Management Company - October 9, 2014
Jones Day Banking & Finance Breakfast - Alternative Forms of Financing
- University of Augsburg (Dr. jur. 2004); Second State Examination (Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, 2000); Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (First State Examination 1998); University of London (LL.B. with honors 1996); King's College London (Diploma in Legal Studies 1995)
- Federal Republic of Germany and England and Wales
Recommended in Chambers FinTech (2020): extremely strong understanding of tokenisation and blockchain technology; clients say he is "very accessible and responsive, with great client focus"; "he goes the extra mile to understand the tech advances and the opportunities and limitations they bring — this is rare"
Recommended in JUVE Handbook since 2012/2013: "excellent lawyer and consultant," "very experienced in banking, very knowledgeable, very responsive"
- German and English