Dr. Nick Wittek

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Dr. Nick Wittek has a unique skill set of combining structured finance, derivatives, and asset management experience with technological innovation. With 20 years of experience, he is a go-to adviser for financial institutions, asset managers, institutional clients, and fintechs to advise on the structuring, regulation, and documentation of structured finance transactions and the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and blockchain in this field and beyond.

He has an extensive background working on securitizations (ABS/asset-backed securities and ABCP/asset-backed commercial paper), loan funds, Schuldschein loans, ISDA-based (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) swaps and derivatives, repos, covered bonds, repackagings, MTN-programs (medium-term note), asset-based lending, factoring and supply chain financings, as well as related clearing, settlement, and regulatory issues including the new German law on electronic securities (eWpG).

Nick is part of the Jones Day FinTech task force. He has advised market participants on the use, implementation, and regulatory aspects of DLT and blockchain in the financial and corporate industry sector including (utility and security) token issuances, stable coins and central bank digital currencies (CBDC), tokenization, crypto brokerage, crypto custody, digital assets, and digital identities and implications resulting from the draft Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). He has advised on a number of market first and award-winning transactions.

Nick is recommended by JUVE for structured finance transactions and by The Legal 500 and Chambers for fintech work. Nick is part of the Platform Industry 4.0 legal working group and coauthor of the Industrie 4.0 platform conditions. He has also (co)authored several articles on securitizations, debt/loan funds, and blockchain.

Experience

  • AllUnity obtains first German MiCAR license as stablecoin issuerJones Day is advising AllUnity GmbH, a German joint venture of DWS, the asset-management division of Deutsche Bank, Flow Traders and Galaxy Digital, to obtain the first license in Germany for the issuance of a regulated stablecoin (named EURAU) under the new European Market in Crypto Asset Regulation (MiCAR).
  • Baader Bank among first to secure MiCAR licenses in GermanyJones Day has advised Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft ("Baader Bank") in obtaining authorization to execute client orders in crypto-assets under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), as well as on the EU-wide passporting.
  • Parmaco (member of Partners Group) acquires majority stake in mobispace GmbHJones Day advised Parmaco Oy, a portfolio company of Partners Group, in the acquisition of a majority stake (51%) in mobispace GmbH, a German company specializing in modular design and construction of sustainable wooden buildings.
  • TotalEnergies acquires Quadra EnergyJones Day advised TotalEnergies SE in the acquisition of Quadra Energy GmbH.
  • Alternate capital provider refinances international hotel groupJones Day advised a leading alternate capital provider in connection with its debt refinancing of an international hotel group.
  • Portage Ventures (Sagard) leads $15 million Series A funding round of getquinJones Day represented Portage Ventures (Sagard), with participation from Horizons Ventures, embedded/capital and sino AG and angel investors such as N26 founder Maximilian Tayenthal and Scalable Capital founder Erik Podzuweit, in the $15 million Series A financing round of getquin, a social network for discussing and analyzing stocks, cryptocurrencies, and other investment opportunities.
  • Milliken & Company completes Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented Milliken & Company, an industrial manufacturer that is active in a breadth of disciplines, including specialty chemical, floor covering, performance, and protective textile materials, in connection with its private placement of Senior Notes and revolving credit facility.
  • Leading automotive components and systems supplier obtains $100 million senior secured term loan facilityJones Day represented a leading automotive components and systems supplier in connection with a $100 million senior secured term loan facility.
  • Deutsche Börse AG participates in €14.4 million strategic Series B financing round of HQLAx, a FinTech developing innovative DLT/blockchain solutions for liquidity managementJones Day advised Deutsche Börse AG in connection with the €14.4 million strategic Series B investment round of financing for Luxembourg-based FinTech HQLAx.
  • OakNorth refinances Staycity GroupJones Day advised OakNorth Bank plc in connection with its refinancing of the Staycity Group, an Irish-owned pan European aparthotel business with 21 properties across the UK, France, Ireland, Italy, and Germany.
  • J.F. Lehman acquires Global Marine GroupJones Day advised long-standing client J.F. Lehman & Company, a leading middle-market private equity firm focused exclusively on the aerospace, defense, maritime, government, and environmental sectors, in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Global Marine Group.
  • Ad hoc group of senior secured lenders advised in landmark restructuring of the syncreon groupJones Day acted for the ad hoc group of senior secured lenders in the landmark restructuring of the global logistics syncreon group which was implemented via English Schemes of arrangement, with chapter 15 recognition in the U.S. and CCAA recognition in Canada.
  • Exide Technologies completes $1.1 billion comprehensive new financing and recapitalizationJones Day represented Exide Technologies, a global leader in stored energy solutions for the automotive and industrial markets, in connection with a comprehensive new financing and recapitalization transaction.
  • Volkswagen Bank renews auto-loan securitization programme in compliance with STS requirements under EU Securitization RegulationJones Day represented Volkswagen Bank GmbH, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, as originator, in connection with an auto loan securitization programme for the issuance by Driver Master S.A. (acting with respect to its Compartment 1) of up to €10 billion asset-backed floating rate Class A Notes and asset-backed floating rate Class B Notes.
  • LBBW issues blockchain-based asset-backed securitiesJones Day advised Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), a universal bank and the central bank of the savings banks in Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, on its pilot project regarding the blockchain-based issuance and redemption of asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP).
  • Crestline Direct Finance provides $125 million senior secured term loan to subscription based online retailerJones Day advised Crestline Direct Finance, as administrative agent, collateral agent, and sole lead arranger, in connection with a $125 million senior secured term loan facility provided to a subscription based online retailer.
  • capsensixx completes IPO of Common Shares in Germany and LuxembourgJones Day advised capsensixx AG as issuer's counsel in its initial public offering of Common Shares in Germany and Luxembourg with a concurrent private placement in certain jurisdictions outside of the U.S. and subsequent listing of the entire share capital on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
  • Fintech company seeks advice on development of blockchain platformJones Day is advising a fintech company on the development of a blockchain platform.
  • KBC Bank provides credit facility to Capiton for acquisition of majority stake in GemacoJones Day represented KBC Bank NV in connection with a credit facility provided to Capiton, a German private equity firm, to finance the acquisition of a majority stake in Gemaco, a Belgian manufacturer of marketing and publicity materials.
  • MAHLE sells its industrial filtration business to Filtration GroupJones Day advised MAHLE in the sale of its industrial filter business to Filtration Group Corporation.
    • View All

    April 2025 Alert

    Developments in Crypto Regulation: DeFi Tax Reporting Repeal and SEC Disclosure Guidance

    April 2025 Commentary

    SEC Division of Corporation Finance: Certain U.S. Dollar-Backed Stablecoins Are Not Securities

    JANUARY 2025 Alert

    Understanding DORA: Digital Operational Resilience Act Now in Effect for Financial Entities and ICT Service Providers

    DECEMBER 2024 Alert

    EMIR 3 Published in the Official Journal of the European Union

    November 2024 Alert

    Approval of the Listing Act: Welcome Changes for Issuers of Debt Securities

    October 2023 Commentary

    France Tightens Registration Conditions for Digital Assets Service Providers

    APRIL 2023 Commentary

    EU and U.S. Regulatory Sandboxes: Groundbreaking Tools for Fostering Innovation and Shaping Applicable Regulations

    May 2021 White Paper

    Litigation and Regulatory Considerations and Risks for Financial Market Participants in a Post-Pandemic Society

    April 2021 Commentary

    NFTs: Key U.S. Legal Considerations for an Emerging Asset Class

    January 2021 White Paper

    2020 Anti-Money Laundering Year in Review
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • April 13, 2021
      Platform Industrie 4.0, initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, coauthor of the contract template for platform terms for Industrie 4.0 platforms.
    • 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

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • April 28, 2021
      New Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), WM Online – Seminar: Electronic Securities (eWpG) and Markets for Crypto-Assets (MiCAR)
    • April 14, 2021
      Industrie 4.0 IoT platforms and automated contracting and Distributed Ledger / Blockchain Solutions, panelist, HANNOVER MESSE Digital Edition
    • 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

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