FinTech Magazine October 2020 | Page 113

Peter Weinstock , Partner , describes the law firm ’ s close collaboration with Quontic Bank as is it attempts to re-define digital banking .

HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH : NAVIGATING DIGITAL FINANCE

Peter Weinstock , Partner , describes the law firm ’ s close collaboration with Quontic Bank as is it attempts to re-define digital banking .
Originally founded in 1901 as Hunton & Williams and then subsequently rebranded following a 2018 merger with Andrews Kurth Kenyon , Hunton Andrews Kurth is an international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 20 offices spread around the world , including the US , Asia , Europe and the Middle East . “ Approximately 30 % of our revenue derives from financial services ,” Peter Weinstock , Partner , explains . “ We provide services to fintech companies , as well as to what we think of as partner banks and those advancing towards digital transformation . Hunton Andrews Kurth tends to think of these banks as being more like technology companies with banking ‘ wrapping around ’ them .” Although he considers his interest to lie with finance first and technology second , it is really the interaction between the two that stokes Weinstock ’ s passion for digitally-enhanced banking , “ I can ’ t think of any aspect of the economy that experiences more change ; financial services are such a big part of the economy and they ’ re forever evolving .” Although change in the legal sector is generally ( and necessarily ) a slow process , he acknowledges that COVID-19 has been a catalyst for accelerated , unprecedented developments . In this climate , Hunton Andrews Kurth strives to exemplify the same high-quality service it has maintained for over a century . According to Weinstock , this rests on two key pillars : responsiveness to the client ’ s needs and a creative approach that often ‘ reverse engineers ’ a particular need and then forms an actionable framework through analysis . This attitude , in combination with the firm ’ s far-reaching experience in the industry , has stood it in good stead for helping Quontic Bank as it attempts to re-define digital banking . Working closely together on a daily basis has led to a strong
Hunton Andrews Kurth
mutual understanding between the two companies , “ Part of helping the bank achieve its goals has been to think of Quontic Bank as friends and family ,” Weinstock says . “ Patrick Sells ( CIO at Quontic Bank ) has got a lot of energy and ideas . Our job is to help him channel those into the most productive avenues available .” In an industry which is becoming increasingly digital in its outlook , Quontic Bank , in Weinstock ’ s view , is on a sure course of not just joining the trend but actually leading it . “ It ’ s pushing the envelope on what ’ s doable from a digital standpoint and what it means to be a digital bank . Hunton Andrews Kurth doesn ’ t consider that the pace of digital transformation will slow down ; we foresee it continuing to accelerate .” The company is proud to be a true partner to Quontic Bank as it pioneers this exciting change and praises the integrity , intelligence and savvy of the executive ’ s leadership . “ They ’ re wonderful at including us at an early stage ,” Weinstock concludes . “ In the legal field , it ’ s much more expensive to correct a problem than to avoid it in the first place . Quontic Bank is very wise in that regard : it ’ s happier spending an ounce on prevention than a pound on cure .”