Panoramic: Automotive and Mobility 2025
Gregory C. Lisa
Senior Counsel Global Regulatory
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Gregory Lisa uses his experience in anti-money laundering and consumer protection to help clients navigate the expectations of regulators and law enforcement agencies, both civil and criminal. If those investigations turn into enforcement actions or litigation, Greg draws on his background as a federal prosecutor and enforcement attorney to defend his clients. He specializes in financial services, especially emerging payments and technology (including artificial intelligence), virtual currency, and the gaming industry.
After five years as a Partner at Hogan Lovells, he joined a firm client—a decentralized finance (DeFi) crypto company—to become its first Chief Legal Officer. Greg handled the company’s government relations, litigation, compliance, corporate governance, and other legal functions. During his tenure, the company launched a crypto token, a market maker protocol, a non-fungible token, an offshore foundation, and a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). Greg also co-founded a separate conference company providing training on anti-money laundering, sanctions, and illicit finance issues in the casino industry.
Greg previously served as the Interim Director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Treasury Department's lead regulator for overseeing anti-money laundering laws. In his tenure, he supervised and conducted various investigations, exams, and enforcement actions across FinCEN's jurisdiction.
Prior to his work at FinCEN, he served in the Office of Enforcement at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). As one of its earliest members, Greg helped to "stand up" the CFPB's enforcement program. Prior to the Bureau, he served in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Section as a Trial Attorney, investigating and prosecuting RICO, money laundering, and other illicit finance cases.
Greg has testified before Congress regarding illicit finance issues involving cryptocurrencies.
Representative experience
Obtained favorable settlement – with minimal fine, no industry bar, and no admission of liability – in case brought by the SEC against founder & owner of major cryptocurrency platform.
Advised a casino regarding compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, know-your-customer requirements, and suspicious activity reporting requirements.
Represented a casino in an investigation by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), obtaining complete closure of the agency's investigation without penalties or findings of liability.
Drafted anti-money laundering compliance programs and policies for various gaming-related institutions, including major commercial and tribal casinos and online sportsbook operators.
Counseling a foreign financial institution regarding the applicability of U.S. anti-money laundering regulations to its business practices.
Represented cryptocurrency startup company before state financial services regulator, resulting in agency's concurrence that its regulations did not apply and complete closure of its inquiry.
Advising a casino regarding a "look-back" involving potentially suspicious transactions, concerns regarding customers' source of funds, and transaction monitoring issues.
Counseled a multinational, publicly traded manufacturer, with a presence on six continents, regarding trade-based money laundering and payments issues.
Representing an e-commerce company in responding to multiple regulatory inquiries relating to AML and money transmission regulatory compliance issues.
Advising a foreign private bank regarding anti-money laundering issues relating to its customers' source of funds.
Represented major FinTech company in investigation by Office of Foreign Assets Control for potential sanctions compliance issues, resulting in a "no-action" letter from OFAC.
Investigated and prosecuted the first civil enforcement action for Bank Secrecy Act violations ever brought against a virtual currency company.*
Supervised every civil enforcement action brought by FinCEN for BSA violations against banks, securities broker/dealers, casinos, and other financial institutions.*
*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude, 1996
- M.A., University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, 1993
- B.A., Georgetown University, cum laude, 1990
Bar admissions and qualifications
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New York