Iris Xie advises clients from financial services and fintech industries on a broad range of government and internal investigations, criminal and civil enforcement proceedings, and complex litigation matters.

Iris draws on a sophisticated understanding of enforcement and regulatory trends in both emerging and traditional financial markets. She regularly represents international and public corporations, financial institutions, boards, and senior executives in:

  • Government investigations and enforcement matters involving the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and other federal agencies
  • Federal securities class actions
  • Complex civil litigation matters in federal and state courts 
  • Arbitrations and mediations over high-stakes business disputes

Iris advises clients across a range of highly regulated industries, including banking and financial services, technology, and e-commerce. She is a go-to resource on cryptocurrency and Web3, advising clients on a range of compliance, litigation, and enforcement matters at the forefront of regulatory developments involving digital assets and blockchain technology. Her recent cryptocurrency matters include investigations by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC), and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) across multiple statutory and regulatory regimes. 

A native Mandarin speaker with deep roots in the Chinese market, Iris frequently represents China-based and Mandarin-speaking clients, bringing a cross-border perspective to their highest-stakes commercial litigation and regulatory matters.

Iris is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee and the New York Office leader of the Parent Lawyers Group. She also dedicates significant time to associate development at the firm.    

Iris' experience includes representing:

  • The Futu Holdings Limited in a federal securities class action and related proceedings
  • TransUnion LLC in a federal data privacy class action in the Northen District of California, achieving full dismissal
  • US Pharma Lab, a global pharmaceutical company, in a trade secret dispute in the Southern District of New York, achieving dismissal with prejudice for lack of jurisdiction
  • A stablecoin payment company in a grand jury investigation for potential AML violations
  • Executives of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges in multi-agency investigations and enforcement proceedings, as well as federal class actions
  • Senior executive of a major US financial institution in high-stakes investigations by the SEC and FDIC, as well as a federal securities class action
  • Ready Coffee, a New York-based start-up company, in contract disputes in the New York Commercial Division, achieving substantial dismissal on summary judgment and on appeal
  • The British Bankers’ Association in all US litigation relating to allegations of manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), achieving full dismissal at the pleading stage
  • Qihoo 360, a leading China-based technology company, and its founder in a federal securities class action, achieving substantial dismissal of claims
  • GigaCloud Technology, a global B2B e-commerce platform, and its directors and officers in a federal securities class action, achieving substantial dismissal of claims

Bar Qualification

  • New York

Education

  • JD, Georgetown University Law Center, 2015
    cum laude
  • BA in Psychology, University of Richmond, 2012
    summa cum laude

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Chinese (Mandarin)