Perkins Coie Expands Regulatory Depth with Addition of Former Acting OCC Chief Counsel Ted Dowd

WASHINGTON, D.C., (September 3, 2025) – Perkins Coie has strengthened its regulatory depth by adding Ted Dowd, former Acting Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.   

Ted joins fellow former OCC Director for Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Policy, James Vivenzio, which gives the firm’s clients access to two of the agency’s most senior former regulators, a unique advantage for companies across the financial services sector. 

Ted brings more than a decade of leadership at the OCC, where he directed legal strategy, licensing, and high-profile regulatory matters that shaped the trillion-dollar U.S. banking system.  He also played a leading role in the emergence and oversight of fintech, blockchain, and digital assets within the federal banking system. His experience expands Perkins Coie’s ability to help clients navigate complex regulatory, licensing, and enforcement challenges.  

“Banking and the delivery of financial services are rapidly evolving, both in traditional finance and fintech, and our clients need and expect the best guidance to succeed in a highly competitive and regulated marketplace,” said Molly Moynihan, firmwide chair of Perkins Coie’s Financial Regulation practice.  “Ted’s deep insights in shaping national banking law and policy will be a tremendous asset to clients who are navigating this complicated regulatory environment.”   

Joe Cutler, chair of Perkins Coie’s Fintech Industry Group, added: “Fintech and blockchain companies face an unprecedented combination of innovation, competition, and regulatory scrutiny.  With Ted joining Jim, we offer clients a rare mix of deep regulatory insight and strategic support to launch, scale, and operate confidently in today’s evolving financial services landscape.”  

At Perkins Coie, Ted will counsel banks, fintech platforms, crypto custodians, and private equity sponsors on bank chartering, mergers, regulatory approvals, enforcement response, anti-money laundering policy and sanctions compliance, and risk management.  He will also advise clients on digital asset strategies, building on the firm’s history of pioneering work in blockchain law and compliance.  

“I am excited to join Perkins Coie at this pivotal moment for financial services,” said Ted. “Working with my former OCC colleague Jim Vivenzio, I look forward to leveraging our combined experience to help clients navigate regulatory challenges and drive innovation in banking, fintech, and blockchain.”  

Ted is the 13th partner to join Perkins Coie in 2025, reflecting the firm’s continued growth and investment in building capabilities across high-stakes regulatory, litigation, transactional, and technology practices.  

Perkins Coie is widely recognized for its strength in fintech, payments, and blockchain. In the 2025 Chambers FinTech Guide, the firm earned top rankings in Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies (Band 1), FinTech Legal (Band 2), and Payments & Lending (Band 2), reflecting the depth and breadth of its capabilities across financial services innovation and regulation. Learn more about our capabilities here.