Celisa is counsel in the Business and Finance Department’s Financial Industry group and leads On Chain: Reed Smith’s Crypto & Digital Assets Group. Celisa has an extensive cryptocurrency and blockchain background and has covered legal and commercial matters in the United States and Asia. She has a wealth of experience in matters relating to blockchain technology projects and digital asset exchanges, platforms, dealers, and custodians.
Prior to joining Reed Smith, Celisa served as Vice President of Platform Distribution at the largest digital asset manager globally where she led the platform deal cycle with financial institutions, fintechs, private banks and wealth management firms. She also worked as general counsel and chief commercial officer for a Singapore-based digital asset exchange, subsidiary to the largest regulated digital asset exchange in Indonesia, where she oversaw regulatory, licensing and approvals, internal controls and compliance, and engaged with international regulators.
Celisa has also held banking positions with several major international financial services firms and practiced as a commercial litigation attorney at another global law firm representing clients across various industries including financial services, banking, energy and technology.