Ethan R. Buttner

Ethan R. Buttner represents major financial institutions in complex commercial matters, asset servicing transactions, and regulatory compliance. He advises clients on a variety of financial services transactions, including traditional securities custody, digital asset custody, fund accounting and administration, transfer agency services, and authorized participant agreements for registered investment companies, including exchange traded products and mutual funds, as well as middle office operations. With experience representing global financial institutions in both transactional counsel and litigation defense roles, Ethan brings a dual perspective that helps him identify risk while pursuing business objectives.

As in-house counsel at the Bank of New York Mellon, Ethan negotiated complex commercial contracts with high-profile clients across multiple business segments under tight deadlines. He played an active role in developing and maintaining form agreements for various service lines, and contributed to the launch of various digital asset initiatives. He also represents and advises program custodians in the negotiation with state sponsors, program managers, and investment advisors of retirement savings (SECURE Act) products, 529 college savings programs, 529A (ABLE) disability savings programs, and child savings account programs. He has deep experience representing a blue sky law service provider in the negotiation of its service agreements. He also led and supported mergers and acquisitions activity, including due diligence reviews, productions, and purchase agreement negotiations.

Ethan’s litigation background strengthens his advisory work; prior to joining The Bank of New York Mellon he was a member of the financial services litigation practice in an international law firm, where he defended financial institutions in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts across New York and New Jersey, handling individual and class action lawsuits involving consumer financial products. His courtroom experience includes dispositive motions, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and appellate briefing, as well as responding to regulatory investigations and subpoenas.