Prediction Markets, Event Contracts & FinTech Lawyer
We provide expert regulatory advisory services to modern commodities and derivatives market participants, with a core specialization in the complex legal and operational landscape of Prediction Markets and Event Contracts. Our practice translates deep subject matter expertise, honed through 20+ years of leadership at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and hands-on private practice, into structured compliance and operational pathways for entities navigating the evolving legal landscape under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).
We advise Designated Contract Market (DCM) applicants, Swap Dealers, Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs), SEFs, Introducing Brokers, hedge funds and other market participants on regulatory structuring, risk governance, and trading oversight for emerging predictive and traditional derivatives products.
What We Do
Our firm counsels clients on the full lifecycle of emerging FinTech, modern commodities, and derivatives regulation:
- Emerging Products & Classification: Advising on the regulatory classification and jurisdictional boundaries between commodities, securities, financial derivatives (including crypto, FX, perpetuals/perps and swaps), and gaming, directly applicable to the US Prediction Market landscape.
- Listing & Compliance Architect: Architecting operational trading structures, including the design and implementation of institutional-grade governance frameworks, AML/KYC policies, and comprehensive compliance manuals (Part 38, AML/KYC, Dodd-Frank, FinTech).
- CFTC Policy & Rulemaking: Translating deep experience leading CFTC Swaps, Derivatives, and FX trading rulemakings (giving us a granular, operational view of a trading desk) into strategic advice on rule interpretation and interpretive guidance.
- Risk Governance: Establishing internal policies and procedures for risk governance, fiduciary oversight, and CCO responsibilities, ensuring adherence to the critical compliance frameworks expected of financial institutions.
- Enforcement & Surveillance: Guiding participants on managing regulatory risk, surveillance obligations, and trading conduct on predictive and perpetual derivatives platforms, including in rapidly developing areas such as insider trading on event contract markets.
Credentials in This Space
Our advice is grounded in unrivaled experience at the highest levels of modern derivatives regulation:
- 22+ Years of CFTC Leadership: Over two decades as a legal executive and senior leader across three divisions at the CFTC, including roles as Special Counsel and Acting Associate Director in the Market Participants Division. Peter has provided leadership on complex interpretations of the CEA, led Dodd-Frank Swaps rulemakings for FCMs and Swap Dealers, and FX trading, and established internal CFTC policies and procedures critical to the current operational standards for financial intermediaries.
- A Recognized Thought Leader: A deeply versed and frequently cited expert on the intersecting federal CFTC jurisdiction and the structure of Prediction Markets. We provide advanced interpretive guidance on the jurisdictional boundaries applicable to novel products (crypto, financial derivatives, event/prediction markets).
- Extensive Published Analysis: Peter has been quoted in more than a dozen recent media publications on the critical intersection of regulation and innovation:
- Insider Trading loopholes in Prediction Markets featured in S&P Global Market Intelligence, American City Business Journals, and MediaTalk Podcast.
- Regulatory Analysis of the US Prediction Market Landscape for entities like Kalshi (sports contract fault lines), perpetual crypto futures (fitting a square peg in a round hole), and decentralized market accessibility, published across platforms including TheHustle.co/Yahoo Finance, ReadWrite, and DeFi Rate.
Who We Represent
The firm represents diverse clients across the prediction markets and FinTech ecosystem, including:
- Regulated Intermediaries: Entities applying for, or operating as, DCMs, FCMs, and SEFs, requiring advice on regulatory pathway navigation and market structure.
- Investment Groups: Hedge funds and investment groups seeking specialized advisory on complex CFTC/SEC compliance, risk governance, and emerging FinTech product structuring.
- Market Participants: Firms requiring expert counsel on cross-border regulations (MiFID II), complex swaps interpretations (ISDA), and novel crypto/predictive derivatives.
Contact
If you are navigating the complex regulatory intersection of Prediction Markets, Event Contracts, and modern FinTech, contact Peter Sanchez Guarda Consulting at (202) 817-1851 or petersanchezguarda@gmail.com for specialized regulatory counsel.