Duncan B. Douglass

• Represented numerous card issuing financial institutions in the negotiation of new credit, debit, and prepaid card issuing and processing relationships with all major payment card networks and processors.
• Counseled clients in the negotiation of payments acceptance and transaction processing and acquiring relationships.
• Provided extensive product development and regulatory compliance advice to a leading provider of B2B and C2B platform-based financial services in connection with the rollout of multiple product offerings in the U.S. and internationally.
• Represented a private equity firm in its bid to acquire a leading global merchant acquirer.
• Advised one of the nation’s leading non-bank payment services companies in the development of innovative products and in the structuring and negotiation of various processing relationships with retailers, financial institutions, and third party service providers/vendors.
• Counseled major payment network operators in multiple domestic and international strategic alliance initiatives.
• Represented a provider of digital currency custody and platform services in connection with regulatory compliance and product development.
• Assisted a leading provider of digital wallet-based C2C, C2B and B2B funds transfer and payment services in various aspects of product development, regulatory compliance and establishing strategic partnerships.
• Developed network rules and participation agreements for a leading provider of real time payment transfers.

Duncan Douglass co-leads Alston & Bird’s Payments & Fintech Group and focuses on transactions, product development, and regulatory issues related to retail and wholesale payment systems and products. He is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© and Chambers FinTech. He serves as chair of the ABA’s Consumer Financial Services Deposit Products and Payment Systems Subcommittee. Duncan is editorial board chairman and a regular contributor to Thomson Reuters’ FinTech Law Report.

Emerging Payment Services

Duncan represents numerous bank and fintech clients with product development, implementation, and compliance issues related to emerging and evolving payment products and systems, including digital currency, and real-time and mobile payments.

Payment Card Services

Duncan counsels payment card issuers and service providers in regulatory compliance matters, in structuring card issuance programs, and in negotiating co-branding, program manager, issuer processor, and sales/distribution agent agreements. He advises merchants, processors, and acquirers in regulatory matters and in negotiating sponsorship, acquiring, and processing agreements. Further, Duncan counsels PIN and signature-based card network operators in the structuring of partner relationships and in the development and implementation of network operating rules and procedures.

ACH and Check Services

Duncan advises financial institutions, processors, and merchants with ACH and check-based payments, including negotiating agreements on behalf of third party service providers, third party senders, retailers, and financial institutions related to the authorization, acceptance, and processing of ACH and check-based payments.

Bar Admissions

• Georgia
• Florida

Education

• Duke University (J.D., 2000)
• University of South Florida (M.P.H., 1997)
• Cornell University (B.A., 1995)