On October 6, 2021, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco announced the creation of a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team ("NCET"), designed to lead complex investigations and prosecutions of criminal misuses of cryptocurrency, including crimes committed by virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and money laundering infrastructure actors. The NCET will be a central part of a nationwide enforcement effort to combat the use of cryptocurrency for illicit activities, including identifying areas for increased investigative and prosecutorial focus, such as financial institutions working with cryptocurrency.

Joseph Facciponti and Steven Feldman of Murphy & McGonigle’s White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance Counseling Practice were featured in a Law360 article published on October 8 entitled, "New DOJ Crypto Team Puts Exchanges In Hot Seat." Both attorneys provided insight into the U.S. Department of Justice’s recently announced National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) and what it means for cryptocurrency exchanges, infrastructure providers, and cybercriminals.

Elizabeth Lan Davis, Chair of the financial services law firm Murphy & McGonigle, has been selected as an honoree in the Washington Business Journal’s 2021 "Women Who Mean Business" Awards. Each year, the Washington Business Journal recognizes 25 women in the DC Metro area to receive the award.

Elizabeth Lan Davis, Chair of Murphy & McGonigle and a founding member of the firm’s Commodities, Futures & Derivatives Practice, was awarded the 2021 Pioneer Award by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area (APABA-DC). Ms. Davis attended the APABA-DC 2021 Awards and Installation Reception on Wednesday, September 29 to receive the award.

Financial services law firm Murphy & McGonigle will serve as a sponsor of the "Women, Diversity & Change on Wall Street" virtual summit. Katherine McGrail, the firm’s Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, will be speaking on the panel, "Representation: Diversifying the Talent Pipeline at Every Level." This panel takes place from 10:15 am to 11 am ET on October 6.

Stephen Gannon and Lisa Weingarten Richards of the firm’s Banking & Financial Services Practice authored an article titled "How Bitcoin Can Favorably Impact Climate Change (Despite What You May Have Heard)" for the Virginia Bankers Association. The team describes that the depiction of Bitcoin’s solely negative impact on the climate is inaccurate, and it neglects the current use of renewable energy used in the mining process. Emerging technologies are being introduced to make the process even cleaner, such as a natural gas vent capture facility in West Texas.