Brendan Cochrane

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Bcochrane@yklaw.us

(212) 837-2600

Location: New York, NY

Practice Areas & Industries:

Compliance & Investigations

Brendan Cochrane is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist with broad legal experience. He has advised on business law issues at international law firms in New York and Seoul, worked on compliance issues as a Legal Analyst for a Tier-1 Fortune 50 commercial and investment bank, piloted an anti-money laundering (AML) compliance program for a Bitcoin ATM company, and oversaw investigations into fraudulent Bitcoin and Ethereum transactions utilizing a leading blockchain forensics analytics tool. Brendan also holds a certification in blockchain technology.

Brendan is a frequent speaker on matters related to cryptocurrency, compliance, and investigations. He has served as a panelist for the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, the Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists, and as a featured speaker for the California Financial Crimes Investigations Association. Brendan also delivers guest lectures to colleges and universities.

Through a brief writing competition in which Brendan devised a novel legal theory, Brendan earned membership to his law school’s flagship law journal, the Wisconsin Law Review. Brendan continues to hone his writing these days via articles posted to LinkedIn discussing then nexus of AML, sanctions, and cryptocurrency.

Outside of work, Brendan travels every chance he gets (29 countries and 43 states thus far). A top graduate of the University Michigan, Brendan watches each-and-every Wolverines football game with great fervor and will proudly tell you he saw true potential in Michigan alumnus and 6th round draft pick Tom Brady. Boston Blockchain Association events keep Brendan on top of the latest developments in the blockchain space, providing a place close to home for Brendan to meet like-minded blockchain folk. Lastly, but certainly not least, Brendan enjoys learning Mandarin Chinese from his wife, an accomplished neuroscientist, and then trying to teach what she taught him to their young daughter.

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School (2013)
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (2007)

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts

Memberships

Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists

Languages

Korean (Basic)

Publications or Appearances

“Panelist – New Age of Digital Currency: How Sanctions Compliance Must Adapt (Webinar for Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS) – January 14, 2021”
“Speaker – The Proliferation of Cryptocurrency and the Changing Environment of Sanctions Evasion (California Financial Crimes Investigators Association) – March 16, 2021”
“Speaker – Blockchain Consolidation – ACAMS San Diego – Baja California – July 29, 2021”
“Guest Lecturer – Cryptocurrency, Money Laundering, and Investigations – Babson College – November 16th, 2021.”

Experience

Brendan’s recent experience includes:

Conducting an internal audit of a Bitcoin ATM company’s anti-money laundering compliance program; advising client on risks and potential controls.
Conducting a training on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and transaction monitoring for cryptocurrency startup personnel.
Drafting reports for law enforcement on results of cryptocurrency fraud investigation utilizing blockchain forensics analytics platform.
Researching algorithmic issues relating to a stablecoin’s price at a cryptocurrency exchange. Preparing a report on facts and possible causes of action.
Examining a FinTech company’s compliance and accounting internal reports; identifying ethical concerns for senior management.
Analyzing a broker-dealers internal communications relating to trading activity in response to FINRA communications in-order-to facilitate internal investigation.