News Release
McGlinchey, Barringer, Kouhoupt, Savoie Honored in 2026 Chambers FinTech Guide
Read Time: 3 minsMcGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the national recognition of its FinTech practice and of three Members, Jeffrey Barringer (Albany), Aaron Kouhoupt (Cleveland), and Robert Savoie (Cleveland), in the 2026 Chambers FinTech Guide. McGlinchey has added a newly-ranked attorney in the FinTech Guide each of the previous two years.
There are only 40 attorneys ranked nationwide in the Payments and Lending category, giving McGlinchey 8% of the total ranked attorneys in this field. Only 55 firms were ranked in FinTech Legal and 29 firms ranked in Payments and Lending. Jeff and Robert are two of only nine attorneys to be nationally ranked in both the Chambers FinTech Guide’s FinTech Legal: Payments and Lending section and in the Chambers USA Guide’s Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance) section.
McGlinchey is honored in:
- FinTech Legal – USA (Band 4)
- FinTech Legal: Payments and Lending – USA (Band 2)
- FinTech Legal: Payments and Lending – USA: Jeff Barringer (Debuting in Band 3)
- FinTech Legal: Payments and Lending – USA: Aaron Kouhoupt (Band 3)
- FinTech Legal: Payments and Lending – USA: Robert Savoie (One of six attorneys ranked in Band 1)
Client and market feedback to Chambers noted the depth and breadth of McGlinchey’s capabilities. According to clients:
“McGlinchey Stafford provides best in class regulatory advice. The firm is reliably knowledgeable on bleeding edge of the current regulatory issues.”
“Jeff is able to immediately focus on a complex problem and apply regulatory compliance principles to commercial settings.”
“Aaron provides superior thought leadership for AFC members in a sophisticated and professional manner.”
“Robert does an amazing job at providing us guidance and explaining things. He is really one of those that is so valuable and he is such a nice person.”
Jeff advises providers of consumer financial services on compliance with state and federal law. He has counseled clients regarding issues relevant to mortgage lending, mortgage servicing, manufactured housing finance, automobile finance, sales finance, secured and unsecured lending, commercial lending, real estate brokerage, and money services businesses. Jeff also advises clients regarding the scope and requirements of the New York Department of Financial Services’ cybersecurity regulations.
For 20 years, Aaron has held almost every legal and compliance position within a bank or FinTech, including Head of Legal at an alternative banking and digital payments company and in-house counsel at a peer-to-peer lending and alternative investing company. He also works with European companies to launch U.S. consumer finance products. Aaron’s Chambers recognition is especially impressive given that he only joined the firm as a Member in 2022 and did so from an in-house position. Aaron also serves as the firm’s Chief Privacy Officer.
Robert leads McGlinchey’s FinTech practice and has built a national reputation among clients and peers alike for his deep knowledge and skillful representation of companies in the FinTech space. His Band 1 ranking is particularly notable, as the other five Band 1-ranked attorneys represent some of the country’s largest and best-known law firms, and it is the highest possible ranking in the FinTech guide. Robert is also currently ranked (Band 3) in Chambers USA in the Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance).
Attorneys in McGlinchey’s national FinTech team work closely with FinTech companies, banks operating in the FinTech space, technology developers, and a broad range of financial services vendors and other providers – analyzing the business applications of new technologies, advising on the regulatory implications of using various algorithms and APIs – to help them comply with both federal and state financial services regulations.
Chambers rankings are developed through an independent and rigorous research process that uses client and market feedback to assess technical legal ability, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and other qualities. Inclusion at any level is a significant achievement. Learn more.