With more than two decades of experience, Brian Christiansen is recognized as one the country’s foremost financial services lawyers. Based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office, he counsels U.S. and international banking organizations, nonbank financial services firms and their investors and counterparties on all types of regulatory, transactional, compliance and enforcement matters.
Brian often handles multifaceted and novel matters in the financial services industry. He has helped clients structure and execute acquisitions, investments and corporate transactions, obtain charters, raise capital, develop new products, implement compliance programs, conduct internal investigations and resolve enforcement actions. Brian routinely represents clients before the OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve and state banking departments.
Brian has been recognized in Chambers USA as “a highly skilled transactional and regulatory attorney, who offers specialized counsel to financial services firms,” with clients noting he is a “phenomenal lawyer” and “knows how the regulators think.” He was also featured in the IFLR 1000 as a “market leader” in the Financial Services Regulatory category.
Updated Oct 2025
Veritex Holdings in its $1.9 billion sale to Huntington Bancshares.
Israel Discount Bank in its sale of an approximately 15% equity stake in Discount Bancorp to Gallatin Point Capital.
A large non-U.S. bank and financial technology company on strategic and regulatory matters in connection with its entry into the U.S. market.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in connection with its global strategic alliance with Jefferies Financial Group.
- Wells Fargo on the sale of its rail leasing business and $4.4 billion portfolio of rail lease assets to a newly formed joint venture between GATX Corporation and Brookfield Infrastructure.
- Government and regulatory
- Financial Services
- Financial services
- Technology and telecommunications
- Fintech
- Digital Assets
- J.D., with honors - George Washington University Law School - Member, The George Washington Law Review - 2002
- B.S. - University of Virginia - Commerce - 1999
- District of Columbia - 2002