YPE NYC Hosts: Energy in Cryptocurrency Panel

1301 6th Avenue,New York NY 10019

22 September, 2022

Description

Less than a year ago, the global cryptocurrency market cap peaked at over $3 trillion, surpassing the GDP of nations such as India, the UK, France, and Italy. Despite its popularity, for the majority of people, the concept of cryptocurrencies remains incomprehensible: a foreign, ephemeral currency that only exists digitally. The reality, however, is that blockchain technologies, like cryptocurrencies, are disrupting more than just the digital and financial worlds. Join YPE NYC for a panel discussion with thought leaders across the cryptocurrency industry in academia, policy, law, and crypto mining, to learn how blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies are impacting the real physical world in a very real way – through energy! RSVP to attend this in-person panel discussion on Thursday, September 22nd during NYC Climate Week. Location: ArentFox Schiff LLP 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 42nd Floor Time: 6:30 - 8:30PM (including time for networking) Moderated By: Sarah A. W. Fitts, Partner, ArentFox Schiff Panelists: Richard Buckner, CEO & Co-Founder, Black Creek DigitalOmid Malekan, Explainer-in-Chief/Adjunct Professor, Columbia Business SchoolAndrew Webber, CEO & Founder, Digital Power OptimizationModerator and Speaker Bios Sarah A. W. Fitts, Partner, ArentFox Schiff (Moderator) Sarah represents US and global clients, including Japanese companies doing business in the United States and around the world. Her clients include power developers, investors, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity across a broad range of industries, such as power generation, publishing, biotech and medical devices, and automotive. Enjoying both business and the practice of law, she often acts as outside general counsel for clients without legal departments, in addition to advising on transactions. A recognized leader in her field, Sarah has received numerous industry accolades from her peers and clients. In the words of clients according to the 2020 Chambers USA guide, “She is a brilliant attorney who’s insightful, responsive, and creative. She has an easy way of dealing with situations: she just fixes things.” In addition to her corporate practice, Sarah has long been committed to public service and she actively lends her expertise to pro bono initiatives. She reads and speaks Japanese. Richard Buckner, Co-Founder & CEO, Black Creek Digital Richard Buckner is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Black Creek Digital. Before founding Black Creek, Richard helped lead special situations, SPAC and crossover investments at Fir Tree Partners, helping manage more than (~$2.5 billion AUM). Prior to his time at Fir Tree, Richard was a Vice President at Evercore on the NYC Energy M&A team. Prior to Evercore, Richard worked as an Associate for Greenhill & Co. where he oversaw M&A transactions in the energy sector. Over the course of his investment banking career, Richard has completed over $56 billion of M&A transactions. Richard began his career working as an engineer for ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66. Richard received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Omid Malekan, Explainer-in-Chief/Adjunct Professor, Columbia Business School Omid Malekan is the Explainer-in-Chief of blockchain technology. He’s the author of Re-Architecting Trust: The Curse of History and the Crypto Cure for Money, Markets, and Platforms as well as The Story of the Blockchain: A Beginner’s Guide to the Technology That Nobody Understands. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School where he lectures on blockchain and crypto. An eight-year veteran of the crypto industry, his writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and his own blog on Medium.com. Malekan advises individuals and corporations on the intersection of the old and new. Andrew Webber, Founder & CEO, Digital Power Optimization, Inc. Andrew is an experienced investor, finance professional, and innovator at the intersection of energy and blockchain technology. Prior to founding DPO, Andrew had 12 years of hedge fund and investment banking experience in roles at Goldman Sachs (investment banking), Surveyor Capital and Steadfast Financial (equity investing), and Fortress Investment Group (credit investing). Andrew has been a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa on the topic of general finance, and at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business on the relationship between cryptocurrency and energy. Prior to his Wall Street career, Andrew spent four years as an enlisted active-duty U.S. Marine, including several years at the Pentagon in a role requiring a Classified-Secret security clearance. Please note: ArentFox Schiff requires that all guest attendees are 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines OR 14 days after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Upon arrival, attendees will be asked to complete an attestation (proof of vaccination not required when signing)