Bob Zeglarski
Executive Director Digital Assets & Associate General Counsel | Senior Legal Executive Specializing in Institutional Tokenization, Securities Regulation & Digital Asset Strategy
Email: bobz@cutwaterlaw.com
Mobile: (615) 933-3545
Executive Summary
Where Law, Finance & Digital Innovation Converge
Bob Zeglarski is a senior legal executive driving digital asset strategy and institutional tokenization at the frontier of global financial infrastructure. With deep expertise spanning securities regulation, corporate governance, and blockchain technologies, Bob architects regulatory-compliant frameworks that transform how institutions engage with digital markets.
His career defines what it means to operate at the intersection of law and innovation — from securing a landmark SEC No-Action relief that unlocks a $100T+ addressable market, to de-risking high-growth enterprises by $20M+, to executing a business development strategy that delivered a 66x return on investment. Bob leads with precision, strategic foresight, and a track record that speaks for itself.
Career Highlights
- Landmark SEC No-Action relief secured
- $100T+ addressable market unlocked
- $20M+ in enterprise risk de-risked
- 66x ROI business development strategy
- 50+ vendor relationships managed
- Procurement cycle time reduced 50%+
Impact by the Numbers
A Record of Measurable Results
$100T+
Addressable Market
Unlocked via landmark SEC No-Action relief enabling DTCC's Tokenization Service launch in 2026
$20M+
Liability Mitigated
De-risked enterprise operations through strategic E&O coverage and pre-acquisition product restructuring
50%+
Faster Procurement
Reduced average procurement cycle time across 50+ vendor relationships at DTCC
Current Role
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)
Executive Director, Digital Assets & Associate General Counsel | December 2023 – Present | Jersey City, NJ (Remote)
Landmark Regulatory Achievement
Secured landmark SEC No-Action relief regarding the tokenization of custodied assets — enabling the launch of The Depository Trust Company's Tokenization Service in 2026 and opening access to a $100T+ addressable market. A defining moment in modern securities regulation.
Platform Launches & Innovation
Launched DTCC ComposerX platform suite, the DTCC Digital Launchpad industry sandbox, the DTCC Digital Asset Advisory Committee, and the DTCC Collateral AppChain — establishing DTCC as the institutional-grade standard for digital asset infrastructure.
Legal Architecture & Governance
Architects and oversees legal frameworks for diverse software licensing models (SaaS, PaaS, OSS, and Source Available Software), strategic pilots, proof-of-concept partnerships, and the digital asset patent portfolio. Directed end-to-end onboarding and lifecycle management of 50+ vendor relationships, reducing average procurement cycle time by more than 50%.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Collaborates strategically with governmental affairs, compliance, and regulatory teams to analyze evolving digital asset legislation. Advises product and engineering teams on incorporating regulatory compliance features directly into product design, bridging the gap between legal strategy and technical execution.
Previous Experience
General Counsel, Securrency, Inc.
Washington D.C. (Remote) | July 2022 – December 2023
Strategic Risk Leadership
As inaugural Chairman of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Bob integrated risk management events into day-to-day operations, aligned risk appetite with performance goals, and served as Compliance Officer for three regulated entities: a digital transfer agency, a digital broker-dealer, and a traditional broker-dealer.
Experience sourcing specialty E&O brokerage coverage for DLT-based products — a rare achievement in the digital asset sector — mitigating an estimated $20M+ in potential liability while simultaneously reducing annual premiums by 20% through strategic policy consolidation.
Acquisition Readiness
Bob de-risked corporate operations and product lines ahead of DTCC's acquisition by strategically spinning out high-risk DeFi services — mitigating an estimated $20M in potential regulatory exposure and preserving target acquisition valuation.
He coordinated the full due diligence process, managed cross-functional teams of auditors, specialist counsel, and executives, structured the deal room, and prepared corporate leadership for institutional-grade due diligence interviews. The process culminated in a successful acquisition by DTCC.
Career Progression
A 20-Year Legal Career Spanning Every Frontier
1
2004 – 2006 | McDermott & McGee, LLP
Associate Attorney managing 100+ active insurance defense files, first-chair jury trial experience, and a robust appellate practice in Millburn, NJ.
2
2006 – 2012 | Sanders Ortoli Vaughn-Flam Rosenstadt, New York, NY
Grew a securities practice through a 66x ROI marketing strategy. Pioneered pre-JOBS Act crowdfunding strategies. Advised client on capital formation, M&A, and public market transactions.
3
2013 – 2014 | Olender Feldman, LLP
Strategic C-Suite advisor on corporate governance and complex commercial contracting. Directed private securities offerings with a focus on Regulation D and HIPAA compliance integration.
4
2014 – 2021 | Cutwater Law, PLLC (Founder)
Founded and led a boutique entertainment and technology law firm in Nashville, TN. Represented blue chip entertainment properties and numerous film and television productions. Advised growth companies on capital formation and securities law.
5
2021 – 2022 | Frost, Brown, Todd, LLC (Partner)
Partner in the Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Group, advising premier crypto exchanges and DeFi protocols. Collaborated with firm leadership to execute the firm's entry into the California legal market through the acquisition of AlvaradoSmith.
6
2022 – 2023 | Securrency, Inc.
General Counsel directing institutional tokenization legal strategy, enterprise risk management, and regulatory compliance across three regulated entities. Orchestrated successful acquisition by DTCC.
7
2023 – Present | DTCC
Executive Director Digital Assets & Associate General Counsel. Secured landmark SEC No-Action relief unlocking a $100T+ market. Launched industry-defining platforms and digital asset infrastructure for global financial markets.
Domain Expertise
Core Competencies
Digital Assets & Blockchain
End-to-end expertise in blockchain, DLT, DeFi, and institutional tokenization — including token lifecycle management, smart contracts (ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-3643), stablecoins, and collateral mobility solutions.
Securities Law & Regulation
Deep command of the Securities Act of 1933, Exchange Act of 1934, Investment Company Act of 1940, and JOBS Act. Extensive experience with Reg D, Reg CF, Reg A, Rule 144A, and fully registered offerings.
Corporate Governance & M&A
Strategic counsel on mergers and acquisitions, reverse mergers, SPACs, de-SPACs, capitalization table management, corporate charters, and board governance including corporate secretary duties and fiduciary advisory.
Technology Licensing & IP
Comprehensive expertise in software licensing (SaaS, PaaS, OSS, Source Available), intellectual property strategy, and portfolio management for trademarks, service marks, and patents across complex multi-jurisdictional environments.
Technical & Legal Skills
A Rare Synthesis of Legal Depth and Technical Fluency
Legal & Regulatory
Securities Law: 33 Act, 34 Act, 40 Act, JOBS Act, Reg D, Reg CF, Reg A
AML/KYC, OFAC/Sanctions, Broker-Dealer Regulation, Compliance Frameworks
GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, Cross-Border Data Transfer, HIPAA Compliance Integration
SaaS/PaaS/OSS Licensing, Master Services Agreements, Statements of Work
D&O and E&O Insurance Placements, Enterprise Risk Management, BCP
Technical & Platform
Tokenization, Smart Contracts, ERC-20 / ERC-721 / ERC-3643, DLT/Blockchain
Cloud Platforms: AWS and Azure; SOC 2 Type II Compliance
Stablecoins, Collateral Mobility, Institutional DeFi Protocols
Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), Capitalization Table Management (Carta)
Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Copilot; M&A Due Diligence & Deal Room Structuring
Recognition & Leadership
Awards, Appointments & Industry Influence
🏆 DTCC Leadership Award
2024 — Recognized by The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation for exceptional leadership in advancing the digital asset division and landmark regulatory achievements.
🌐 IIF Working Group Member
2024 – Present — Member of the Cryptoassets Prudential Policy Working Group, Institute of International Finance — shaping global regulatory policy for digital asset markets.
🎯 Kore US Advisory Board
2025 – Present — Advisory Board Member at Kore US, Inc., providing strategic counsel on securities compliance, capital formation, and digital asset regulatory frameworks.
🌍 USAID Executive Lead
2021 — Executive Lead for the USAID Afghanistan Project, overseeing the export of anti-COVID disinfectants — demonstrating global operational leadership beyond legal practice.
⚖️ Attorney for Justice Award
2018 — Awarded by the Tennessee Supreme Court for Pro Bono Excellence, reflecting a deep commitment to access to justice and civic responsibility.
Academic Foundation
Education & Bar Admissions
1
Seton Hall University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2004 | Newark, NJ
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Res Ipsa Loquitur — demonstrating early leadership and commitment to legal scholarship at the most foundational level of his career.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Res Ipsa Loquitur — demonstrating early leadership and commitment to legal scholarship at the most foundational level of his career.
2
University of South Carolina, School of Public Health
Master of Science, 2000 | Columbia, SC
Thesis: Spectral Analysis of Postural Control: Relationship to Parkinson's Disease and Aging — reflecting the intellectual rigor and analytical depth that defines his legal and strategic work.
Thesis: Spectral Analysis of Postural Control: Relationship to Parkinson's Disease and Aging — reflecting the intellectual rigor and analytical depth that defines his legal and strategic work.
3
Wake Forest University
Bachelor of Science, 1996 | Winston-Salem, NC
Demonstrated leadership responsibility and community commitment from his earliest academic years.
Demonstrated leadership responsibility and community commitment from his earliest academic years.
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey — Admitted 2004
- New York — Admitted 2005
- Tennessee — Admitted 2014
Academic Distinction
Bob's academic background spans law, public health, and the biological sciences — a rare interdisciplinary foundation that informs his ability to synthesize complex technical, regulatory, and strategic considerations at the highest levels of institutional finance and digital asset markets.
Early Career Milestone
Pioneering Crowdfunding Law Before It Had a Name
Long before the JOBS Act codified equity crowdfunding into law, Bob Zeglarski was already architecting the legal frameworks that would define it. As an associate at Sanders Ortoli Vaughn Flam Rosenstadt in New York, he advised visionary technologists and issuers on innovative capital formation strategies that predated the regulatory infrastructure designed to support them.
His client work spanned Regulation D Rule 506(b) offerings, Regulation S offshore transactions, Rule 144A institutional placements, PIPEs, go-public transactions, Nasdaq uplistings, reverse mergers, and SPACs.
Pre-JOBS Act Crowdfunding
Advised Fundrise and other issuers on pioneering crowdfunding structures before federal legislation existed
$2M+ Annual Practice
Built and managed 75% of the firm's securities practice revenue independently
66x Marketing ROI
Generated outsized returns through strategic, self-funded business development
Connect
Engage with Bob Zeglarski
Professional Inquiries
Bob is an active voice in the digital asset regulatory landscape, contributing to institutional policy through the Institute of International Finance and advising the Kore US Advisory Board. He welcomes engagement from institutional stakeholders, fellow legal professionals, and innovators working at the intersection of law, finance, and blockchain technology.
Areas of Engagement
Institutional tokenization and digital asset regulatory strategy
Securities law and capital formation advisory
Enterprise risk management and M&A due diligence
Board governance, fiduciary advisory, and corporate governance
Speaking engagements and industry panel participation