ILF - Institute for Law and Finance

7th Digital Financial Services Forum on the topic "Navigating PSD3 & PSR – The Future of Payments" held on 9 June 2026

The Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe University Frankfurt), in collaboration with Freshfields and the Center for Financial Studies, hosted its 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: “𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗦𝗗𝟯 &𝗣𝗦𝗥 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀” 𝗼𝗻 𝟵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 which brought together EU policymakers and high-level industry representatives to discuss the future of payment regulation and innovation.

The forum opened with welcoming remarks delivered by Ms. Janina Heinz, Partner at Freshfields, and a keynote address by Ms. Lídia Pereira, Member of the European Parliament and Shadow-Rapporteur for PSD3 and PSR, who outlined the EU's new payments rulebook and the regulatory vision underpinning the forthcoming framework. Ms. Mathilde Bonneau, Director of International Payments Policy at PayPal, then addressed the practical implications of the new rules, with a particular focus on liability, fraud prevention, strong customer authentication and the operational challenges facing payment service providers.

Three fireside chats formed the core of the afternoon program. The first, moderated by Mr. Daniel Klingenbrunn, Principal Associate at Freshfields, examined the growing role of stablecoins in the payments ecosystem, featuring Mr. Benedikt Faupel, Lead Public Affairs of Bitpanda, and Mr. Patrick Hansen, Senior Director for EU Strategy & Policy at Circle. The second, moderated by Ms. Eva Schneider, Principal Associate at Freshfields, explored the use of artificial intelligence in payments, with Mr. Matti Salakari, Head of EU Government Relations at PayPal, and Ms. Amy Aixi Zhang, Lead Product Counsel at Ramp, discussing how agentic AI is transforming payment processes. The final session, moderated by Ms. Alicia Hildner, Counsel at Freshfields, took a broader look at the future of the payments landscape, with Ms. Evelyn Bueno, Global Regulatory Counsel at SumUp, and Dr. Patrik Pohl, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Cash Management Germany at Deutsche Bank, reflecting on market trends and strategic priorities for the years ahead.

The forum provided a valuable platform for dialogue between regulators, legal experts and industry practitioners at a pivotal moment in the development of European payments policy. Many thanks to all speakers and participants! 👏

https://www.ilf-frankfurt.de/ilf/news/7th-digital-financial-services-forum-on-the-topic-navigating-psd3-psr-the-future-of-payments-held-on-9-june-2026

Our following 2 ILF - Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) LL.M. Finance students give more insights into their mandatory internships completed from Feb to Apr 2026. 👏

Faith Chemobo at the European Central Bank's Directorate General SSM Governance & Operations’ SSM Enforcement and Sanctions Division: "I got the opportunity to work under the SSM Enforcement and Sanctions Division at the European Central Bank, where I gained hands-on experience through research, hands on tasks, shadowing supervisors, and engaging with policy and regulatory work of banks. This gave me a deeper understanding of how banking supervision ensures compliance, accountability, and the integrity of financial institutions. With strong support from experts and supervisors, the experience significantly strengthened my practical skills and helped solidify the direction of my thesis. Beyond the technical work, the internship was also enriched by a truly multicultural environment, where internal events and daily interactions allowed for meaningful cultural exchange and connection with colleagues from across Europe, expanding my professional network.

A memorable moment was meeting Ms. Christine Lagarde at the International Women’s Day event on financial literacy, ‘Closing the Gender Gap.’ A woman I deeply admire and trust in the financial sector. Her advice stayed with me: ‘Take risks, it will pay off eventually.’ It was also inspiring to connect with young women like me in the financial sector who are confident in pursuing what they love. In your 20s, you may get the opportunity to intern at the European Central Bank, through the Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe University Frankfurt). Regardless of where you come from, take it, maximise every day, embrace the chance to learn as much as possible, do not be afraid to ask for work, there is so much to do there and connect with remarkable people from across the EU.”

Iroda Bekmurodova worked in “Acquisition and Leverage Finance” at Baker McKenzie under the supervision of partner Mr. Matthias Töke: “My time in the Banking & Finance at Baker Mckenzie was highly rewarding and gave me invaluable insight into acquisition and leveraged finance transactions. Under the supervision of Mr. Matthias T**e, I worked on multiple transactional matters, which greatly improved my understanding of deal structuring, the growing role and priorities of private equity firms and debt funds in the market, and the way acquisition economics and mechanics are addressed in LMA documentation. I had the opportunity to contribute to live projects as well as to carry out case study reviews. I believe my course on Law of Acquisition Finance taught by Dr. Martin Philipp Heuber became an excellent foundation, making it easier for me to navigate the various aspects of the work with greater confidence.”

https://www.ilf-frankfurt.de/ilf/news/insights-of-llm-finance-students-who-completed-their-mandatory-internships-from-february-to-april-2026

"Women in Law and Finance" Symposium held on 20 May 2026

On 20 May 2026, the ILF - Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) hosted its special “Women in Law and Finance” Symposium in the Commerzbank Lecture Hall at the House of Finance of Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. The event brought together approximately 60 female students, alumnae, and distinguished guests from the fields of law and finance for an inspiring evening of discussion and networking. 🙌

At the beginning of the event, ILF students Ms. Rachel Roddy and Ms. Peixin Bai welcomed the participants, panelists, and moderator on behalf of the ILF. The panel discussion focused on professional career paths, leadership experiences, and gender-specific opportunities and challenges in the legal and financial sectors. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Maria-Therese Bless (A&O Shearman) and featured the following distinguished panelists: Ms. Andrea van Almsick (tradias GmbH), Ms. Miao Lin (ACT Applied Carbon Technology GmbH), Dr. Ulrike Binder (Mayer Brown), Dr. Hildegard Bison Bison (BP Europa SE), and Dr. Gökce Uzar Schüller (GvW Graf von Westphalen). 💪

The event was designed as an interactive forum encouraging open dialogue and exchange between students, alumnae, and experienced professionals. Participants gained valuable insights into international careers in law and finance and discussed the importance of professional networks, diversity, support and mentorship.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, ILF students Ms. Daphné Zeyer and Ms. Katie S. Liyi Sun thanked the prominent speakers and invited all guests to a get-together in the foyer of the House of Finance. The informal reception, held in a relaxed atmosphere with snacks and refreshments, enabled participants to continue their discussions and engage in personal conversations with the panelists, moderator, and fellow attendees. The evening came to an end at 11:45 p.m, with many happy participants who have taken the valuable opportunities during the evening to connect with one another and build stronger relationships for the future! ❤️

The Institute for Law and Finance, in co-operation with Freshfields and the Center for Financial Studies, invites you to join our 7th Digital Financial Services Forum. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝘀 ‘𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗦𝗗𝟯 & 𝗣𝗦𝗥 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’. 💰

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟮𝗽𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟱𝗽𝗺 𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁. 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲.

🔊This year’s edition will focus on the rapidly evolving payments landscape, driven by technological advances and the continued development of regulatory frameworks. Against the backdrop of PSD3 and PSR, the forum will bring together EU policymakers and global industry players to discuss the regulatory vision, its practical implications and key market trends, as well as how innovative technologies such as agentic AI and stablecoins are shaping the payments ecosystem.

Confirmed speakers and panelists to date include:
✅Philipp Bohrn – Managing Director at Bitpanda,
✅Mathilde Bonneau – Director, International Payments Policy, Government Relations at PayPal,
✅Evelyn Bueno – Global Regulatory Counsel at SumUp,
✅Patrick Hansen – Senior Director, EU Strategy and Policy at Circle,
✅Patrik Pohl – Managing Director, Head of Corporate Cash Management Germany at Deutsche Bank,
✅Matti Salakari – Head of EU Government Relations at PayPal.
Information on the full agenda and the virtual setup will be shared closer to the event.

📝Register Now at https://www.ilf-frankfurt.de/seminars/upcoming-conferences-guest-lectures/details/7th-digital-financial-services-forum

Here are our next 4 ILF - Institute for Law and Finance students giving some insights into their mandatory internships completed during the semester break from Feb to Apr 2026:

➡️Luiz Otavio F. Barbosa da Cunha worked with the Capital Markets practice group at A&O Shearman under the supervision of partner, ILF lecturer and ILF board member Dr Stefan Henkelmann: "Working at A&O Shearman in Frankfurt was a unique career experience. There, I experienced the day-to-day operations of a top-tier global law firm and observed and understood the different dynamics and relationships between a European firm and the firms and companies in Brazil where I had previously worked. The internship allowed me to combine the theoretical knowledge acquired from lectures with my previous professional experience and apply it in real-life scenarios. Through this, I grew both professionally and personally while further developing my legal skills."

➡️Gonzalo Delgado Cerecedo was at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) Corporate & Investment Banking, working under the supervision of Leonid Belgorodski: "I had the opportunity to support the Lending & Capital Markets team on cross-border bilateral and syndicated loan transactions, review LMA-based credit documentation and assist in securities lending transactions. It was an experience that allowed me to bridge my background in Mexican capital markets with European banking practice in a truly international environment. None of this would have been the same without an outstanding team, which are knowledgeable, collaborative, and always willing to share their expertise with me, including an ILF alumna whose professional trajectory and generosity were a constant source of inspiration."

➡️Pia Weber interned in "Financial Markets and Products" at Fieldfisher under the supervision of partner and ILF lecturer Dr. Rüdiger Litten: “From early mornings overlooking the Frankfurt skyline to late afternoons diving into real-world cases, my internship at Fieldfisher has been nothing short of energizing. Every day brought new challenges, sharp insights, and brought me closer to the real pulse of business law. I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of matters and for different clients, which gave me broad insight into the day-to-day work of a large commercial law firm."

➡️Georgios Zervakis, worked at Linklaters under the supervision of partner and ILF board member Andreas Steck: “I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to complete my internship with the Financial Regulation Group at Linklaters. During this time, I contributed to projects across various areas of financial regulation, including banking regulation, investment funds and anti-money laundering. This experience allowed me to deepen my understanding of complex regulatory frameworks and gain valuable insight into their practical application. I would like to sincerely thank the ILF for providing me with this opportunity and enabling me to gain valuable experience alongside leading practitioners”.

ILF Students and Staff at Frankfurt Skyliners Basketball Game on 26 April 2026

On the evening of Sunday, 26 April 2026, our ILF - Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) students and staff went to watch a thrilling game between the Frankfurt Skyliners and Alba Berlin at Süwag Energie ARENA in Frankfurt. For many of our students, it was their first time watching an official basketball game and they were amazed by the unique atmosphere that the fans created.

Even though at the end of the day, the Skyliners did not win the game, the event was an unforgettable experience for our students where they had the opportunity to bond, learn about one of Frankfurt’s most important sports teams and even personally meet a Skyliners player!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an enjoyable evening!

Cooperation Agreement with the School of Law of University of Namibia signed in March 2026

The ILF - Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) and the School of Law of the University of Namibia have concluded a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening academic exchange and deepening collaboration in teaching and research. The agreement was finalized on site in Namibia during Prof. Manfred Wandt’s visit to the university together with Prof. Dr. Peter Reusch and Lawyer Mr. Gerhard Bugla and it was signed on 30 March 2026. It provides for future cooperation in areas such as faculty and student exchange, joint research, conferences, seminars, and academic publications. This partnership will initially run for a period of five years and may be further developed by mutual agreement. 👏

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗟𝗙
The Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe University Frankfurt) will be hold a special “women only” event bringing together distinguished female professionals from the fields of law and finance on 20 May 2026, 8 pm. The evening held at the House of Finance will feature a panel discussion in which the speakers share insights into their careers and reflect on gender-specific challenges and opportunities in the workplace. 👏

➡️ 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮-𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀
Maria-Therese Bless is a lawyer at A&O Shearman, specializing in German and EU financial regulation, with a particular focus on the digital transformation of financial markets and crypto-assets regulation

Panelists:
➡️𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸
Andrea van Almsick is General Counsel of tradias GmbH, a leading company in digital asset and crypto trading. An accomplished professional in the financial sector, Andrea van Almsick has built a strong international career in asset management,

➡️𝗠𝗶𝗮𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗻
Miao Lin is the managing director of ACT Applied Carbon Technology GmbH, a company active in the wind energy sector. Alongside her executive role, she oversees the company’s legal and compliance functions. Prior to joining ACT, Miao Lin gained extensive experience in capital markets and M&A.

➡️𝗗𝗿. 𝗨𝗹𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿
Dr. Ulrike Binder is a Partner at Mayer Brown and heads Mayer Brown’s German Corporate Group. She is a transactional lawyer advising German and international clients on complex transactions with a special focus on the financial industry.

➡️𝗗𝗿. 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻
Dr. Hildegard Bison serves as Assistant General Counsel, Customer & Products ESA and MOW Refining, and is a Member of the Management Board at BP Europa SE. She brings extensive in-house legal and leadership experience within the energy sector, advising on complex regulatory, commercial, and strategic matters across European and international markets.

➡️𝗗𝗿. 𝗚𝗼𝗸𝗰𝗲 𝗨𝘇𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿
Dr. Gökce Uzar Schüller Schuller is an Associated Partner and lawyer at GvW Graf von Westphalen. She advises companies on market entry and business operations in Turkey and heads the firm’s Turkey Desk.

✅The event is designed as an interactive forum, encouraging open discussion and exchange. It aims to inspire participants, provide guidance on career development, and foster a strong professional network among female students and alumnae of the ILF. 💯

We look forward to welcoming you to an inspiring and empowering event.
https://www.ilf-frankfurt.de/.../women-in-law-and-finance
Registration: https://form.jotform.com/252615231944354

𝗜𝗟𝗙 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 👏

We are glad to welcome our students back to classes for the Summer Semester on Monday, 13 April 2026, after an 8-week break (during which our LL.M. Finance students completed their mandatory internships and our LL.M. International Finance students attended the customized Legal and Management Training Program)!

For the next few months at the ILF - Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt), we wish them an exciting and engaging learning experience through the acquisition of new skills, deep understanding of the courses, and of course continuing personal growth!👍

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗟𝗙 𝗟𝗟.𝗠. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!

We are happy to announce that our students of the Class of 2025/26 are completing their mandatory internships at many leading international law firms, major banks, consultancy and professional services firms as well as very important European institutions such as the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Deutsche Börse Group during the period from February to April 2026 and in the summer of 2026. 👍

It through such mandatory internships organized by the Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe University Frankfurt) that our students can apply the specialized knowledge which they have gained by attending the courses held during the first semester of the LL.M. Finance program at the ILF. In addition, it was a unique opportunity for them to enhance their skills and expertise by working with top experts in the fields of law and finance in the global legal and financial hub of Frankfurt. Of course, networking plays a big role during such internships too! 👏

We sincerely thank all our internships partners for their continuous and strong support year after year!💯🤝A&O Shearman, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, BBVA, Bird & Bird, Clifford Chance, CMS, CMS Hasche Sigle, Debevoise & Plimpton, Deloitte Legal, Deutsche Börse Group, Deutsche Bundesbank, European Central Bank, Fieldfisher, Freshfields, Fried Frank, GvW Graf von Westphalen, Hengeler Mueller, ING Deutschland, Linklaters, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose Fulbright, Watson Farley & Williams, White & Case LLP