Stephen Gardner
About Stephen Gardner
Stephen Gardner serves as the Chief Legal Officer at Zero Hash, where he has worked since 2022. He has extensive experience in legal and compliance roles, particularly in the areas of digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Work at Zero Hash
Stephen Gardner currently serves as the Chief Legal Officer at Zero Hash, a position he has held since 2022. Prior to this role, he worked as the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel from 2019 to 2022, and as the Deputy Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel from 2018 to 2020. His tenure at Zero Hash spans four years, during which he has focused on legal and compliance matters related to digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Education and Expertise
Stephen Gardner earned his Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, completing his studies from 2009 to 2012. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business/Economics from Winthrop University, which he completed from 2005 to 2008. Gardner possesses expertise in KYC Verification and Global Regulatory Compliance, particularly in the context of digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Background
Before joining Zero Hash, Stephen Gardner worked at several law firms and financial institutions. He was a Regulatory Attorney at BuckleySandler LLP from 2012 to 2014 and an Associate at Ulmer & Berne LLP from 2014 to 2017. He also served as a Senior Associate in Advisory at KPMG US for seven months in 2017-2018. His early career included a role as a Legal Intern at Morgan Stanley from 2010 to 2012 and a Teaching Assistant for Property Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2012.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Stephen Gardner has developed a strong background in contract negotiation within the financial services sector. He has also gained significant experience in Bitcoin-related legal and compliance matters, contributing to his role in shaping compliance frameworks in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.