Central Bank Law Essentials

Wouter Bossu currently serves as Senior Counsel in the Legal Department of the International Monetary Fund, where he brings extensive expertise in central banking law, financial markets regulation, and financial stability frameworks. A Belgian national, his academic credentials include degrees in law from Leuven and business administration from Louvain-la-Neuve. Before joining the IMF, he gained valuable experience working in the legal departments of both the Belgian Central Bank and the European Central Bank, developing a deep understanding of monetary and financial law. His specialized knowledge encompasses the legal frameworks governing central banking operations, financial market regulations, and financial stability mechanisms. At the IMF, he plays a crucial role in providing legal advice on matters related to monetary policy, financial sector regulation, and central bank operations, while also contributing to the development of legal frameworks that support financial stability across IMF member countries.

Hans Weenink currently serves as Senior Counsel in the Legal Department of the International Monetary Fund, specializing in central bank governance, payment system oversight, and European law. His extensive career in financial law includes a significant role as Deputy Head of the Financial Law Division at the European Central Bank's Legal Department, where he focused on governance, institutional law, monetary policy, payment systems, and EU competition law. Before joining the IMF, he gained valuable experience at De Nederlandsche Bank working on governance issues and the legal preparation for the European Monetary Union. His career path also includes service at the European Commission as a competition lawyer and early experience at the Dutch Ministry of Finance. Weenink's academic foundation was established at the University of Utrecht, where he studied law. His comprehensive expertise in European financial law and central banking makes him a key figure in shaping international financial legal frameworks and policy development

Catalina Margulis currently serves as consulting counsel in the central bank team of the Financial and Fiscal Law unit at the IMF's Legal Department, bringing specialized expertise in central bank governance and legal frameworks. On secondment from the Central Bank of Chile, she provides critical assessments and technical advice on legal structures, governance mechanisms, and autonomy of central banks worldwide. Her impressive academic credentials include a Master of Law degree from Harvard Law School, a Diploma in Public Economic Law from Universidad de Chile, and a Law Degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. As a Chilean national, she combines her international legal education with practical experience in central banking, making her a valuable asset in the IMF's efforts to strengthen financial institutions globally. Her work focuses on enhancing central bank operations through robust legal frameworks and governance structures, contributing significantly to the IMF's mission of promoting financial stability and effective monetary policy implementation

Jess Cheng is currently a Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's New York office, where she specializes in fintech and financial services. Her distinguished career spans both public and private sectors, including roles as Senior Counsel at the Federal Reserve Board, Counsel at the International Monetary Fund, Deputy General Counsel at Ripple, and Counsel and Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She began her legal career at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. A graduate of Yale University (B.A. in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and Columbia Law School (J.D., Executive Notes Editor of Columbia Law Review), Cheng has established herself as a leading expert in payment systems, cryptocurrency regulation, and financial technology. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Uniform Commercial Code Committee of the American Bar Association's Business Law Section and chairs the task force on tokenized payments instruments. Her expertise includes advising on stablecoin legislation, central bank digital currencies, and modernized payment regulations, making her a key figure in shaping the intersection of technology and financial regulation.

Arthur Rossi is a Research Officer in the Financial and Fiscal Law Unit of the International Monetary Fund's Legal Department. His expertise spans central bank operations, financial technology, and monetary policy. Prior to joining the IMF in 2018, Rossi worked at the European Central Bank in the Institutional and Financial Law departments, focusing on asset-backed securities programs, payment systems, and central bank independence. His earlier experience includes providing tax advice to multinational companies at Ernst & Young in Paris. Rossi holds a Master's degree in law from La Sorbonne and a Bachelor's in law from Lyon III, where he graduated Cum Laude. At the IMF, he specializes in financial sector legislation, particularly in areas of fintech, payments, and central banking operations. His research and publications contribute to understanding the legal aspects of central bank digital currencies and the governance of central banks. Rossi's work bridges the gap between legal frameworks and evolving financial technologies, making him a valuable contributor to discussions on monetary policy and financial regulation in the digital age.