Jacqueline D. Shinfield (she, her, hers) Partner | Toronto

About Jacqueline

Jacqueline is co-lead of Blakes Financial Services Regulatory group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of regulatory compliance in the retail financial services and payments industry at both the federal and provincial levels. She provides advice to regulated financial institutions and non-bank institutions, money services businesses, foreign exchange dealers, mobile payments service providers, digital currency exchanges, crypto currency exchanges and others. She has extensive experience providing advice in respect of Canada's anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing legislation as well as Canadian sanctions legislation.

Jacqueline also has particular expertise in the payment and card industry and provides advice to those involved in all aspects of these industries, including credit card, stored value card and virtual card issuers, issuers and exchangers of digital currency, e-wallet providers, payment solution providers, program managers, payment processors, payment acquirers, payment networks and others involved in payment systems generally. She also provides a wide range of advice on regulatory issues with respect to the development of new payment products and distribution networks and on regulatory compliance with respect to payment systems legislation and consumer protection legislation.

Awards & Recognition

Jacqueline was named Person of the Year at the 2016 PX Payments Awards and was inducted into the Canadian Payments Hall of Fame. Payments eXchange is the Canadian organization that represents all sectors of the payments business in Canada (gift cards, prepaid cards, eCards, ePayments, mobile payments and transaction processing), and provides ongoing legal and statute updates that govern each aspect of the payments business.

In 2015, Jacqueline was named one of Paybefore's Top 10 Payments Lawyers. She is the only Canadian lawyer to receive this recognition.

Jacqueline is also recognized as a leading banking and financial services lawyer in the following publications:

Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2025
Lexology Index: Banking 2025 (Global Elite Thought Leader: Banking – Finance)
Lexology Index: Banking – 2024–2025 (Global Elite Thought Leader: Banking – Regulatory)
The Legal 500 Canada – 2023–2025 (Banking and Finance)
Chambers FinTech – 2021–2025 (FinTech Legal)
Chambers Global Legal Guide – 2021–2025 (Banking & Finance: Financial Services)
Chambers Canada Legal Guide – 2018–2025 (Banking & Finance: Financial Services Regulation)
The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2013–2025 (Banking and Finance Law)
Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers – Independently Rated Lawyers – 2024–2025 (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2024–2025: Consistently Recommended – Financial Institutions Regulation – Ontario; 2016–2025: Repeatedly Recommended – Banking & Financial Institutions)
Lexology Index Thought Leaders: Fintech & Blockchain 2024 (Fintech)
Lexology Index: Fintech & Blockchain 2024 (Global Elite Thought Leader – Fintech)
Lexology Index: Canada (2023–2024: Fintech & Blockchain; 2020–2024: Banking)
Lexology Index: Banking – 2021–2024 (Banking – Finance)
IFLR1000 Women Leaders – 2021–2024 (Canada)
Lexology Index Thought Leaders: Global Elite (2024: Fintech; 2021–2024: Banking – Regulatory; 2020–2022: Banking – Fintech)
IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial and Corporate Law Firms – 2017–2024 (Highly Regarded – Financial Services Regulatory)
Lexology Index: Fintech 2023
Global Banking Regulation Review – 2021–2023
Lexology Index Thought Leaders: GBBR – 2021–2023
Lexology Index: Banking – 2020–2023 (Banking – Regulatory)

Professional Activities

Jacqueline is a member of the Canada Advisory Board established by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. She is also a member of the Finance Advisory Board for Practical Law – Canada, established by Carswell, and is a member of the advisory board of Payments eXchange, a Canadian payments organization that represents all sectors of the payments business in Canada.

Jacqueline is a frequent speaker on the Canadian payment landscape and regulatory compliance in the payments arena.

Professional Appearances

Speaker : Regulatory Updates from a Legal Perspective
Canadian MSB Association Spring Training, Toronto, Ontario, June 4, 2025.
Speaker : FINTRAC Examinations
2025 Risk Mitigation Seminar, National Consulting Limited, Regina, Saskatchewan, May 27-28, 2025.
Speaker : Onboarding High-Risk Clients
2025 Risk Mitigation Seminar, National Consulting Limited, Regina, Saskatchewan, May 27-28, 2025.
Speaker : Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) New Regulations: Key Changes and Compliance Implications
ACAMS Vancouver Chapter, Vancouver, British Columbia, May 21, 2025.
Speaker : Practical Compliance Strategies and Examination Tips
Association of Certified Forensic Investigators, Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 2025.
Speaker : Privacy and Information Sharing
AML Ethics Workshop, Association of Certified Forensic Investigators, Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 2025.
Speaker : Regulatory Overview
AML Ethics Workshop, Association of Certified Forensic Investigators, Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 2025.
Co-speaker : Exploring Payments Canada Memberships: Implications for Credit Unions
Waves of Change National Conference, Canadian Credit Union Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 11-14, 2025.
Speaker : Compliance with Network Rules
Payments Compliance Conference, Electronic Transactions Association, Toronto, Ontario, May 13-14, 2025.
Speaker : Retail Payments Activities Act
Payments Compliance Conference, Electronic Transactions Association, Toronto, Ontario, May 13-14, 2025.
Speaker : Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA)
Payments Compliance Conference, Electronic Transactions Association, Toronto, Ontario, May 13-14, 2025.
Co-speaker : Politics and Payments
The 2025 Payments Canada SUMMIT, Canadian Payments Association Conference, Toronto, Ontario, May 6-8, 2025.
Co-speaker : Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Evolving Threats and Regulatory Responses
Northwind’s 38th Annual Financial Services Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, April 23-25, 2025.
Co-speaker : Keeping up with Payments Regulations
Symposium 2025, Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization Conference, Toronto, Ontario, April 24, 2025.
Co-speaker : A New Era in AML: The Rising Tide of Enforcement
Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC) Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, April 9, 2025.
Co-speaker : Canadian Payments Outlook – What’s Next?
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, March 27, 2025.
Speaker : Navigating Canada’s Regulatory Landscape: Key Expectations for 2025
TCAE Knowledge Series, Toronto, Ontario, January 25, 2025.
Speaker : The Changing Landscape: AML and RPAA Implications for Canadian Accountants
ADP Canadian Accountant Summit 2025: Powering for Productivity, Toronto, Ontario, January 22, 2025.
Speaker : Latest updates, trends and important information for MSB/PSPs
Canadian MSB Association Fall Conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 20-21, 2024.
Co-speaker : Stronger Together: Enhancing Compliance Through Information Sharing
ACAMS The Assembly Canada, Toronto, Ontario, November 6-7, 2024.
Co-speaker : LIGHTNING ROUND – How It’s Going: A Progress Report Two Years Post Cullen
ACAMS The Assembly Canada, Toronto, Ontario, November 6-7, 2024.
Moderator : Friction and Regulatory Challenges
Northwind’s Inaugural Financial Crime Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, October 21-23, 2024.
Moderator : Money Laundering in Canada
Northwind’s Inaugural Financial Crime Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, October 21-23, 2024.
Co-speaker : Registration timelines and process for the Retail Payment Activities Act
Canadian Payments Outlook Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, October 16, 2024.
Co-speaker : Fireside Chat – Faster Payments: Digitization of Money
TRANSACT Tech powered by ETA, Toronto, Ontario, June 12, 2024.
Co-speaker : Faster Payments
TRANSACT Tech powered by ETA, Toronto, Ontario, June 12, 2024.
Co-speaker : Panel Debate: Payments Modernization: Forging ahead with Canada’s pathway
Open Banking Expo, Toronto, Ontario, June 11, 2024.
Co-speaker : New Reporting Entities Under the PCMLTFA: Exploring Expanded Sector Regulations Related to Real Estate, Including Armored Car Services, Mortgage Lenders, Mortgage Brokers, and Private Lenders
Canadian Institute 23rd Annual Flagship Canadian Forum on AML & Financial Crime, Toronto, Ontario, June 5-6, 2024.
Co-speaker : Speed Legal: Keeping up with legislative developments in payments and financial services
Payments Canada Summit, Toronto, Ontario, May 29-31, 2024.
Co-speaker : Politics and Payments
Payments Canada Summit, Toronto, Ontario, May 29-31, 2024.
Speaker : Canada’s Legislation Affecting MSBs & PSPs
Canadian Money Services Association Spring Training Conference, Toronto, Ontario, May 29, 2024.
Speaker : Navigating the Canadian FinTech Maze
Truly Financial Tech Fest, Toronto, Ontario, May 23, 2024.
Moderator : Insight on Oversight: Regulating Canada's Financial Infrastructure
Canadian Lenders Association Bankers Summit, Toronto, Ontario, May 15, 2024.
Co-speaker : Securing the Future: Navigating AI and Cybercrime in the Evolving Financial Landscape
Transform – Canadian Credit Union Association Conference, Calgary, Alberta, May 5-8, 2024.
Co-speaker : RPAA: The Future Comes Into Focus
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, March 7, 2024.
Speaker : Navigating Canada's Regulatory Landscape: Key Expectations for 2024
TCAE Knowledge Series, Toronto, Ontario, February 24, 2024.
Co-speaker : Beneficial Ownership Transparency: Canada, the EU and Enablers
Transparency International Day of Dialogue, Toronto, Ontario, November 30, 2023.
Speaker : Updates and Changes to Canada’s AML Legislation Affecting MSBs
Canadian MSB Association 2023 Fall Conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 7-8, 2023.
Speaker : Changes to the anti-money laundering laws
Financial Services Regulatory Update – What You Need to Look Out For, Blakes Insight Webinar, Toronto, Ontario, September 21, 2023.
Speaker : Impact of Recent Developments Under AML Law and Policy - Prepare Now!
Infonex Anti-Money Laundering: Compliance 2023 (virtual), Toronto, Ontario, September 19-20, 2023.
Speaker : Updates and changes to Canada’s AML Legislation
TCAE Toronto Compliance and AML Conference, Toronto, Ontario, September 14, 2023.
Moderator and Co-speaker : New Retail Payments Framework
ETA Transact Tech and Policy Day, Toronto, Ontario, June 14, 2023.
Speaker : The 2023 Canadian AML Landscape: Regulatory and Compliance considerations for Credit Unions
Canadian Credit Union Association Webinar, Toronto, Ontario, May 18, 2023.
Moderator : The Regulation of Payments
The Payments Canada Summit, Toronto, Ontario, May 3-5, 2023.
Speaker : Retail Payment Activities Act and potential impact on MSBs
Canadian MSB Association, Annual Spring Conference, Toronto, Ontario, May 3-4, 2023.
Chair and Moderator : Interactive Panel Discussion: The Future of Compliance - Where Are Things Going?
Osgoode Certificate in Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management for Financial Institutions 2023, Module Five – Technology, Emerging Risks and the Future (Webinar), Toronto, Ontario, March 30, 2023.
Co-speaker : The Retail Payment Activities Act
Canadian Payments Outlook 2023, Blakes Webinar, Toronto, Ontario, March 29, 2023.
Chair and Speaker : Treating Customers Fairly and Market Content
Osgoode Certificate in Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management for Financial Institutions 2023, Module Three – Managing Regulatory Reviews, Exams and Complaints (Webinar), Toronto, Ontario, February 23, 2023.
Speaker : Anti-Money Laundering – Building an Effective Compliance Program
Osgoode Certificate in Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management for Financial Institutions 2023, Module Two – Building Blocks of an Effective Compliance Program (Webinar), Toronto, Ontario, February 9, 2023.
Speaker : Regulatory Expectation in 2023
Toronto Compliance and AML Enterprise (TCAE), The Knowledge Series Webinar, Toronto, Ontario, January 28, 2023.
Speaker : Anti-money laundering compliance
FinTech Commercial and Regulatory Update, Toronto, Ontario, December 13, 2022.
Speaker : Retail Payment Activities Act and open banking initiatives
FinTech Commercial and Regulatory Update, Toronto, Ontario, December 13, 2022.
Speaker : What MSBs should know about the Retail Payments Activities Act
Canadian Money Services Business Fall Conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 24, 2022.
Speaker : Cullen Commission Report on Money Laundering in BC - The Way Forward
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) Vancouver Chapter (webinar), Toronto, Ontario, November 1, 2022.
Moderator : Pay Up: Regulating Crowdfunding, Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Payment Processors
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) 10th Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crimes Conference – Canada, Toronto, Ontario, October 26-27, 2022.
Moderator : Great Expectations: A Look at the Cullen Commission’s Report and Recommendations
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) 10th Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crimes Conference – Canada, Toronto, Ontario, October 26-27, 2022.
Speaker : The Essentials of Suspicious Transaction Reporting!
Infonex Anti-Money Laundering: Compliance 2022 Conference (virtual), Toronto, Ontario, September 20-21, 2022.