Yi Qu, ’26, on Winning Team at Paul Hastings’ First-Ever Hackathon
Yi Qu, ’26, recently achieved a remarkable victory at Paul Hastings’ first-ever fintech hackathon, showcasing innovative legal thinking and deep collaborative spirit. The event, held virtually, brought together eighteen talented law students from top schools in the United States and the United Kingdom to tackle pressing regulatory issues surrounding digital assets such as cryptocurrencies.
Qu’s winning three-person team included students from Georgetown University Law Center and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Over four weeks, they conducted comprehensive research into the evolving global legal frameworks surrounding blockchain technologies, specifically focusing on the issuance and mirroring of traditional securities, such as stocks, onto blockchains. This approach is gaining momentum globally, notably in jurisdictions like Switzerland, known for its progressive regulatory environment.
“We explore potential pathways for the United States to legalize and regulate various approaches to on-chain asset issuance, highlighting the unique opportunities such developments present for enhancing shareholder participation and transparency,” Qu explained.
Participating in the hackathon involved rigorous virtual teamwork and meticulous preparation. Qu and her teammates spent many hours drafting and refining a comprehensive ten-page research paper. Their efforts were further guided by two virtual office-hour sessions with fintech attorneys from Paul Hastings, allowing the team to refine their approach and incorporate expert insights directly from practicing lawyers.
“This was my third law-related hackathon, but my first fully virtual experience,” Qu said. “It was incredibly rewarding to collaborate substantively with close friends—despite being at three different law schools across the country—on a topic we’re all deeply passionate about. Given our shared industry experience, we were especially excited to have a playground where we could test our ideas and receive real-time feedback from practitioners.”
Their hard work culminated in a compelling Zoom presentation before a distinguished panel of fintech attorneys from Paul Hastings. Qu’s team took first place.
The winning team members each received as a prize a complimentary dinner hosted by Paul Hastings. Qu will have her dinner in Washington, DC, where she will be working this summer for another firm, Davis Polk.
“I’m looking forward to connecting with fintech attorneys who are closely tracking—and helping shape—policy developments on the Hill under the new administration,” Qu said.