Digital assets are prevalent, appearing in financial portfolios, sports and entertainment experiences, they represent real world assets through tokenisation, are a means to trade (cryptocurrencies, stable coins and tokens), are proprietary valuables in video games, and help the art and fashion industries interact. The asset class is front and centre, malleable and continuously reapplied to the wider world.
Similarly real uses cases of blockchain technology, including for logistics, provenance of goods, from design to distributed ledger technology ensure digital assets have a healthy and evolving functionality.
The use of this asset class and technology continues to develop, both in commerce and at law and requires expert knowledge of the sector and experience of inherent issues that can arise.
How we can help
We advise blockchain natives, developers, service providers and intellectual property rich business looking to navigate their respective commercial, corporate and regulatory landscapes. We can also help more traditional businesses, including financial firms and banks with their transition into this sector, from the ground up.
Where things go wrong, we are strategically placed to rely on intellectual property and technology specialist litigators to achieve necessary and commercial results. Our multidisciplinary team includes market leading experts who have helped shape the sector and its corresponding legal frameworks. Our full-service practice offers client-centric, urgent and specialist advice across the breadth of the blockchain and digital assets sector.
Our services include:
Asset Recovery
Our experienced team recovers cryptocurrencies and digital assets following a hack, scam, payment of a ransom or any kind of misappropriation, in various or far-reaching jurisdictions and against household names where funds have been locked or access denied by platform providers. Utilising key relationships with both specialised investigators to track funds and identify the current custodians of assets, and contacts of key industry players, our aim is to recover funds without delay, and as cost effectively as possible. Where necessary, we obtain specialised injunctions on urgent bases, working with institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges to ensure smooth routes to recovery.
Complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes
We also lead and provide strategic advice on commercial litigation and intellectual property disputes which include blockchain technology such as matrimonial disputes involving digital assets or insolvencies involving cryptocurrencies. We also work with insurance providers to assist with recovery or the pursuit of illegitimate custodians and advise cryptocurrency exchanges on contentious matters.
Regulatory and compliance
We advise on regulatory compliance, business-related services, and the practical integration and use of cryptoassets across all regulatory bodies, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (MiCA).
From token classifications and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to advising on and guiding our clients through regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance, our sectoral understanding means that we can deliver clear advice and offer forward-thinking solutions to crypto-centric businesses including crypto exchanges, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), custodians, tokenisation platforms, and payment processors.
Commercial and corporate
We are strategically placed to advise a broad range of clients from entrepreneurs to large brands grow their business, develop innovation and navigate investment and corporate strategies.
Real estate
We facilitate real estate transactions where digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, are the consideration. Conducting necessary risk and compliance checks, including provenance of tokens, we are able to provide comfort to both buyers and sellers alike.
