In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, legal expertise is more critical than ever. As the crypto landscape expands, so do the complexities and legal challenges associated with it.
Whether you are a blockchain startup, an investor, or simply someone navigating the crypto space, having access to the best crypto lawyers and blockchain attorneys is essential.
Image source: Bloomberg
Recently, big blockchain firms have decided to seek legal counsel from some of the largest law firms in the world. Coinbase, Binance, and Bittrex are just some of the companies that have lined up major defense firms in their fight against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its growing list of digital assets it considers securities.
In this article, we present the 9 best crypto lawyers and attorneys. We'll explore these legal professionals' qualifications and expertise.
Here are the best crypto lawyers and law firms in 2024:
- Perkins Coie – The leading crypto law firm on tokenization and Bitcoin
- Selachii – A boutique law firm specializing in fintech and crypto
- Sullivan & Cromwell – A cryptocurrency-related legal and business counsel
- Latham & Watkins – A leading attorney team setting legal and regulatory precedents in Web3
- Mischon de Reya – A highly-specialized Blockchain Group
- Gibson Dunn – Legal counsel on virtual asset payment and custody models, NFTs, and trading platforms
- Debevoise – A global law firm with expertise in FinTech and crypto
- Paul Weiss – A dedicated multi-disciplinary team for digital assets
- Gordon Law – Law services for Bitcoin miners, NFT creators, Bitcoin ATMs, DAOs, Web3 startups, and more
The 9 best crypto lawyers and law firms in 2024
In the following sections, we are going to describe prominent law firms that employ a significant number of lawyers specializing in cryptocurrency.
1. Perkins Coie – The leading crypto law firm on tokenization and Bitcoin
Perkins Coie is a global law firm with over 1,200 lawyers in 25 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is led by Dax Hansen, a technology transaction and regulatory attorney who has been advising clients on crypto matters since 2013. Hansen is a recognized expert in the field and has been quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forbes.
- Location: Global
- Number of lawyers: 1,200+
- Crypto practice leader: Dax Hansen
- Expertise: Technology transaction and regulatory attorney, recognized expert in crypto law.
2. Selachii – A boutique law firm specializing in fintech and crypto
Selachii is a boutique law firm that specializes in digital currencies and blockchain law. The firm was founded in 2017 by two former lawyers from Perkins Coie, and it has since advised clients on a wide range of crypto matters, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), token sales, and regulatory compliance. Selachii is known for its deep understanding of the crypto industry and its ability to provide practical and cost-effective legal advice.
- Location: United States
- Number of lawyers: 10+
- Crypto practice leader: Simon Taylor
- Expertise: Cryptocurrency and blockchain law, deep understanding of the crypto industry, including NFTs, tokenization, and exchange regulations.
3. Sullivan & Cromwell – A cryptocurrency-related legal and business counsel
Sullivan & Cromwell is a global law firm with over 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is led by C. Andrew Gerlach, who is one of the leading securities experts. Gerlach is a highly respected lawyer with a deep understanding of the financial industry. The firm has been involved in some of the most important crypto cases, including the SEC's case against Ripple Labs and Coinbase.
- Location: Global
- Number of lawyers: 2,000+
- Crypto practice leader: C. Andrew Gerlach
- Expertise: Primarily focused on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, securities offerings, and similar transactions involving financial institutions.
4. Latham & Watkins – A leading attorney team setting legal and regulatory precedents in Web3
Latham & Watkins is a global law firm with over 3,000 lawyers in 40 offices worldwide. The firm's digital asset practice is co-led by Stuart Davis, who has represented clients in some of the most high-profile crypto fraud cases. Schmidt is a seasoned litigator with a proven track record of success. He is also a recognized expert in crypto regulation. The firm is currently embroiled in a high-profile case between Binance and the SEC, defending the exchange along with other heavy hitters in the law industry, including Gibson Dunn, Milbank, and WilmerHale.
- Location: Global
- Number of lawyers: 3,000+
- Crypto practice leader: Stuart Davis
- Expertise: Seasoned litigator with a proven track record of success, recognized expert in crypto regulation, particularly in the fields ofmarket infrastructure, tokenization, trading, and payments.
5. Mishcon de Reya – A highly-specialized Blockchain Group
Mishcon de Reya is a leading law firm in the UK with over 600 lawyers in 12 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is led by Tom Grogan, who has a deep understanding of a wide range of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain (and other DLTs). Grogan is a frequent speaker and writer on crypto matters, and he has been involved in some of the most important crypto cases, including the SEC's case against Telegram.
- Location: United Kingdom
- Number of lawyers: 600+
- Crypto practice leader: Tom Grogan
- Expertise: Former SEC official, considered one of the leading experts on emerging technologies, including AI, ML, and blockchain.
6. Gibson Dunn – Legal counsel on virtual asset payment and custody models, NFTs, and trading platforms
Gibson Dunn is a global law firm with over 2,400 lawyers in 35 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is led by Ashlie Beringer, who is a leading expert on crypto regulation. She has been involved in some of the most important cases in media and IT and has more than two decades of experience representing media and technology companies in periods of transformation and crisis. Beringer has beendesignated as a notable practitioner in the area of Privacy and Data Security for her work in FinTech crypto-asset disputes by Chambers USA.
- Location: Global
- Number of lawyers: 2,400+
- Crypto practice leader: Ashlie Beringer
- Expertise: Leading expert on crypto regulation, two decades of experience in IT, widely regarded as one fo the best lawyers in crypto-asset dispute cases.
7. Debevoise & Plimpton – A global law firm with expertise in FinTech and crypto
Debevoise & Plimpton is a global law firm with over 1,000 lawyers in 20 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is led by Gregory J. Lyons, who has advised clients on some of the largest financial deals in the world. Lyons is a seasoned securities lawyer with a deep understanding of the finance industry.
- Location: Global
- Number of lawyers: 1,000+
- Crypto practice leader: Gregory J. Lyons
- Expertise: Seasoned securities lawyer with a deep understanding of the financial industry.
8. Paul Weiss – A dedicated multi-disciplinary team for digital assets
Paul Weiss is a leading law firm in the US with over 1,000 lawyers in 13 offices worldwide. The firm's crypto practice is co-led by Jonathan H. Ashtor, who has represented clients in some of the most high-profile cryptocurrency and blockchain cases. Ashtor is a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of the Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Group. Paul Weiss’ cohort of cryptocurrency lawyers specializes in helping clients capitalize on business opportunities, identify challenges, and mitigate emerging legal risks of digital assets.
- Location: United States
- Number of lawyers: 1,000+
- Crypto practice leader: Jonathan H. Ashtor
- Expertise: Recognized by Bloomberg Law in its “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” for his work in Emerging Technology Transactions & IP.
9. Gordon Law – Law services for Bitcoin miners, NFT creators, Bitcoin ATMs, DAOs, Web3 startups, and more
Gordon Law is a boutique law firm that specializes in cryptocurrency and blockchain law. The firm was founded in 2018 by two former lawyers from Debevoise & Plimpton, and it has since advised clients on a wide range of crypto matters, including securities law, intellectual property law, and tax law. Gordon Law is known for its hands-on approach and its ability to provide practical and cost-effective legal advice.
- Location: United States
- Number of lawyers: 10+
- Crypto practice leader: John Shaw
- Expertise:A boutique law firm that specializes in cryptocurrency and blockchain law, hands-on approach and ability to provide practical and cost-effective legal advice.
Crypto lawyers FAQs
Is there such a thing as a crypto lawyer?
Yes, there is such a thing as a crypto lawyer. A crypto lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in the legal issues surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Some prominent examples of crypto lawyers include Stephen D. Palley, a litigation partner and co-chair of Brown Rudnick with deep knowledge of digital asset regulations in the US; Paul Grewal, Coinbase CLO and former CFTC commissioner; and David Silver, securities fraud and investment loss attorney.
What does a crypto lawyer do?
A crypto lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in the legal issues surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. They can help businesses and individuals with a variety of tasks, such as complying with cryptocurrency regulations, drafting and negotiating cryptocurrency-related contracts, representing businesses and individuals in cryptocurrency-related disputes, and providing legal advice on cryptocurrency taxation.
Can you sue a crypto scammer?
Yes, you can sue a crypto scammer. In fact, there have been a number of successful lawsuits against crypto scammers in recent years. If you are successful in your lawsuit, you may be able to recover your lost cryptocurrency, as well as damages for your losses.
Can I recover my scammed crypto?
It is possible to recover scammed cryptocurrency, but it is not always easy. The success of recovery efforts will depend on a number of factors, including the type of scam, the amount of cryptocurrency lost, and the resources available to the victim. One of the first steps you should take in order to recover your crypto is to file a police report and hire a lawyer who specializes in cryptocurrency law.
The bottom line
In the dynamic world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, having the right legal counsel can make a significant difference in safeguarding your interests and ensuring compliance with ever-changing regulations. If you don't necessarily require the services of an attorney but still want external counsel, check our list of the best crypto consulting companies, which specialize in Web3 and blockchain-related matters.
For a better understanding of crypto regulations and the question of whether cryptocurrencies are commodities or securities (which is one of the main themes in most major cryptocurrency lawsuits), check our explanation of the Howey test, which is a broad set of criteria that is used to determine whether an asset qualifies as a commodity or a security.
