Top Crypto & Blockchain Lawyers

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DISCLAIMER

This information is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. The contents are neither an exhaustive discussion nor do they purport to cover all developments in the area. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how applicable laws relate to specific situations.

Regulatory concerns and constantly changing rules across various countries are why you need to work with a top tier blockchain law firm from the start. This could be the difference between having your project shut down, or facing massive penalties years later after you launch because of a clear violation. Whether you’re setting up your blockchain company, doing crypto influencer marketing, running paid NFT ads, or want guidance on upcoming regulatory issues, this is a list of the top web 3.0 law firms.

How we Rank these Crypto Lawyers

Who can you trust? Crypto, NFTs, & Blockchain technology are brand new industries where regulatory guidance and rules have not been fully established. This means that improper structuring, marketing, and creation can jeopardize an entire project. At Crowdcreate, we use a proprietary ranking formula based on these factors to decide who makes the list.

1.) Peer Scoring. We ask the experts and run surveys asking other founders, influencers, and investors who ranks at the top of their list.

2.) Number of Clients. The more clients, means the more experience they have.

3.) Quality Content. Are they thought leaders to political leaders and speak regularly on the news and at industry related conferences?

4.) Community Engagement. How active in the crypto, blockchain, DeFi, and NFT community are they?

5.) Technical Legal Ability. Does the law firm also have a technical background and experience with other tech companies?

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Looking for a Blockchain Marketing Agency? Crowdcreate is a leading crypto, NFT, web3, and metaverse marketing agency that’s helped some of the top projects in crypto create buzz, grow a digital community, and connect with influencers & investors. We’ve been called one of the best agencies in the world because we have the track record and case studies to prove it. Book a call with our team to learn more. ​
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These Blockchain Lawyers share their expert insights on many of the most frequently asked questions in the industry. They cover all aspects of blockchain law including but not limited to cryptocurrency securities law, blockchain law, NFT law, DeFI securities law, web 3.0 law, DAOs and more.

What do blockchain lawyers do?

How do I setup my cryptocurrency legal entity structure?

Are cryptocurrencies securities?

Does my blockchain or web 3.0 project violate securities law?

Should I incorporate in the USA or setup an international entity?

Are NFTs securities?

How do I setup a legal DAO?

What are the NFT copyright or intellectual property laws?

What is NFT legal ownership?

How is the SEC regulating cryptocurrency?

What is the crypto influencer marketing and promoter rules?

Top Crypto & Blockchain Law Firms

Gunderson
Gunderson Dettmer has more than 400 lawyers singularly focused on the global venture capital and emerging companies ecosystem, across ten offices in key venture markets throughout the world.
Goodwin Law 1
We are a global law firm with a history of working on groundbreaking matters, and an increasingly focused approach to working with clients in the financial, private equity, real estate, technology and life sciences industries.
Wilson Sonsini
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a law firm in the United States that specializes in business, securities, and intellectual property law.
Cooley
Cooley LLP is an American international law firm, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with offices worldwide.
Jones Day
Jones Day is an American international law firm. As of 2018, it was the fifth largest law firm in the U.S. and the 13th highest grossing law firm in the world. Originally headquartered in Cleveland.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a multinational law firm with offices in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
afslaw
ArentFox Schiff LLP is internationally recognized in core industries where business and the law intersect. With more than 600 lawyers and policy professionals the firm serves as a destination for an international roster of corporations, governments, private individuals, and trade associations. Located in the country’s major economic hubs and financial centers, we provide the critical counsel that our clients need to navigate problems found where business and the law intersect. We are proud to serve as go-to advisors to many of the world’s top companies.

Crypto Legal Authorities

Kyle Armstrong
Supervisory special agent from the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). He was a speaker at Harvard’s Blockchain, FinTech & Law Conference. He manages several Chicago Field Office programs and media relations for the FBI.
Chris Janczewski
Special Agent at the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). He was a speaker at Harvard’s Blockchain, FinTech & Law Conference.

Top Web3 Lawyer Influencers

Dax Hansen
He is a technology transactions and regulatory attorney who has pioneered blockchain, digital currency, payments, and fintech law. Dax has advised clients on many industry “firsts,” ranging from the first bitcoin exchanges and tokenized assets, to the first public company adoption of bitcoin as a reserve asset and the first mainstream non-fungible token (NFT) auction.
Georgia Quinn With Anchorage
Georgia Quinn is a hard working creative person looking for challenges to make both myself and the world better.

What Regulatory Issues are Facing Crypto Companies?

Blockchain delivers many benefits to users and companies. The virtual ledger be used to track the custody of documents, but it can also be used to store the documents themselves in a very stable and secure environment. Cryptocurrency and NFT companies can face classification issues as a security.

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Want to Get Connected to this List?

Crowdcreate is a leading crypto, NFT, web3, and metaverse marketing agency that’s helped some of the top projects in crypto create buzz, grow a digital community, and connect with influencers & investors. We’ve been called one of the best agencies in the world because we have the track record and case studies to prove it. Learn more how we can help you.
Marco Santori With Kraken
Marco is the Chief Legal Officer of Kraken Digital Asset Exchange. Known as the “Dean of Digital Currency Lawyers,” Marco is a recognized authority in the law and policy of blockchain technologies.
Jeffrey Amic
Jeff Amico is a partner on the crypto team at A16Z. He leads the firm’s Crypto Network Operations group, which focuses on protocol governance across the portfolio. Prior to a16z he at worked at AirSwap and practiced law at Cravath.
Dan Robinson With Paradigm
Dan Robinson is a Research Partner and the Head of Research at Paradigm, focused on crypto investments and research into open-source protocols.
Jerry Brito With CoinCenter
Jerry Brito is the Executive Director at Coin Center. He also teaches law at George Mason University.

What do blockchain lawyers do?

These attorneys understand blockchain technology at the deepest level and can navigate clients through complex decisions such as which platforms to consider (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger), whether permissioned or public blockchains are best suited for their specific use cases, as well as the particular legal .

Jessie Liu With Skadden
Jessie K. Liu focuses on government and internal investigations; audit committee representations; complex civil litigation involving government entities.
Elizabeth Stark With Lightning Labs
Elizabeth is a huge fan of open source, decentralized protocols. She taught at Stanford and Yale where her students studied peer-to-peer technology.
Amy Wu With Bootstrap Legal
Amy Wu is sa Partner at Lightspeed on the growth team where I make investments in consumer, crypto and gaming companies.
Cal Evans
Award Winning Cryptocurrency Lawyer and Strategy Expert | NFT, Utility Tokens, Security Tokens | Blockchain Gaming & Metaverse Expert
Kyle Roche With Roche Freedman LLP
Kyle is a founding partner of Roche Freedman. Recently named as one of New York Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars, Kyle is an experienced litigator known for leveraging his deep understanding of technology and economics to successfully represent clients facing complex and novel issues of law.
Richard B. Levin
Richard Levin is the chair of the FinTech and Regulation Practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Levin was one of the first lawyers to focus on the regulation of blockchain and digital assets and is considered a leader within the fintech industry.
Stuart Levi
Stuart Levi is a partner in blockchains and digital assets, intellectual property and technology outsourcing, and cybersecurity and privacy with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and Affiliates.
Adam Chernichaw
Adam Chernichaw is a partner with White&Case in the Technology Transactions Practice in the firm’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Group and is a member of the firm’s FinTech Leadership Team.

How will blockchain affect lawyers?

Lawyers can leverage blockchain technology to streamline and simplify their transactional work, digitally sign and immutably store legal agreements. Using scripted text, smart contracts, and automated contract management reduces excessive time spent preparing, personalizing and maintaining standard law documents.
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Looking to hire a Crypto & NFT Lawyer?

Crowdcreate are pioneers and veterans in Blockchain since 2017. We can help you get connected to the experts.

NFT Lawyers & Attorneys

NFTs are hotly debated topic amongst legal professionals and lack clear regulatory frameworks. 

Joshua Ashley
Joshua Klayman serves as the U.S. Head of FinTech and the Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets with Linklaters LLP. Klayman advises global technology firms and startups on issues related to blockchain and digital assets.
Alan D. Cohn
Alan Cohn is a partner with Steptoe & Johnson LLP and is co-leading Steptoe’s Blockchain & Cryptocurrency practice and the National and Homeland Security practice.
Brian Klein
Brian Klein is a renowned trial attorney and a former federal prosecutor who handled high-stake, civil litigation, and criminal and regulatory defense matters.
Jai Massari
Jai Massari is a partner in Financial Institutions and FinTech practices with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Massaris’ focus is security and financial regulation as well as digital assets and cryptocurrency.

The Howey Test for NFTs

The USA Supreme Court created this test to determine whether certain transactions qualify as securities or investment contracts. There are four main tests:

  1. it is an Investment of Money
  2. The investment of money is in a common enterprise
  3. There is a reasonable expectation of profit from the investment
  4. Any profit comes from the efforts of a promoter or a third party

 

Most NFTs pass 1, 2, and 4, however 3 is debatable and projects should always consult a legal professional, and that’s where Crowdcreate comes in. We are a Crypto & NFT consultant that can point you in the direction.

For example, if you buy Bitcoin, do you expect it to go up in value? Yes, however, the reason it isn’t a security yet is because there is no centralized form of ownership or organization; it is truly completely decentralized. There is no single party responsible for the increase in value.

There are projects getting exempted for certain reasons under Section 504. To play it safe, projects are doing proper KYC and accredited investor declarations.

Most Frequently Asked Questions for Crypto & NFT Lawyers

The USA Supreme Court created this test to determine whether certain transactions qualify as securities or investment contracts. There are four main tests:

  1. it is an Investment of Money
  2. The investment of money is in a common enterprise
  3. There is a reasonable expectation of profit from the investment
  4. Any profit comes from the efforts of a promoter or a third party

 

Most NFTs pass 1, 2, and 4, however 3 is debatable and projects should always consult a legal professional, and that’s where Crowdcreate comes in. We are a Crypto & NFT consultant that can point you in the direction.

For example, if you buy Bitcoin, do you expect it to go up in value? Yes, however, the reason it isn’t a security yet is because there is no centralized form of ownership or organization; it is truly completely decentralized. There is no single party responsible for the increase in value.

There are projects getting exempted for certain reasons under Section 504. To play it safe, projects are doing proper KYC and accredited investor declarations.

Top 10 Legal Mistakes Crypto & NFT Projects Make

Language matters. Projects need to be very careful when marketing and promoting themselves to avoid running afoul of security rules.

  1. The project owner active in the promotion of the asset on the secondary market
  2. The asset gives rights to share profits or dividends to the project
  3. The project owner promises a return of profit
  4. Project are not fully formed or operational before the mint
  5. If building out a network or some real world utility, there is nothing immediately available to the NFT holder. You cannot just have a promise. It is recommended you take the mint proceeds and reimburse yourself
  6. Projects talk about secondary sales marketplace. Never talk about OpenSea or a secondary
  7. Projects market the digital collectible as an asset or investment. These words give someone the impression that you will make money
  8. Projects give a promise of future utility or functionality. There needs to be a current use case.
  9. Owners market the digital asset for its potential increase and not its utility and functionality
  10. Projects incorrectly promote random airdrops that actually go to all holders on a consistent basis, This is a clear no go because it’s scheduled. If an actor knows they are getting a reward at a certain time, they are able to manipulate the market. It’s the quintessential pump and dump. A random airdrop needs to be truly random,

Hire a Crypto & NFT Legal Advisor

Crowdcreate is one of the top rated global crypto & NFT consulting companies. We specialize in helping crypto & blockchain projects from idea to acquisition. Our team of experts provide industry leading insights and advise on best practices and for all facets of development, infrastructure, marketing, and legal.

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