London based Chambers, one of the legal industries most prestigious ranking entities, has just published their list of top ranking attorneys in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. Chambers seeks to identify the “best law firms globally, whether they are multi-national or boutique.”
Law firms and individual lawyers are ranked by qualities such as professional conduct, technical ability, diligence, client service, commercial astuteness and more.
Blockchain is a relatively new sector falling in the Fintech industry. The fast-moving space has seen participants from both big law and boutique startups that strive to leverage an expertise that may not be available from other firms.
CI caught up with Joshua Klayman during Blockland Cleveland. She is an attorney ranked at the top of the list, who is a frequent legal source for our publication. In recognizing Klayman Chambers called her a “leading light in the blockchain space, particularly with regards to advising clients on regulatory issues.”
Klayman said she was truly honored to be included on this list of leaders all of whom she “deeply respects and admires.”
“I’m happy to see that the list includes several members of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance legal working group and Wharton Reg@Tech, whom I consider dear friends,” said Klayman.
Klayman noted that not all of the lawyers recognized by Chambers were from big law firms. In fact, two of the top three lawyers were former big law firm attorneys who launched boutique firms specifically to cater to the emerging industry:
“I have long believed that there is a need in the market for specialized legal practices. Traditional law firms do a lot of things really well, and, in this space, it is critical also to have firms with the skill sets and knowledge to help guide the blockchain industry. There is a place and a need for both types of legal practices, and we all benefit from collaboration across them.”
As the industry is so new and changing quite rapidly, Klayman added that “you [really] have to love it, to be passionate about it – to follow the twists and turns and perhaps shape the legal paths.”
The Top Ranked US lawyers for crypto/blockchain are as follows:
Band 1
- Lewis Cohen – DLx Law LLP
- Dax Hansen – Perkins Coie LLP
- Joshua Klayman – Inflection Point Blockchain/ Klayman LLC
Band 2
- Alan Cohn – Steptoe & Johnson LLP
- Brian Klein – Baker Marquart, LLP
- Lowell D Ness – Perkins Coie LLP
- Joel Telpner – Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Band 3
- Grant P Fondo – Goodwin
- Richard B Levin – Polsinelli PC
- Patrick Murck – Cooley LLP