Firm News

May 22, 2018

Seyfarth Launches Blockchain Technologies Team

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(May 22, 2018) -- Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today the formal launch of its Blockchain Technologies team, an interdisciplinary group of lawyers who counsel clients and interface with regulators to address legal issues raised by blockchain technology.

Seyfarth’s Blockchain Technologies team comprises attorneys with a variety of legal practices – including Corporate, Securities, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Derivatives, Real Estate, Banking, International, Tax, Employee Benefits and Immigration Compliance – dedicated to helping clients navigate the uncharted and largely unregulated waters of this rapidly evolving technology, and corresponding regulation. The team has substantial experience representing entities using blockchain and have advised clients on an extensive range of legal operational aspects, including cybersecurity, data storage and transfer, software licensing and distribution, stored value transfer, initial coin offerings (“ICOs”), encryption, and law and regulation related to these and other business activities.

“A popular topic at water coolers across the globe, blockchain technology promises to change the way companies conduct a suite of business operations,” said Richard Lutkus, co-lead of the firm’s Blockchain Technologies team and a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). “As the demand for services related to this emerging technology increase, we have assembled a group of excellent legal talent poised to help clients navigate this new corporate environment.”

Members of the Blockchain Technologies team are thought leaders in trust modeling, capital formation, and cryptocurrency markets as well as teachers, authors and guides to clients within a range of industries. They have helped early adopters of blockchain technology work within regulatory frameworks and manage risks. Clients include many data-driven businesses, such as health care and benefits providers, financial institutions, hedge funds and other investment vehicles, insurance markets, clearing houses, and technology companies.

“The business community has continued to embrace blockchain technology, forecasting its impact on a wide array of industries,” said Angelo Paparelli, co-lead of the firm’s Blockchain Technologies team and a member of the firm’s Business Immigration practice group. “Facing an unfamiliar future enterprise, clients can engage our cross-disciplinary team for practical solutions to the variety of issues created by this technological shift.”

To learn more about Seyfarth’s Blockchain Technologies Team visit: http://www.seyfarth.com/BlockchainTechnologies .

The Blockchain Technologies team is one of the first initiatives of Seyfarth’s Future Enterprise, a multi-disciplinary cross-departmental resource for in-house legal and business leaders to navigate issues related to emerging technologies. Last week, Seyfarth released the key findings of its Future Enterprise survey. See full survey results and verbatims at https://www.futureenterprise.com/home#h-survey.

About Future Enterprise

As emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies become more common and the needs of the massive multigenerational global workforce begin to shift, business and legal leaders must invest in strategies that will support building new capabilities at the cross-section of people power and machine power. Future Enterprise by Seyfarth Shaw is a multi-disciplinary cross-departmental resource for in-house legal and business leaders to navigate issues related to those emerging technologies. It leverages each and every department, practice group and industry group in the firm. https://www.futureenterprise.com/.

About Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Seyfarth Shaw has more than 850 attorneys in 15 offices providing a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, corporate and real estate. Seyfarth’s clients include over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and reflect virtually every industry and segment of the economy. A recognized leader in delivering value and innovation for legal services, Seyfarth has earned numerous accolades from a variety of highly respected industry associations, consulting firms and media.