Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham & Watkins is a global law firm and leader in digital assets and Web3 legal services, founded in 1934. With more than 3,500 lawyers across 32 offices in 14 countries, the firm advises businesses and institutions that power the global economy.

Core Legal Services

Latham & Watkins operates at the leading edge of blockchain-enabled innovation, providing comprehensive legal counsel across transactional, litigation, corporate, and regulatory matters. The firm's digital assets and Web3 team works with innovators and investors to bring new digital assets, cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), crypto derivatives, market infrastructure solutions, and blockchain-based protocols to market.

The firm serves clients across the digital asset ecosystem including venture capital funds, tech companies, protocol developers, exchanges, marketplaces, entertainment and sports organizations, DAOs, cryptocurrency miners, institutional infrastructure providers, and financial institutions.

Key Strengths in Digital Assets & Web3

Latham combines sophisticated understanding of blockchain technology with commercial sensibility and ahead-of-the-curve regulatory insight. The firm's digital asset-focused financial regulatory team engages with regulatory bodies worldwide including the SEC, CFTC, FCA, BaFin, HKMA, and MAS. The team routinely represents clients facing government investigations and civil disputes relating to digital assets and cryptocurrency ventures.

When clients face government scrutiny, Latham marshals experienced litigators including former enforcement supervisors from major US and UK agencies. The team regularly advises on regulatory compliance for token launches, centralized and decentralized trading platforms, insider trading, market manipulation, and money laundering and sanctions compliance.

Digital Assets Practice Areas

The firm advises on decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, establishing and investing in DAOs, structuring compliant stablecoins and tokenized assets, all aspects of the NFT ecosystem, establishing and maintaining compliant exchanges and alternative trading platforms, investing in blockchain technology and digital assets through token structures, establishing derivatives and spot cryptocurrency trading platforms, obtaining virtual currency and money transmitter licensing, intellectual property concepts in Web3, integrating blockchain in video games, and establishing custodial solutions.

Market Recognition

Latham earned Band 1 rankings from Chambers FinTech 2026 for FinTech Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies (USA-Nationwide and UK-Wide) and Crypto-Asset Disputes (USA-Nationwide). The firm is recognized as "the absolute go-to firm for anything that is complex and requires fast turnaround times" and has "unparalleled" knowledge of digital assets and regulations according to Chambers UK 2024.

The firm was named Most Innovative Law Firm in North America 2025 by the Financial Times and has appeared on The American Lawyer A-List for 23 consecutive years. Latham earned the most Band 1 rankings for 11 consecutive years in Chambers USA 2025 with 90 Band 1 practice rankings and 96 Band 1 lawyer rankings.

Why Choose Latham & Watkins

The firm provides unwavering client focus, leveraging vast global resources to work relentlessly and efficiently. With elite capabilities across more than 60 disciplines, Latham delivers consistent excellence with flawless coordination across jurisdictions. The firm's true partnership approach ensures advice that meets legal needs and supports client success through strong teamwork across continents, languages, and time zones.