Crypto Disputes Demand the Best—We Deliver.

Sophisticated market participants in the blockchain and digital asset industry turn to Quinn Emanuel’s leading trial lawyers when billions are at stake, when novel legal theories are necessary, or when initial counsel has proven inadequate. From bet-the-company commercial litigation and SEC enforcement defense to complex bankruptcies, IP disputes, and cross-border actions, we handle the full spectrum of high-stakes digital asset matters. With dozens of attorneys experienced in cryptocurrency litigation and a track record that includes the industry’s most significant victories, we handle matters other firms can’t.

Our achievements speak for themselves: We secured the only complete defeat of the SEC in major crypto enforcement litigation. We obtained a four-month sentence for a client facing a three-year government recommendation in a $4.3 billion resolution. We achieved a Delaware Supreme Court reversal in a $1.2 billion crypto merger dispute and completely defeated a $175 million shareholder claim. With billions in recoveries and defeated claims, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions for bankruptcy estates and have defeated eleven-figure claims. Named “Fintech Group of the Year” by Law360, we’ve been battle-testing crypto legal theories since before BTC hit $5,000.

We Navigate the Industry’s Most Complex Challenges.

We excel at both developing new law regarding crypto-specific issues and traditional disputes within the digital asset space. We have been at the leading edge of Web3 decisions regarding token sale liability and global jurisdiction when events occur on chain. We also litigate founder disputes, employment claims, and broken deals with the same rigor. We distinguish legitimate arbitrage from market manipulation in digital asset disputes and investigations worth billions. We handle the inevitable disputes when “code is law” meets commercial reality—from governance battles that threaten billion-dollar protocols to defending DAOs against partnership liability theories to advising projects facing factfinders unfamiliar with blockchain. Whether it’s criminal defense for executives, securities fraud allegations, or bankruptcy recoveries employing novel structures, we bring sophistication from pre-litigation strategy through trial, successfully resolving cutting-edge issues for clients navigating the tension between decentralization ideals and legal reality.

Why the Industry’s Most Sophisticated Players Choose Us:

Proven trial victories - We actually try and win cases, from federal court to international arbitration.

Cross-cutting perspective - We integrate strategy from pre-suit through regulatory defense to complex commercial trials and ultimate appeals.

Global coordination - We seamlessly handle parallel proceedings across jurisdictions.

Fix-it expertise - We regularly rescue matters when complexity overwhelms initial counsel.

Deep bench - We deploy dozens of attorneys with substantive crypto experience, not just a dedicated few.

Our Digital Asset Litigation Leaders

Our digital asset practice leaders include individuals with extensive trial, regulatory, and white collar experience, and deep knowledge of digital assets.

Practice Co-Chairs

Dave Grable - Former federal prosecutor who has secured pivotal victories in digital asset disputes reaching eleven figures, including complete defeats of $175M and $1B+ claims and a Delaware Supreme Court reversal in a $1.2B merger dispute.

Emily Kapur - Stanford PhD economist and litigator who has brought quantitative rigor to crypto’s most complex disputes, with victories spanning SEC enforcement defeats, securities class action dismissals, and bankruptcy recoveries across dozens of significant matters.

Additional Key Partners

William Burck - Global Co-Managing Partner and former Deputy Counsel to the President who, together with Avi Perry, orchestrated the historic $4.3 billion Binance resolution and secured a four-month sentence for CZ against the government's three-year recommendation.

Sascha Rand - Seasoned litigator leading the firm’s engagement as Special Counsel to the FTX Debtors, with a track record of multi-billion dollar recoveries in Enron, Lehman Brothers, and other major restructurings.

Eric Huang - IP partner leading groundbreaking crypto patent litigation including the first major DeFi patent case and matters involving smart contract technology and frozen digital assets.

Sarah Heaton Concannon - Former Senior Trial Counsel at the SEC who has secured dismissals and declinations for blockchain platforms and NFT developers facing SEC enforcement and securities class actions, including defeating novel manipulation theories.

Alex Spiro - Former prosecutor specializing in white collar defense who brings his renowned trial skills to crypto’s most sensitive matters across criminal, regulatory, and civil forums.

These leaders are supported by dozens of attorneys across our offices with deep experience in digital assets, securities litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and international arbitration—ensuring we can staff any matter with the right expertise.