Gowling WLG, a leading multinational law firm, has announced that it has become one of the first law firms in Canada to launch a dedicated Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group.

The group will work closely with the firm’s broader Fintech practice and newly announced Insurtech Group. It comprises of a number of specialist “crypto” teams with different legal focuses — including capital markets, tax, intellectual property and litigation. The group will offer clients a broad range of legal services to help them overcome the latest challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.

The group will focus on a number of areas related to blockchain technology, such as initial coin offerings (ICOs), smart contracts, crypto-currency exchanges, digital wallets, capital markets transactions, investment funds, regulatory compliance and consumer protection issues.

Usman Sheikh, Gowling WLG partner and head of the firm’s Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group in Canada, said that the firm has been at the forefront of the blockchain space.

“As the regulatory space surrounding blockchain continues to mature, legal obstacles can make it difficult to fully embrace the benefits of the technology,” he said. “We’ve leveraged our sophisticated understanding of both the technology and the surrounding legal context to help numerous clients navigate this complex area. We look forward to building on that reputation by continuing to advise businesses, institutions and other organizations on their blockchain strategies.”

Gowling WLG is a co-founding member of the Blockchain Research Institute led by Don and Alex Tapscott and was instrumental in the public listing of the very first blockchain company in the world. In addition, it has organized and sponsored a number of events tailored to educate attendees on both the opportunities and legal complexities surrounding blockchain, including the recent ETHWaterloo — the world’s largest Ethereum hackathon, which was attended by more than 400 leading developers from around the world.