EntityEngine
Law Firm

Latham & Watkins

Global BigLaw leader for digital assets, tokenisation, and Web3 regulation

Los Angeles, USAEst. 19343,000+ lawyers, 40+ global offices
Visit website

Quick Facts

Best For
Global operators needing comprehensive regulatory, transactions, and litigation support across multiple jurisdictions
Pricing
Premium BigLaw rates — bespoke scoping and staged budgets recommended

Overview

Latham & Watkins operates one of the most comprehensive Digital Assets & Web3 practices in global BigLaw, spanning regulatory, transactions, and litigation with dedicated coverage of exchanges, infrastructure providers, miners, DAOs, NFTs, and tokenisation. The team is routinely ranked by Legal 500 and Chambers as the leading US securities law practice for crypto, and maintains a public Crypto Policy Tracker to keep clients updated on the rapidly evolving US legislative landscape. For complex, multi-jurisdictional mandates requiring deep financial regulatory expertise alongside Web3 fluency, Latham is the default choice.

Focus Areas

Digital Asset RegulationToken Issuance & Securities LawExchange & Market InfrastructureDAO Legal StructuresRWA TokenisationNFTs & IPDeFiMining & InfrastructureMergers & Acquisitions

Who They Work With

Global Crypto ExchangesToken IssuersDeFi ProtocolsInstitutional InvestorsEnterprise Web3 TeamsMining CompaniesDAO Organisations

Notable Work

Lead counsel on some of the most significant crypto regulatory matters before the SEC and CFTC; advises major exchanges on licensing and product structuring globally.

Key Contacts

  • Yvette Valdez (Global Co-Chair, Digital Assets & Web3)
  • Stephen Wink (Global Co-Chair, Fintech)

Office Locations

New YorkLondonSingaporeDubai

Frequently Asked Questions about Latham & Watkins

What jurisdictions does Latham & Watkins cover for digital assets work?
Latham & Watkins has dedicated digital assets coverage across its 40+ offices globally, with particular depth in the US (New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC), UK (London), Singapore, and Dubai. For complex cross-border mandates, the firm coordinates multi-jurisdiction advice from a single relationship partner, making it well-suited for exchanges and protocols operating across the US, EU, and Asia simultaneously.
Does Latham & Watkins work with early-stage crypto projects?
Latham & Watkins is primarily a premium BigLaw firm, and its Digital Assets & Web3 team tends to be most cost-effective for established businesses with complex, multi-jurisdictional legal needs. Early-stage projects with simple token structuring questions or basic regulatory queries may find the rates prohibitive — staged scoping and project-specific budgets can be arranged, but founders should request a clear cost estimate before engaging.
What is Latham & Watkins best known for in the crypto space?
Latham is consistently ranked by Legal 500 and Chambers as a leading US securities law practice for crypto, with particular strength in token issuance, exchange regulatory compliance, DAO legal structures, and complex M&A transactions involving digital assets. The firm also maintains the publicly available US Crypto Policy Tracker, one of the most widely-used free regulatory resources in the industry.
Who are the key contacts to reach out to in the Digital Assets & Web3 practice?
The practice is co-chaired globally by Yvette Valdez (New York) and Stephen Wink (Fintech, Global). For UK and European mandates, James Nuttall in London is the senior practitioner to engage. Initial inquiries can be directed to the practice group through the firm's website, and warm introductions via existing clients or ecosystem contacts are the fastest route to partner-level engagement.
What does it typically cost to hire Latham & Watkins for crypto legal work?
Latham charges premium BigLaw rates — partner billing rates are typically in the $1,500–$2,000+/hour range for US offices. The firm recommends bespoke scoping and staged budgets for crypto mandates, which can help contain costs for defined projects. Total engagement costs for a significant regulatory or transactional matter typically run into the six or seven figures.
How long does a typical Latham & Watkins crypto engagement take?
Timelines vary significantly by matter type. Token structuring and regulatory analysis engagements can complete in weeks for well-defined scopes, while ongoing compliance programmes, exchange licensing, and M&A transactions run for months to years. Given the firm's depth, it can typically mobilise quickly for urgent matters such as enforcement response or time-sensitive transactions.

Setting up a business entity?

If you're working with Latham & Watkins, you may need a properly structured entity. EntityEngine handles incorporation in 15+ jurisdictions — with fast setup and bank-ready documentation.

Explore incorporation options

Related Law Firm Listings

Recommended Partner

CMS

Law Firm

Europe's leading crypto law firm — 400+ digital asset lawyers across 84 offices in 47 countries

London, UK (international)
Crypto & Digital Asset RegulationToken Issuance & NFT ProjectsDeFi Legal Structures+7

Best for: European and cross-border crypto mandates requiring scale, deep local regulatory knowledge across multiple jurisdictions, and a firm with proven crypto specialism at the highest industry recognition level

View profile

Sullivan & Cromwell

Law Firm

Premier securities and M&A counsel for high-stakes crypto transactions

New York, USA
Securities Enforcement DefenceCrypto M&A & Joint VenturesRegulatory Investigations+3

Best for: High-stakes enforcement defence, major M&A, and institutional-grade transaction work

View profile

Perkins Coie

Law Firm

The original crypto law firm — deep regulatory and transactional expertise since Bitcoin's early days

Seattle, USA
Token Offering ComplianceExchange LicensingCrypto Fund Formation+5

Best for: US-based founders and funds needing crypto-native regulatory and transactional counsel with long-term ecosystem credibility

View profile
crypto law firmBigLawtoken issuancedigital asset regulationDAO legalDeFi legalglobalUSAsecurities lawinstitutional crypto

This directory is compiled from publicly available information and may contain inaccuracies or outdated details. Listings do not imply endorsement or a commercial relationship unless explicitly stated. If you represent a listed organisation and would like to request amendments or removal, please contact us at support@entityengine.io.