Perkins Coie LLP > Los Angeles, United States > Firm Profile

Perkins Coie LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > Fintech

Specializing in acquiring bank and trust charters, Perkins Coie LLP advises cryptocurrency, blockchain, and paytech clients on the development, operation, and maintenance of technology-based financial products and services. The practice is also proficient in money transfers, transmission, and remittance, token-based fundraising, as well as BaaS solutions. In Seattle, Joe Cutler heads the team and is knowledgeable about payment solutions, while on the litigious side, he is also vastly experienced in state banking and financial institution disputes. Dax Hansen is proficient in anti-money laundering, prepaid access, and tokenized assets, while in Palo Alto, Lowell Ness often handles venture capital financing, M&A, public offerings, as well as private placements, he is also adept in securities law and corporate governance. Sarah Shtylman is noted for her expertise in regulated digital asset platforms, in-game currencies, and payment services integrations, and often advises clients on marketplace payments, social media monetization strategies, and application-specific virtual currencies.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 2

Perkins Coie LLP‘s media and entertainment group maintains its strong presence in the gaming industry and also places a notable focus on advising on projects related to innovative technologies in sectors spanning entertainment, media, sports, software, social networking, e-commerce, retail, and advertising industries. Jason Schneiderman, based in Palo Alto, is one of the practice’s three co-heads and routinely advises on transactions in the entertainment tech sphere, handling deals related to virtual reality, blockchain, SaaS, interactive entertainment, and artificial intelligence. Co-head Kirk Soderquist, located in Seattle, maintains close relationships with a client roster of emerging growth technology companies. Also based in Seattle, Ron Koo serves as a key contact for transactions in the gaming sector, collaborating with leading developers, device manufacturers, and social connectivity platforms on commercial agreements and international product launches. In New York, John Delaney, the third practice head, focuses on sectors such as music, TV, film, and online platforms. His New York colleagues include live sports rights specialist Shirin Malkani and Ali Mirsaidi, who is a further key contact for entertainment technology M&A.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

The broad experience of the white-collar and investigations team at Perkins Coie LLP includes money laundering, securities enforcement, cybercrime, environmental offenses, and false claims cases. The team is co-chaired by Jean-Jacques Cabou in Phoenix and David Massey in New York. Cabou has in-depth knowledge of the laws relating to asset seizures and racketeering, while Massey frequently advises clients under investigation for insider trading, securities fraud, and corruption. Further standout lawyers include Lee Richards and Keith Miller who are both based in New York. Richards has longstanding experience representing a variety of clients such as hedge funds, corporate executives, investment advisors, and public companies. With expertise in digital assets, Miller is recommended for investigations involving cryptocurrency. In July 2023, Paul Devlin left the New York office and Gina Lamonica departed from the Chicago office.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Engaging with some of the largest defense contractors, providers of IT and data management services, Perkins Coie LLP offers a comprehensive service in bid protests, contract claims litigation, cost accounting, transactions, and compliance counseling. Washington DC’s Seth Locke, who advises on protests, contract performance issues, cost accounting claims, and M&A, leads the practice alongside Seattle’s Richard Oehler, who specializes in investigations, prime/sub disputes, Freedom of Information Act litigation, and export compliance matters. The DC team is rounded out by Kelley Doran, who has built significant experience in healthcare contracting and cybersecurity, Gary Campbell, who represents companies in the aerospace, defense, and IT sectors, and Alexander Canizares, who supports on disputes, bid protests, as well as internal, government, and FCA investigations.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

Perkins Coie LLP is led by KoKo Ye Huang, an expert on the interplay between immigration compliance and litigation, who operates from Seattle. The group caters to clients from a diversity of industries such as technology, life sciences, retail and construction and is skilled in defending employers in DOJ and DOL investigations as well as assisting on compliance requirements. Eryne Walvekar, also in Seattle, is the other practitioner to note.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 5

Showcasing ‘fantastic attention to detail’, the Perkins Coie LLP practice offers tailored advice on all aspects of stadium construction and financing alongside handling content licensing and IP portfolio management affairs. Stewart Landefeld operates out of Seattle and specializes in corporate governance and securities compliance matters, New York-based Shirin Malkani focuses on sports media rights and emerging technologies, and Jamie Schafer, who divides her time between Washington DC and New York, routinely represents entities and individuals in complex criminal and regulatory affairs.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 5