The practice at gunnercooke LLP boasts a number of cryptoasset specialists, supporting a significant portion of successful UK FCA crypto registrations and providing a mix of regulatory, legal, and operational guidance. The team represents a diverse array of clients across payments, crypto exchanges and platforms, DeFi and DAO innovators, lenders, and fund managers, and has notably assisted in drafting the cryptoasset regulatory frameworks for several developing countries. Valued by clients for his ‘guidance and sage counsel’, practice head James Burnie advises across financial services and contributes to key regulatory developments across the UK, EU, Africa, and Asia, including UK frameworks for DAOs. Kathryn Dodds focuses on DAOs, fundraising, and Web3 disputes, while Olga Antonova brings strong technical depth in blockchain corporate governance, licensing, and security token frameworks.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We are in the digital asset space, which is a rapidly evolving area, especially when it comes to regulations. gunnercooke are able to supply lawyers with the required knowledge and expertise of our industry, combined with the expertise in regulatory law. ’
‘James Burnie has been invaluable to us in our journey from small start-up to fully-fledged mature business, and has been with us every step of the way. His guidance and sage counsel have allowed us to grow and flourish in our industry sector.'
'Very deep knowledge and practical experience about fintech business and regulatory framework.'
'James Burnie is always willing to help and bring in other members of the practice that can contribute.'
'James Burnie is exceptional, with unmatched knowledge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, demonstrated by his work on regulatory cryptoassets frameworks. His sharp intellect, practical advice, and ability to stay ahead of regulatory trends have been invaluable for our compliance needs.'
'Kathryn Dodds complements this with her expertise in Web3 and corporate structures, notably guiding us through complex transactions with clarity and strategic insight. Both stand out for their hands-on approach, humility, and ability to translate technical and regulatory complexities into clear, business-friendly solutions. Compared to competitors, their deep sector knowledge and client-centric focus make them indispensable partners.'
'Gunnercooke's practice stands out for its deep expertise in digital assets and Web3, particularly in navigating the complex regulatory landscape.'
'Innovative, forward-thinking, commercial and practical.'
'Stand out individuals that cross the bridge of financial services experience to the developing fintech and blockchain space.'
Key clients
- Astana Financial Services Authority of Khazakstan
- Financial Services Commission of the Government of Mauritius
- Copper
- Bitwise Asset Management /Attestant Limited
- Ziglu Limited
- Zero Citizen (accepted to FCA sandbox)
- Helford Capital
- Fiat Republic
- ONE Group
- Wonde Limited
- Business Data Group
- Native
- Yellow Card Financial Inc
- Xapo Bank
- Avantgarde
- Nexus Mutual
Work highlights
Assisting the Astana Financial Services Authority in drafting its legal and regulatory framework for digital assets for Kazakhstan.
Assisting Native with setting up a new specialist Web3 insurance and shadow insurance proposition.
Assisting Xapo Bank with its entry into the UK market, including selling a crypto hedge fund into the UK, the provision of deposit taking services to UK persons and giving the ability to sell cryptoassets into the UK.|
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Other key lawyers
James Burnie, Kathryn Dodds, Olga Antonova