DLA Piper is recognised for its strong track record in the virtual assets sectors, advising regulators, financial institutions and multinational corporations. Adrianus Schoorl is praised by clients for his ‘strong legal accumen’ and is noted for his capabilities in fintech mandates. Andrew Mackenzie possesses expertise in multi-jurisdictional licensing matters while Paul Allen is very active in the ongoing development of the UAE’s financial services regulations. Along with Paul McViety, they form the practices leadership team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team at DLA Piper LLP combines deep technical expertise with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach. Their ability to balance legal precision with commercial awareness sets them apart from other firms. We, as their client have benefited from clear communication, well-structured advice, and a consistent focus on achieving practical outcomes.’
- ‘We have been engaging with Adrianus Schoorl at DLA Piper. He has consistently demonstrated professionalism, strong legal acumen, and a client-first mindset. Adrianus has always been approachable, proactive, and able to anticipate issues before they arise.'
Key clients
- Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
- Binance Holdings Ltd (Binance)
- Emirates NBD
- Zbooni
Work highlights
Advising the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on the formation and continuous enhancement of its Virtual Assets regime and the Abu Dhabi Global Market on its Distributed Ledger Technologies platform (and other enhancements to its regulatory regime).
Advising leading banks in the UAE on their virtual assets regulatory agenda (adoption of virtual asset product suites suited for bank customers), including advising ENBD on permitting its customers to access virtual asset brokerage facilities through the LIV app.
Advising on the formation of the Ton Coin Foundation in the Abu Dhabi Global Market and advising Tether on its proposed joint venture for the launch of a Dirham backed stablecoin, and other leading international blockchain platform operators on market developments and penetration in the UAE.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Adrianus Schoorl; Paul Allen; Paul McViety; Andrew Mackenzie
Other key lawyers
Rami Zayat