Overview
(September 4, 2018, Washington, DC) — Steptoe partner Jason Weinstein and of counsel Alan Cohn have been named to The National Law Journal’s list of Trailblazers in Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and FinTech. The list of 50 lawyers is featured in a special supplement in the September issue of the legal publication.
Weinstein and Cohn co-chair Steptoe’s global Blockchain and Cryptocurrency practice and are recognized for their leadership on the legal issues surrounding cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Together, they have represented nearly every type of participant in the blockchain ecosystem – including investors, funds, entrepreneurs, exchanges, transaction processors, retailers, and both early stage and more established companies.
Weinstein and Cohn helped launch and lead the Blockchain Alliance, a public-private forum formed by the Bitcoin community to help combat criminal activity involving cryptocurrencies and the blockchain and to promote the growth of the industry. Cohn serves as its counsel and Weinstein serves as its director.
Since its conception in 2015, the Blockchain Alliance has grown from a coalition of 15 companies/industry representatives and six US federal law enforcement agencies to more than 100 companies and law enforcement and regulatory agencies around the world, including Europol and Interpol. Among other activities, the alliance has conducted educational programs for more than 600 law enforcement officers and regulators from more than 35 countries.
Weinstein and Cohn have each participated in the “Blockchain Summit” hosted by Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island. Weinstein is on the advisory boards of Coin Center and the Chamber of Digital Commerce – one of only two people to serve on the advisory boards of both organizations. He also serves as an advisor to BitFury. Cohn serves as an advisor to the World Economic Forum and to multiple prominent blockchain companies.
Prior to joining Steptoe, Weinstein and Cohn served in senior positions in the US government where each gained significant experience with cryptocurrencies. Weinstein served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, where he supervised the computer crime section and oversaw numerous investigations involving the use of digital currencies. Cohn served as the Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary for strategy, planning, analysis and risk, where he coordinated the department’s cybercrime policy portfolio.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
