SEATTLE (August 15, 2018)– Perkins Coie is pleased to announce its inclusion in the Global Legal Blockchain Consortium (GLBC), composed of more than 80 large companies, law firms, software companies and universities focused on developing standards and compliance guidelines for blockchain and smart contract technologies in the business of law.

Perkins Coie has been a leading legal authority in this evolving technology, especially as large, reputable law firms continue to take steps towards integrating more closely with legal working groups and crypto experts. “Our firm’s clients are becoming increasingly immersed in blockchain technologies and smart contract implementations that reside on blockchains. Perkins Coie has a long-standing representation of high-tech companies and recognizes that these clients will begin to demand legal counsel that is both competent and savvy in this evolving arena,” said a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice and a member of the firm's Electronic Financial Services and Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency industry groups. “We are constantly seeking to deepen our engagement and conversations with industry leaders in this space.”

The GLBC is a global network of legal industry stakeholders that aims to enhance security, governance and viability of blockchain and smart contract technologies to complement the way the legal industry interacts with them for the benefit of clients, in-house attorneys, legal service providers and the legal industry at large.

“Blockchain in general, and smart contract implementations in particular, exist in a complex, evolving environment, and Perkins Coie has found that we are able to achieve so much more through collaboration with other blockchain attorneys and industry leaders,” said Michael. “In order to be effective and provide practical guidance and solutions to our clients, we need to be having these conversations with key stakeholders.”

The GLBC will be hosting its first Annual Meeting and Blockchain Event on August 19th in Washington, D.C. Anticipated to be the largest gathering of leaders in the blockchain industry ever held, the event will be attended by senior attorneys of law firms, technology companies and universities, with the mission of showcasing practical applications of blockchain and smart contract technologies in the legal industry.

Perkins Coie's Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency industry group was publicly launched in May 2013 as the world’s first legal practice focused on decentralized cryptocurrencies and shared ledger technologies. It is an extension of Perkins Coie’s long history of representing fintech, internet, mobile and other technology companies. This multidisciplinary group is on the front lines of industry developments, helping clients address the complex legal issues faced by blockchain and digital currency businesses. Attorneys in this industry group provide product counseling, regulatory investigations and compliance counseling, litigation support, consumer protection counseling and business transaction assistance. Clients include shared ledger consortia platforms, exchanges, wallet providers, payment processors, investors and industry associations.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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