Keith Miller
- New York
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Keith has more than 35 years’ experience and draws on his U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement background to advise individuals, cryptocurrency startups, and global financial institutions.
As a founding member of Perkins Coie’s Blockchain & Digital Asset industry group, recognized as a Band 1 in the 2024 Chambers Fintech Legal rankings, Keith Miller has been instrumental in shaping the legal and regulatory landscape for blockchain and digital assets, notably through his leadership in high-profile cryptocurrency litigations. His practice encompasses complex civil litigation and criminal and regulatory investigations.
Keith’s thought leadership is evidenced by his authorship of the chapter “Regulatory Litigation With the SEC” in the leading legal treatise, Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts (Fifth Edition). He also frequently speaks at industry events, guest lectures at Harvard Law School on fintech regulation, and contributes to publications and panels that influence regulatory and fintech policy.
Having served as managing partner of Perkins Coie’s New York office and former chair of the firm’s White Collar & Investigations practice, Keith combines deep legal knowledge with a passion for innovative technologies to deliver impactful representation across federal and state jurisdictions worldwide.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- New England School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement, 1990
- State University of New York at Albany, M.A., 1987
- State University of New York at Albany, B.A., 1986
Bar and Court Admissions
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New York
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New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Related Employment
- Paul Hastings LLP, New York, NY, Partner
- K&L Gates LLP, New York, NY, Partner
- Cadwalder, Wickersham & Taft LLP, New York, NY, Counsel, Associate
- Securities and Exchange Commission, Northeast Regional Office, Broker-Dealer Enforcement and Interpretations, Branch Chief, Staff Attorney
Professional Recognition
Recommended by The Legal 500 United States in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense, 2021
Named in Business Insider's “19 Crypto and Blockchain-Focused Lawyers Who Are Inking Deals, Fighting Lawsuits, and Navigating Fast-Evolving Regulations”
Listed in Expert Guides, "World's Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers," 2012–present
White Collar Law360 Editorial Advisory Board, Member, 2014
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Kellogg School of Management Executive Leadership Program, 2014
- White Collar & Investigations Practice, Former Chair
- Working Mother Best Law Firm for Women, Advisory Board Member
- Digital Currency & Ledger Defense Coalition, Participating Lawyer
- American Bar Association, Securities Litigation Committee
Professional Experience
Investigations and White Collar Representations
- Representing two former partners of a Cayman Islands law firm as witnesses in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) seizure and subsequent civil forfeiture action of the super yacht M/Y Amadea. The DOJ is alleging that the true owner of the M/Y Amadea is a Russian-sanctioned individual. The case is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, United States v. M/Y Amadea, 23-cv-9304-DEH.
- Representing the chief operating officer of a global Internet of Things (IoT) technology company under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the alleged sale of unregistered securities (crypto tokens).
- Representing two former employees of a technology company under investigation for allegations relating to “AI-washing.”
- Representing a global financial institution conducting numerous internal investigations relating to allegations of employee misconduct.
- Representing a Cayman Island corporate service provider in connection with an SEC insider trading investigation relating to one of its clients.
- Representing a director of a Cayman Island corporate service provider in connection with an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Task Force KleptoCapture involving sanctions violations that were imposed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Representing an executive of a private equity entity in connection with an SEC investigation relating to ownership disclosure on Schedules 13D and 13G.
- Representing a venture capital firm in connection with an SEC investigation of a portfolio company.
- Representing an executive of a high-profile digital asset exchange in connection with investigations being conducted by the DOJ and SEC.
- Represented an individual in connection with an insider trading investigation being jointly conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the SEC.
- Represented an individual indicted by the DOJ for money laundering and acting as an unregistered money service business.
- Represented an individual indicted by the DOJ for wire fraud and money laundering related to Silk Road II.
- Representing a foreign public corporation in connection with an SEC investigation regarding the issuance of stock.
- Represented independent directors of a hedge fund in connection with an SEC investigation relating to issues of valuation and cross trading.
- Represented an offshore bank in the FIFA kickback scandal.
- Represented a Fortune 500 company in an internal investigation concerning accounting issues.
- Represented a UK financial institution in connection with the LIBOR rate-rigging investigations.
- Represented a Cayman Island trust company and hedge fund administrator in connection with investigations being conducted by numerous federal agencies and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
- Hired by the New Mexico State Investment Office to perform an independent investigation of the role of placement agents in investments made by the Office.
- Represented an internet company in connection with an investigation by the NJ Attorney General’s Office.
- Represented a corporate executive in an insider trading investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and SEC.
- Represented an individual in connection with investigations being conducted by the IRS involving offshore disclosure of financial accounts.
- Represented the pension fund administrators of a global manufacturing company in an SEC/CFTC receivership where the distribution of assets is being contested. Also acted as group lead counsel for thirteen other entities.
Cryptocurrency Investigations and Blockchain Representations
- Representing numerous cryptocurrency companies in connection with investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to potential unregistered offerings of securities.
- Representing international and domestic trading platforms in connection with investigations by the SEC related to potential unlicensed and unregistered activity.
- Representing a private fund in connection with an investigation by the SEC related to potential unlicensed and unregistered activity.
- Representing an international trading platform responding to a grand jury subpoena seeking the identity of U.S. customer information.
Litigation Representations
- Representing two high-profile NBA sports agents in litigation relating to a contract dispute with a former business partner.
- Represented a pension fund administrator in ERISA litigation against a pension consultant.
- Represented investors in a CDO as well as the co-issuer in litigation involving a dispute relating to the terms of a CDO bond indenture.
- Represented an executive of a venture capital firm in a dispute with his prior firm.
- Representing an executive of a medical laboratory in a business dispute with his former partners.
Insights
