Who is the best lawyer in bitcoins?

[gweedo]

I want to know who is the best lawyer, to be dealing with, when it comes to bitcoins?

[Hawker]

You'll need to specify a jurisdiction.

[iCEBREAKER]

I want to know who is the best lawyer, to be dealing with, when it comes to bitcoins?

http://www.wsgr.com/

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR) is a law firm in the United States that specializes in business, securities, and intellectual property law. The firm's Chairman, Larry Sonsini, is well known as an attorney and advisor to technology companies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Sonsini_Goodrich_%26_Rosati

[TheButterZone]

The Bitcoin Foundation's counsel?

[iCEBREAKER]

Hi gweedo,

You aren't going to find an established, successful lawyer advertising a specialty in bitcoins (it's too new and controversial) much less one willing to expose themselves to the potential liabilities of accepting payments in BTC.  Only a new, fresh out of law school type would be willing to take that risk for the sake of getting in on some cutting-edge, precedent-setting, possibly career-making case.

The closest thing you'll get is a firm focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and intellectual property (IE patents/copyright/trademark).

Wilson Sonsini is the white-shoed 500lb gorilla of that field.  If you need the best, it's gonna cost you $$,$$$.  

There are a few others in the same class: Morrison Foerster, Fish Richardson, and Baker Botts.

Morrison Foerster's domain name is mofo.com, so they deserve special consideration!  

LMK if you need somebody to translate Modern Lawyerspeak to and/or from Old High Nerdish.  

http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=16&rankingId2=211&rankings=1&regionId=0&rankingYear=2013

http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/search.aspx

[iCEBREAKER]

OK that helps narrow it down.

In general, you should always talk to at least 4 or 5 lawyers, because they'll all give you different answers.

Here's good one specializing in tech start-ups:

Grellas Shah LLP is a Silicon Valley business and corporate law firm with a specialty in early-stage tech startups.

Since 1984, our attorneys have helped many small to mid-sized businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, and executives throughout California – several thousand in all.

We are experienced: nearly every business and corporate lawyer in our law firm has at least 10 years' experience as a practicing attorney in California.

Our attorneys represent entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and owners - and the companies they lead - as well as individuals dealing with such companies. We do not represent VCs.

http://www.grellas.com/

[Zeke_Vermillion]

For the regulatory stuff, you want someone who knows a little about bank secrecy act, as well as state money transmitter licensing. A good payments-industry lawyer could be what you need. WilmerHale is well-regarded in this area. There are also a few regional specialty shops in states that attract a lot of prepaid business, for example some small firms North Dakota.

If you have more routine business issues (formation, capital-raising, employees), any good business lawyer can help, and I'd recommend you find someone local to you. It may even be BETTER to find a respected local attorney for non-regulatory issues, someone who knows absolutely nothing about bitcoin at all. That way you can get some advice from a diverse perspective.

This corresponds to my general philosophy for purchasing services (software as well as personal). I'm a lawyer and have a small firm. We try to purchase absolutely nothing that is marketed specifically toward lawyers, b/c it tends to cost 10x as much as it should, and has 1/10 the featureset of its equivalent product that is aimed at say, engineers.

[Zeke_Vermillion]

Hm, I would not offer any opinion on that. But the answer you want to get is "no" of course. The other thing as a fund is to make sure you are exempt from broker-dealer and investment adviser registration at the federal and state levels, and that the issuance of your fund LP interests is exempt from SEC registration (usually under Reg D, Rule 506) and that you follow applicable state notice requirements under NSMIA... ugh, so complicated.

[iCEBREAKER]

We try to purchase absolutely nothing that is marketed specifically toward lawyers, b/c it tends to cost 10x as much as it should, and has 1/10 the featureset of its equivalent product that is aimed at say, engineers.

Hey now.  Huge Lexis-Nexis fan here.  Sure it costs a fortune, but so much information!

Do I need a money transmitter license for an Angel fund/forum? I am not selling bitcoins for cash, once I would give a company the bitcoins they could turn it cash, but that would really be against what my type of fund is trying to do. I am trying to keep it in the bitcoin community instead of just moving to the dollar.

Do whatever you want, then pay a lawyer to argue it was perfectly legal if you get in trouble.  That's how the fat cats operate.

It's easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission.  Especially when everything not permitted is forbidden.

[Zeke_Vermillion]

Hey now.  Huge Lexis-Nexis fan here.  Sure it costs a fortune, but so much information!

well icebreaker, I must admit we do pay for LexisNexis, it is unavoidable. we tried to use Google Scholar, but it wasn't enough sadly.

[Zeke_Vermillion]

however, when it comes to seeking forgiveness vs. asking permission, that is generally true in business, but I'd say it is NOT a good rule for approaching certain highly regulated industries -- namely, securities and money transmitting. unless you are "too big to fail" in which case you write your own rules.

[virtuallylaw]

I want to know who is the best lawyer, to be dealing with, when it comes to bitcoins?

If you'd like a referral drop me a line: patrick (at) bitcoinfoundation.org. Give me a sense of of what you are looking for and what you are willing to spend. I could refer you to a specialist at an AMLaw 100 firm if that makes sense, but realistically you will probably be better served by a regional firm or solo-practitioner.

[Bitcoinpro]

I want to know who is the best lawyer, to be dealing with, when it comes to bitcoins?

there is a thread at the top listing some legal cases bitcoinica etc you could find out who the lawyers where representing the cases and get in contact with them

[iCEBREAKER]

I want it to be 100% legal cause that is how you get ahead in the bitcoin community and promote bitcoin for good.

I understand.  But Bitcoin's legal implications are uncharted territory.  You will have to make the precedents, or wait for somebody else to settle the open questions.

We want the first legal tests of virtual currency to go our way, which is why I've pointed you in the direction of giant, powerful, well-connected good-old-boy firms instead of Joe Schmoe, Atty. at Law down on Pickle Street (across from the Quick-E Mart).   

[Jobe7]

There's a criminal defence lawyer in texas that is now accepting bitcoin as payment, he might have a good idea on its legal standing in the US with regard to what you want.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/press-releases/article/Houston-DWI-Attorney-Jay-Cohen-Now-Accepting-4476315.php

http://www.cohendwilawyer.com/

[MSantori]

I am a "lawyer in bitcoins", in the sense that I am a lawyer and I handle civil matters - some of them relating to bitcoin.  There is not much law on the topic just yet.  Most attorneys who handle bitcoin matters are attorneys who have an interest in the relevant issues.  It is a very, very grey area.  That doesn't mean, though that competent counsel can't help you.  Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions. I am in New York City and on EST.  I am happy to help however I can.

[Zeke_Vermillion]

I am a "lawyer in bitcoins", in the sense that I am a lawyer and I handle civil matters - some of them relating to bitcoin.  There is not much law on the topic just yet.  Most attorneys who handle bitcoin matters are attorneys who have an interest in the relevant issues.  It is a very, very grey area.  That doesn't mean, though that competent counsel can't help you.  Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions. I am in New York City and on EST.  I am happy to help however I can.

I read somewhere that "grey area" is a good keyword to search when reviewing corporate communications for evidence of a crime...

[Loozik]

You'll need to specify a jurisdiction.

United States

Then this guy is the best http://marcstevens.net/ although he is not a member of any bar association.

[Bitcoinorama]

Maybe invite this guy to your thread; https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=206305.0

[MSantori]

I read somewhere that "grey area" is a good keyword to search when reviewing corporate communications for evidence of a crime...

Hah! That should be the first lesson they teach you in CrimLaw 101.  I don't do any criminal work, but you can bet that's on my next keyword search list for institutional discovery.