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Fintech & Blockchain

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  • Key Contacts
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Download PDF
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events

Blockchain distributed ledger and cryptocurrency technologies are revolutionizing equity fundraising, financial services, and a variety of corporate and commercial transactions and operations, and prompting rapid regulatory change in multiple jurisdictions. Bennett Jones’ Fintech & Blockchain Group helps clients navigate the legal complexities of this new environment to help clients create and seize opportunities and mitigate risk.

As part of our commitment to this sector, Bennett Jones is also the first Canadian law firm to join the legal working group of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, the world’s largest open-source blockchain initiative, dedicated to evolving smart contract Blockchain technologies for enterprise application across industries.

What Clients Say

"We use Bennett Jones if we are doing something innovative."

As "initial coin offerings" or "initial token offerings" have hit the market, Canadian and U.S. securities regulators have indicated that these distributions are subject to securities law requirements. Blockchain and cryptocurrency are also expected to have huge impacts on areas such as insurance, financial services, international trade, transportation and supply chain management, logistics and value/asset transfer, information technology and tax. As smart contracts and distributed autonomous organizations are designed, implemented and become more common, appropriate legal frameworks will need to evolve to deal with administration, trust, course alteration, ownership, interpretation, disputes and any coding errors, each of which can lead to unintended consequences. These are all arenas our lawyers know well.

Concurrent developments in the Fintech space add other important considerations, involving cutting-edge technologies, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructures and novel business models. Ongoing developments in API and App economy business models, democratization of coding tools, increasing competence of artificial intelligence and ‘big data’ analytics, and advances in quantum computing also present unique regulatory and market challenges for retail and commercial banking, e-commerce, wealth management, capital markets, procurement and supply chain management, automated contracting and payments systems.

What Clients Say

"The quality of the work is just outstanding, they are responsive – we are very pleased."

To support the myriad of legal needs in this space, Bennett Jones has assembled a multi-disciplinary team that includes specialists from our securities and capital markets, corporate-commercial, financial services, information technology, intellectual property, tax and knowledge management groups. Our Group stays on the cutting edge of developing technologies, the intersection of these technologies with the law and the impact these technologies have on the way legal services are delivered.

How we help our clients:

  • Seeing opportunities from all angles – We have advised blockchain and fintech start-ups, system and software developers and suppliers, both funded and established companies, investors, financial institutions, government agencies and ancillary service providers, giving us a 360 degree perspective on the commercial and technical realities, risks and opportunities in these sectors.
  • Expertise for the entire life cycle – Our team draws on multi-disciplinary expertise to assist at every stage of the business life cycle – including innovation, product development, inbound and outbound licensing, protection and commercialization of intellectual property, development of novel business models, regulatory compliance, raising capital, attracting investment, partnerships and joint ventures, acquisitions and exit strategies.
  • Relationships with regulators and policy-makers – We enjoy strong relationships – and in some cases, advisory mandates – with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities and financial institution regulatory authorities, broker/dealer authorities and policy influencers such as the Department of Finance, Bank of Canada and industry groups such as the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance. These relationships enable us to have a broad understanding of the changing regulatory landscape, now and in future, regionally, provincially, federally and internationally, to help attain compliance and mitigate regulatory risk.

Key Contacts

  • Duncan C. Card Duncan C. Card, Partner
  • Matthew  Flynn Matthew Flynn, Partner
  • Simon  Grant Simon Grant, Partner
  • Michael R. Whitt Q.C. Michael R. Whitt Q.C., Partner, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent
  • Related Lawyers

Recent Experience

Just Cash, in its sale of a controlling investment position to Coinsquare Ltd.
Cryptocurrency Improvement Fund, securities law counsel in its initial coin offering and second stage development.
Rublix Development Inc., general and ongoing consultation re cryptocurrency issuance project.
Skill Squirrel Coop., initial coin offering in an innovative “gig economy” services and education platform.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Fintech Guide
Ranked, Chambers Fintech

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Bennett Jones Once Again a Chambers Canadian Fintech Leader

December 15, 2020
       

Blog

Lessons in Digital Asset Recovery

June 02, 2020
       

Articles

Duncan Card on Bermuda’s Payments Experience

March 24, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones a Canadian Fintech Leader

January 17, 2020
       

Articles

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation in 2020 Canada

October 28, 2019
       

In the News

Simon Grant on Smart Contracts and Collaboration

May 28, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Collaborates on Blockchain-Based Smart Contract Project

May 07, 2019
       

Speaking Engagements

Blockchain, Cyrptocurrency, and More: An Uneasy Fit with the Tax and Legislative Framework

November 25-27, 2018
       

Articles

Global Legal Insights on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Legislation

September 24, 2018
       

Blog

Shapeshifting Cryptoassets

June 15, 2018
       

Blog

The Power of Decentralization in Blockchain

April 26, 2018
       

Blog

Bartering with Bitcoin: Canadian Tax Implications of Using Cryptocurrency in Business Transactions

February 15, 2018
       

Blog

Getting In on Bitcoin: Canadian Income Tax Implications of Cryptocurrencies

February 12, 2018
       

Blog

Cybersecurity Uncertainty for Cryptocurrencies

February 01, 2018
       

Blog

Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and ICOs: No Signs of Investors “HODL”ing Their Litigation Claims*

January 30, 2018
       

Blog

Australian Securities Exchange Selects Distributed Ledger Technology to Replace CHESS

December 19, 2017
       

In the News

Conrad Druzeta and Michael Whitt on Enterprise Ethereum Alliance

November 28, 2017
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Joins Enterprise Ethereum Alliance

November 27, 2017
       

In the News

Conrad Druzeta on the CSA's Fintech Sandbox

November 23, 2017
       

Blog

Ontario Securities Commission Approves Initial Token Offering

October 26, 2017
       

Speaking Engagements

2017 Celero FinTech Conference

October 3-6, 2017
       

Blog

Canadian Securities Administrators Issue Staff Notice on Cryptocurrency Offerings

August 28, 2017
       

Blog

OSFI Suspends Compliance Expectations Against Use Of "Bank Words" by Credit Unions, and Solicits Consultation

August 14, 2017
       

Blog

SEC Warns Initial Coin Offerings and Token Sales May be Subject to U.S. Federal Securities Law

July 28, 2017
       

Blog

If You're Not a Bank, Stop Using "Bank Words" to Describe Your Business, Says Canada's Banking Regulator

July 07, 2017
       

Blog

The Blockchain Buzz and Alberta

June 30, 2017
       

Blog

Blockchain and Secured Lending in Canada

March 06, 2017
       

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