From business design and licensing to closing the deal, resolving disputes and enforcement, we turn the legal requirements of each jurisdiction into transaction documents, governance mechanisms and concrete steps.
01
Web3 & Digital Assets
We advise Web3 projects, cross-border payment institutions, stablecoin issuers and digital asset service providers on project structure, product design, global licensing and regulatory registration, transaction documents and ongoing operations.
We focus on cross-border collections and payouts, merchant acquiring, business payments, stablecoin settlement and digital asset payments. Looking at the flow of funds, the flow of assets and each party's role, we assess how the business is characterised in its target markets and connect Web3 project governance with payment compliance and settlement arrangements.
Web3 project structure and governance
For digital asset, real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation and DAO projects, we advise on entity structure, governance, rights in assets and issuance documents, and analyse how smart contracts and legal documents fit together.
Cross-border payment models and market access
For cross-border collections and payouts, merchant acquiring, business payments and digital asset payments, we assess each participant's role, the boundaries of its services, access to target markets and cross-border funds requirements, and design suitable operating and partnership structures.
Global licensing and regulatory registration
Covering Canada, the United States, the UAE, Europe and Hong Kong, we assist with MSB registration, payment and e-money licences, virtual asset service licences and stablecoin issuance approvals, coordinating application documents, regulatory dialogue and ongoing compliance.
Stablecoin and digital asset payments
For stablecoin payments, fiat-to-digital-asset conversion and on-chain settlement, we map out issuance or usage arrangements, customer rights, redemption mechanisms and cross-border responsibilities, and help align payment flows, commercial documents and applicable regulation.
Safeguarding, clearing and settlement
We review the legal structures and contracts for holding and segregating customer funds and for clearing and settlement, clarify each party's responsibilities, and advise on refunds, chargebacks, reconciliation, freezes and the handling of funds after a relationship ends.
AML and sanctions compliance
We help establish customer identification, beneficial ownership verification, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening and risk reporting, with attention to source of funds, the genuineness of transactions and cross-border cooperation, and build these requirements into operating processes.
Commercial partnerships, transactions and disputes
We draft and negotiate platform, technology, custody, banking and payment partnership agreements, support project financings, and handle frozen funds, settlement defaults, customer claims and related cross-border disputes.
We bring together Web3 technology, stablecoin payments and regulatory access in each market, providing legal support from business design and licensing through to ongoing operations, built around source of funds, transaction paths, settlement arrangements and allocation of responsibility.
02
Payment & Virtual Asset Licensing
We help clients obtain licences, regulatory approvals and registrations relating to stablecoins, digital assets and cross-border payments in Canada, the United States, the UAE, Europe and Hong Kong, coordinating business model, choice of jurisdiction and operating arrangements.
We connect the licence application with the client's actual business, providing legal services across the whole process, from assessing the business model and preparing the application to operating after the licence is granted, and coordinating professionals in the relevant jurisdictions on cross-border projects.
Licence applications by jurisdiction
UAE: payment and virtual asset licences
We assist with the applicable licence or registration under the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) payment token services regime and with Virtual Asset Service Provider licences from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA); for projects in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), we assess the regulatory route separately.
Hong Kong: stablecoin issuance and payment licences
For fiat-referenced stablecoin issuance, e-wallets and cross-border remittance, we assess applicability and support applications for the HKMA stablecoin issuer licence, the Stored Value Facility (SVF) licence and the Money Service Operator (MSO) licence issued by Hong Kong Customs.
EU: MiCA and payment authorisations
We assist with authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and as a Payment Institution (PI) or Electronic Money Institution (EMI), and advise on issuance routes for e-money tokens (EMTs) and asset-referenced tokens (ARTs).
United States: MSB and state payment licences
We assist with MSB registration with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and, depending on the states served, the customer base and the flow of funds, assess and pursue the applicable state Money Transmitter Licences (MTLs) and virtual currency business licences.
Canada: MSB and payment service provider registration
We assist with registration with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business (MSB) or Foreign Money Services Business (FMSB); depending on the payment model, we also assess and assist with registration as a payment service provider with the Bank of Canada and with safeguarding of customer funds.
Application and ongoing compliance
Mapping the business and the route to market
We map the flow of funds, the flow of tokens and the contractual relationships; analyse the regulatory nature of issuance, exchange, custody, funds transfer and acquiring; compare jurisdictions, scope of business, capital and local operating conditions; and set out a phased plan for market access.
Entity set-up and governance
We help establish the applicant entity and cross-border shareholding structure, prepare information on shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, directors and key managers, support fit-and-proper reviews, and advise on requirements for compliance officers, MLROs, local staff and outsourcing.
Application documents and compliance policies
We prepare the business plan, process descriptions, funds and asset arrangements, corporate governance and internal controls, and draft compliance documents covering customer identification, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, suspicious transaction reporting, safeguarding, redemption, data protection and business continuity.
Regulatory dialogue and progressing the application
We coordinate submission, pre-application discussions, supplementary materials and responses to queries, help management prepare for regulatory interviews, coordinate auditors, technical security and other advisers, and revise processes and documents in light of the regulator's comments.
Banking channels and payment partnerships
We support legal engagement with banks, payment institutions, stablecoin issuers, custodians and technology providers, review account-opening and due diligence materials, and draft and negotiate account, acquiring, clearing, settlement, custody and technology agreements.
Ongoing compliance and cross-border expansion
After a licence or registration is obtained, we advise on renewals, regulatory reporting, material changes, product launches, marketing and expansion into new markets, and assist with regulatory inspections, remediation and related disputes.
We focus on how each licence corresponds to the actual business, and carry market access, partnership contracts and ongoing compliance through the development of our clients' cross-border payment businesses.
03
Cross-Border Investment, M&A & Finance
We advise investment institutions, corporate groups, founders and strategic investors on cross-border investments and transactions: entering new markets, forming partnerships, completing financings and acquisitions, and arranging post-investment governance and exit.
For transactions involving the Middle East, North America and Greater China, we consider the investing entity, the target business, regulatory requirements and future funding together, bringing legal due diligence, deal structure and contractual protection into a single framework.
Market entry and investment structuring
We assess investment routes, entity formation, joint ventures and local operating requirements, and design holding and operating structures that fit the business objectives.
Legal due diligence
We review equity and governance, business licences, material contracts, intellectual property, employment, debt and disputes, identifying the key risks that affect pricing, execution and later operations.
M&A and strategic transactions
We act on share acquisitions, asset acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, drafting and negotiating transaction documents and supporting approvals, closing and integration.
Private equity and venture capital
We advise on financing structure, investment terms, investor protections, founder arrangements, employee incentives and post-investment governance.
Financing and security
We review financing and security documents, analyse creditor protection, security over assets, default remedies and cross-border enforcement, and coordinate related financial and tax matters.
Group restructuring and exit
We support equity adjustments, group restructurings, business integration, investment exits and related dispute-prevention arrangements.
From the start of a transaction we focus on control, allocation of interests and the route to exit, and carry the issues found in due diligence into closing conditions, representations and warranties, indemnities and post-closing remediation.
04
Litigation, International Arbitration & Complex Disputes
We handle disputes involving multiple jurisdictions, complex facts and significant commercial interests, supporting companies, investors and private clients from dispute assessment and settlement negotiations to litigation, arbitration, asset preservation and enforcement.
Our case strategy weighs substantive rights, choice of procedure, the state of the evidence and whether assets can be enforced against. In cross-border disputes we coordinate proceedings and remedies across jurisdictions, with attention to how each step affects the case as a whole and the client's commercial objectives.
Commercial and investment disputes
Breach of contract, payment and debt recovery, shareholder and partnership disputes, investment exits, agency and distribution, and disputes arising from M&A and joint venture transactions.
International and regional arbitration
Representation and strategy in institutional and ad hoc arbitration, including jurisdiction, emergency relief, evidence, expert opinion, hearings and post-award proceedings.
Multi-jurisdictional litigation
Where the parties, facts, assets or proceedings are spread across countries and regions, we coordinate claims, defences, interim measures and parallel proceedings.
Construction and major project disputes
Claims and defences concerning contract price, variations, delay, suspension of works, defects liability, performance security and damages.
Administrative and regulatory disputes
Regulatory decisions, administrative measures, public procurement and contract disputes involving government or quasi-government entities.
Enforcement of judgments and awards
We analyse routes for the recognition and enforcement of domestic and foreign judgments and arbitral awards, and pursue recovery using asset information, security arrangements and the relevant procedures.
Dispute prevention and settlement
We review notice obligations, time limits for claims and preservation of evidence, take part in negotiations and design payment, security, default-remedy and exit mechanisms.
From the outset of a dispute we focus on final enforcement, weighing the progress of the case together with asset recovery, business continuity and commercial relationships.
General Counsel Services
Across the set-up, operation, projects and succession of a business, we provide ongoing legal counsel and work with our core practice teams where needed.
We support companies through formation, reorganisation and ongoing operations, helping boards, management and in-house counsel with day-to-day and major legal matters. Our work covers company formation and changes, shareholders' agreements, board and authorisation mechanisms, related-party transactions, procurement and sales, agency and distribution, technology partnerships, commercial leases and other key contracts.
In employment, we advise on employment contracts, internal policies, executive arrangements, compensation and incentives, confidentiality and non-competition, workforce changes and employment disputes, with attention to local requirements in managing cross-border teams.
We advise investors, developers, owners, contractors and other project participants across investment, development, construction, operation and exit, including due diligence on real estate and land interests, acquisitions and disposals, development joint ventures, commercial leases, project finance coordination, and the drafting and negotiation of EPC, design, construction, procurement and O&M contracts.
For projects under FIDIC conditions of contract or other construction contract systems, we focus on scope of work, risk allocation, performance security, variations, payment mechanisms, liability for delay and claims procedures. We also advise on investment structure, joint ventures, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution for energy and related infrastructure projects.
We advise technology companies and clients with digital businesses on IP ownership, trade mark and copyright protection, technology development and licensing, software and platform agreements, trade secret protection, and rights arrangements with R&D staff and external partners.
In data protection and cybersecurity, we help map data processing activities, privacy documents, data processing agreements, cross-border data arrangements and internal governance, and advise on data incidents, contractual liability and related regulatory matters.
We advise on cross-border procurement, sales, distribution, logistics and supply chain partnerships, including international trade contracts, agency and distribution arrangements, delivery and acceptance, payment protection, default remedies and related trade disputes. For specialist sectors such as shipping and aviation, we provide dedicated support across transactions, financing, leasing and disputes.
In corporate compliance, we help identify the regulatory obligations that apply to a business, draft internal policies, deliver legal training and conduct internal investigations, and handle compliance issues in commercial partnerships, third-party management, anti-money laundering, data protection and employment.
We advise entrepreneurs, family offices and private clients with cross-border assets on cross-border asset structures, trusts and foundations, wills and succession planning, family governance, shareholding arrangements in family businesses, and related investment and dispute matters.
In private client work we respect confidentiality, personal wishes and family relationships, and take a careful approach to helping clients put in place legal arrangements that are clear, appropriate and able to adapt as circumstances change.
Talk to us about your matter
We will bring together the right team for your needs.