Piper Alderman
With Shannon Adams holding the reins in Adelaide, Piper Alderman leverages its ‘key relationships within the fintech and crypto industry’ to assist clients from the space with mandates such as capital raisings, security token issuances and Australian market entries. The team is also well placed to advise traditional financial institutions and fintech companies on an array of financial services regulatory, licensing and compliance work including anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing issues, regulatory investigations and disputes. In Sydney, digital law expert Michael Bacina leads the blockchain group; the former software developer combines technical know-how with regulatory and legal expertise. Financial services regulatory expert Andrea Beatty is equipped to handle front-end and back-end work related to ASIC investigations. Leading the Melbourne team is Steven Pettigrove whose practice extends to digital asset regulation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has key relationships within the fintech and crypto industry that has streamlined the entire process.’
‘Michael Bacina was instrumental in driving our business forward. He had key relationships with everyone involved.'
‘Exceptional industry knowledge in blockchain/cryptocurrency; very practical and business-oriented solutions.’
‘Steven Pettigrove and Michael Bacina have good industry knowledge and give practical and business-oriented solutions.’
‘They are a truly excellent fintech team. Steven Pettigrove is a true expert in his field.’
‘Blockchain and decentralised technology is extremely complicated, and not just from a legal or regulatory perspective. There are only a handful of people in Australia who understand the technology well enough to give advice on it and Mike Bacina and Steven Pettigrove are leaders among them.’
- 'Steven Pettigrove is very level headed and deep in the technology. He is able to give commercial advice that we trust because he actually understands what the big picture is and how Ethereum works.’
Key clients
- Kordamentha
- Maxi EFX Global
- Web3 Security Alliance/A16Z Crypto
- Icebreaker Finance Pty Ltd
- Blocktrust
- Citoplus
Work highlights
- Advising KordaMentha on financial services and insolvency laws in connection with the administration of FTX Australia Pty Ltd and FTX Express Pty Ltd.
- Acting for Maxi EFX Global in proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
- Played a pivotal role in Digital Surge’s voluntary administration, following the collapse of FTX in which Digital Surge held a significant portion of its assets.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Shannon Adams