Law of Code

Latest Episodes:

#10 - Eric Richmond, COO at Coinsquare: Holding crypto for institutional clients, becoming a great crypto lawyer, and what's next for crypto lawyers. Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Eric Richmond, COO at Coinsquare (formerly VP of Legal) and CEO at Tetra Trust, has extensive experience working with and advising startups and blockchain companies. Eric has extensive knowledge of the principles, applications, and current developments affecting blockchains.

This interview is an excellent discussion on holding cryptocurrency for large clients, defining crypto as a security, and how to become a great crypto lawyer.

Show highlights:

- How Eric built a crypto practice as a young lawyer

- Transitioning from private practice to in-house at a crypto exchange

- Coinsquare & Tetra Trust

- Working with Government actors

- Applying current laws to DeFi

- Crypto's "Cannabis" moment

- What makes a great lawyer?

You can learn more about Tetra Trust here and follow Eric on LinkedIn.

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#9 - Matthew Burgoyne: Building a legal career in crypto, securities laws and Bitcoin, securing your first crypto client, and what makes a great lawyer. Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Matthew "Bitcoin" Burgoyne is a Partner at McLeod Law LLP, in Calgary, Canada. Matthew's legal practice involves securities and capital markets, with a focus on blockchain-based digital assets. He has been advising companies in the cryptocurrency space since the summer of 2013, making him one of the first Canadian lawyers to act for cryptocurrency companies in Canada.

Matthew was an integral part of McLeod Law’s efforts to accept bitcoin as payment for legal services in the fall of 2013, making McLeod Law the first full-service law firm in Canada to accept bitcoin. His clients in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space include cryptocurrency exchange platforms, cryptocurrency wallet developers, issuers of digital currency (including stablecoins and NFTs), cryptocurrency miners, and cryptocurrency investment funds.

Show highlights:

- How Matthew first learned of blockchain technology in 2013

- Why he built a legal career with a cryptocurrency focus

- How Matthew got his first crypto exchange client

- Why crypto startups should bring in outside counsel early

- What makes a great lawyer

- The importance of publishing articles as a young lawyer

You can view Matthew's profile here or follow him on Twitter (@burgoynematt).

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you leave a review!

#8 - Geoff Costeloe: Digital estate planning, tax considerations for holders of crypto and NFTs, and the future of smart contract estate planning Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Geoff Costeloe is a lawyer and entrepreneur at Lindsey MacCarthy LLP, in Vancouver, Canada. Geoff’s legal practice revolves around estate planning and administration, with a focus on digital assets. Geoff knows crypto inside-out, and this episode is a deep dive into why estate lawyers are so important for holders of crypto and NFTs.

We also touched on how blockchain technology will shape the estate planning profession over the next 5-10 years. Geoff was a great guest, is building a one-of-a-kind legal practice, and I’m grateful he took the time to speak with me.

Show highlights:

- Why it's never too early to begin estate planning

- Tax implications of buying/selling digital assets

- Why lawyers should join LexDAO

- What regulators can do to ensure a thriving crypto economy

- Smart contracts and the future of estate planning

- Why individuals should work with a lawyer who understands blockchain technology

You can find Geoff on Twitter (@gcosteloe), where he talks crypto, estate law, and even some Canadian politics.

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you leave a review!

#7 - Any Obando: NFTs, NBA Top-Shots, intellectual property law, and enforcing copyright law in a digital world. Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

Any Obando, Associate at Cozen O'Connor, practices intellectual property law and has a great understanding of NFTs. In this episode, Any explains what NFTs are, what businesses will benefit from NFTs, IP associated with NBA Top Shots, and what legal rights NFT holders are entitled to.

This interview is an excellent primer on the laws surrounding NFTs, as Any is very knowledgeable in this space. I recommend anyone interested in NFTs use this podcast as an all-encompassing introduction.

Show highlights:

- When Any first learned of blockchain technology

- What is an NFT?

- The novel benefits NFTs offer when compared to Web 2 digital assets

- IP rights associated with NBA Top Shots

- Storing NFTs in digital wallets

- Legislation impacting NFTs

- Advice Any wishes she knew before beginning her legal career

You can view Any's profile here or follow her on LinkedIn. Here's the primer on NFTs we discussed.

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you leave a review!

#6 - James McCall: The LexDAO Episode Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

James McCall, Legal Engineer at LexDAO, is building Farmapper LLC, a platform putting agriculture online through the blockchain. James does not currently represent legal clients but has a dual major finance/accounting undergraduate degree and a JD law degree. He has experience originating and servicing a large commercial loan portfolio for various lending institutions to finance agricultural real estate. We spoke about all things LEX Dao and blockchain law.

Show highlights:

- Transitioning from Lawyer to Legal Engineer

- How lawyers can learn to code

- Why lawyers should join LexDAO

- How new members can thrive in LexDAO

- What projects the lawyers/engineers at LexDAO are building

- Helpful habits for young professionals

You can find James on Twitter (@mccallios), where he talks NFTs, DeFi, and all things crypto. You also can find LexDAO on Twitter (lex_dao)

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you leave a review!

#5 - Ross Campbell: Legal engineering, Bar Association DAOs, use cases for oracles, and much, much more Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Ross Campbell, Legal Engineer at LexDAO and co-founder of OpenEsquire, discusses building in the legal engineering space, the best use cases for DAOs, and why he's helping build OpenEsquire. This interview is packed with takeaways, and Ross continues to amaze me with his knowledge of this space (I am out of my league - I began studying immediately after our conversation). Highly recommend any lawyer interested in blockchain technology use this podcast to learn from Ross.

Show highlights:

- How to avoid being "coded out of a job"

- Transitioning from Big Law to Legal Engineer

- Building OpenEsquire (an LLC DAO)

- Forming LexDAO and working with DAOs

- Why DAOs are easily attackable and best strategies for DAO consensus

- The importance of private law concepts for DAOs

- Why trusts should use DAOs & how Bar Associations can benefit from operating as a DAO

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you leave a review!

#4 - Erich Dylus: How Web3 can leverage off-chain data in a compliant manner Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

Erich Dylus, Legal Engineer at API3 DAO, discusses how API3 is building a GDPR compliant product for blockchain, along with the idea of 1st and 3rd party oracles.

Show highlights:

- When Erich was introduced to blockchain technology

- How API3 is building compliance-focused oracle software

- The EU's GDPR & international privacy regulations affecting crypto

- Why learning solidity is important (Erich's github is helpful)

- The legal future of DAOs

- The movie of the year, Dune

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you can take a minute to leave a review!

#3 - Daniel Rollingher: Putting real estate on a blockchain Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

Daniel Rollingher, General Counsel at Fabrica.land, discusses how he is building a blockchain for real estate, along with the difficulties of working with jurisdictions across America.

Show highlights:

- When Daniel was introduced to blockchain technology

- How Fabrica works to put real estate on-chain

- The skills required as in-house counsel for a blockchain company

- Most difficult roadblocks to gaining widespread blockchain adoption

- What most people get wrong about blockchain laws

- The future of real estate on the blockchain

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, we'd appreciate it if you can take a minute to leave a review!

#2 - Dr. Muharem Kianieff: Creator of Canada's first course on blockchain law Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

Dr. Muharem Kianieff, Associate Professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, discusses the KYC and privacy laws affecting crypto, along with what the history of credit cards can teach us about the widespread adoption of crypto.

Show highlights:

- His introduction to blockchain technology

- How crypto can adapt to satisfy privacy legislation

- Which period of history is most analogous to the current state of crypto

- Why, as an academic, he doesn't own any crypto

- What most people get wrong about blockchain laws

- The evolving crypto regulations that Professor Kianieff is keeping an eye on

Thanks for listening - If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review - it would be a huge help and we'd really appreciate it!

Law of Code Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Understand the legal layer of emerging technologies.

Jacob Robinson is joined by the world's top lawyers, regulators and entrepreneurs to discuss the laws shaping — or being shaped by — our world.