暗号資産業界を形作ってきた主要な規制上の勝利、画期的な裁判判決、そして法制度の背後には、必ず弁護士の存在がある。弁護士はデジタル資産の社会的受容を推進してきた中心的存在だ。しかし、その現代金融史に名を刻んだ法律事務所や個人弁護士は15組に限られる。
これらの弁護士らは、訴訟の準備書面を作成し、法廷で弁論し、議会で証言し、機関投資家が暗号資産に安心して参入できる法的枠組みを構築してきた。
画期的なリップル対SEC訴訟、コインベースの規制勝利、上院公聴会でも引用される政策文書まで、ここでは暗号資産の法的闘争の最前線で活躍する有力な15人の弁護士を紹介する。
| Rank | Nominee | Type | Base | Landmark Case | Credentials & Track Record | Why on the List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sullivan & Cromwell | Firm | New York, USA | FTX bankruptcy lead counsel | Major SEC defense; $180M+ approved FTX fees; Chambers Band 2 Crypto-Asset Disputes | Led the largest crypto bankruptcy to date. The FTX restructuring stands as the most complex legal mandate the industry has seen. |
| 2 | Davis Polk & Wardwell | Firm | New York, USA | Block.one EOS securities settlement | Chambers Band 1 in Crypto-Asset Disputes and FinTech Blockchain; Robert Cohen (ex-SEC Crypto Unit head) | The only firm ranked Band 1 across both core crypto legal categories. Deep regulatory ties and top-tier institutional mandates. |
| 3 | Latham & Watkins | Firm | Los Angeles, USA | Global DeFi, DAO, and NFT defense | Chambers Band 1; Multi-agency matters (SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OFAC) | Handles more DeFi and DAO mandates than any peer. Strong cross-border execution across US, EU, and Asia. |
| 4 | Debevoise & Plimpton | Firm | New York, USA | Ripple SEC defense | Chambers Band 1; Andrew Ceresney (ex-SEC enforcement director) | Played a central role in the Ripple case that reshaped how courts treat secondary-market token sales. |
| 5 | Cleary Gottlieb | Firm | New York, USA | Garlinghouse & Larsen SEC defense | Chambers Band 2; Matthew Solomon (ex-SEC litigation chief) | Led the personal defense of Ripple’s executives, a parallel case with major legal implications. |
| 6 | Fenwick & West | Firm | Mountain View, USA | Crypto SEC investigations and M&A | Chambers 2026 ranked in 4 FinTech categories; Partner Michael Dicke individually ranked for Crypto-Asset Disputes | Core legal partner to Silicon Valley crypto builders. Broadest bench across crypto, fintech, and securities law. |
| 7 | Cooley LLP | Firm | Palo Alto, USA | Early Bitcoin company advisory | Chambers FinTech ranked; Brian Klein (Band 1) joined 2025 | Involved since the earliest Bitcoin corporate formations. Continues to advise founders and funds shaping the sector. |
| 8 | Brown Rudnick (Digital Commerce) | Firm | Boston / DC, USA | FTX Bahamas counsel; BlockFi recovery | Stephen Palley (Chair); Chambers & Legal 500 ranked | Built a leading crypto practice through strategic hires. Delivered landmark DAO rulings and full BlockFi creditor recovery. |
| 9 | Paul Grewal | Individual | San Francisco, USA | Coinbase SEC case dismissal (2025) | Coinbase CLO; Former US Magistrate Judge | Led Coinbase’s legal defense to a major win against the SEC. Influential voice in policy and regulatory debates. |
| 10 | Stuart Alderoty | Individual | San Francisco, USA | Ripple summary judgment & 2025 settlement | Ripple CLO; President of National Cryptocurrency Association | Delivered a defining court outcome for crypto markets. Now leading industry-wide public education efforts. |
| 11 | Lewis Rinaudo Cohen | Individual | New York, USA | US Senate Banking testimony (2025) | Co-Chair, CahillNXT; Chambers Band 1 | Key legal thinker shaping US crypto legislation. His “ancillary asset” framework influenced policy design. |
| 12 | Miles Jennings | Individual | United States | SEC Task Force decentralization framework | CLO, Castle Island Ventures; Former a16z policy head | Developed one of the most cited frameworks on decentralization in regulatory discussions. |
| 13 | Jake Chervinsky | Individual | Washington DC, USA | Hyperliquid Policy Center CEO | Founder & CEO; Former Blockchain Association policy head | Now leading a DeFi-focused policy group with strong funding. Active in shaping US regulatory direction. |
| 14 | Amanda Tuminelli | Individual | New York, USA | DeFi patent challenges | Executive Director & CLO, DeFi Education Fund | Led successful legal challenges against patents affecting core DeFi protocols. Key figure in pre-enforcement strategy. |
| 15 | Marisa Tashman Coppel | Individual | United States | SEC Dealer Rule lawsuit | Senior Product Counsel, Phantom; Former Blockchain Association legal head | Led a major industry challenge against SEC rulemaking. Helped frame constitutional arguments for crypto firms. |
本リストについて
本リストは、BIC 100 インスティテューショナル・アワード2026の一環としてBeInCryptoリサーチ部門が作成したもの。
ノミネート対象は、デジタル資産分野における法的業務の影響力および業界への貢献度に基づき選出している。規制当局や政府関係者は、別途カテゴリー5.5（規制枠組み）で評価。
選定方法
ランキングは、Chambers FinTech 2026の階層評価、重要判例の結果、規制機関への対応（上院証言、SEC提出書類、アミカスブリーフを含む）、および重要案件の戦略的意義などから総合的に判定している。
個人の役職や所属は、2026年4月時点の公開情報（ファームの公式プロフィール、ブルームバーグ・マーケッツ、公式発表等）に基づいている。
ノミネートの提出やご意見は、[email protected]までご連絡いただきたい。
