Gowling WLG is pleased to welcome Adam Garetson to its Blockchain & Smart Contracts and FinTech groups as a partner. He will be based in the firm's Toronto office.

Harnessing sophisticated experience in Canada's finance and tech sectors, Adam helps businesses negotiate the evolving commercial and regulatory landscape surrounding blockchain technology. Clients routinely look to him to provide tailored advice on a range of strategic corporate and financing transactions (both domestic and cross-border) in connection with this area. These include mergers and acquisitions, initial coin offerings, and the purchase and sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital assets.

"The vibrant discussions around web3 and the metaverse have given renewed focus to the important role blockchain-empowered transactions will play in our future economy," said Benjamin Na, managing partner of Gowling WLG's Toronto office. "Adam has spent much of his career on the front lines of such disruptive technology and is extremely well placed to help our clients carefully weigh the risks and rewards that surround it."

A respected thought leader, Adam is frequently invited to speak on blockchain-related topics by regulators and elected representatives, including the Canadian Department of Finance, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO, formerly IIROC), and members of Parliament.

Immediately prior to joining Gowling WLG, Adam served as general counsel, chief legal officer and corporate secretary for a leading Canadian digital asset market infrastructure company, cryptocurrency marketplace and "decentralized finance" platform. Before that, he served as a director and senior counsel within the capital markets division of one of Canada's largest financial institutions.

About Gowling WLG's Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group

Pairing advanced technical understanding with broad experience in securities, intellectual property and tax law and litigation, we help clients navigate a broad range of legal issues related to blockchain technology. Learn more about Gowling WLG's Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group.