Usman Sheikh, partner and leader of Gowling WLG's Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group in Canada, has been named among the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer.
Published annually, Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers list celebrates the lawyers who have had the greatest positive impact on the Canadian legal profession. Sheikh was recognized in the Young Influencer category, which distinguishes pioneering legal talent under the age of 40.
In recent years, Sheikh has emerged as a Canadian legal industry torchbearer in the area of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) — particularly their application to capital markets. As head of Gowling WLG's Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group, he leads an internationally recognized team that has been instrumental in several of Canada's most notable blockchain mandates, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), crypto-asset trading platforms as well as civil litigation, criminal and regulatory enforcement cases. Sheikh himself represents a variety of clients in the blockchain space, from pioneering start-ups, to Canada`s largest banks, to many of the largest cryptocurrencies in the world.
A highly sought after thought leader, Sheikh has briefed the offices of several prime ministers and ministers on blockchain's disruptive power, and is regularly invited to speak on the topic to business leaders and at global blockchain conferences around the world. Later this year, he is scheduled to publish The Law of Blockchain Technology (Thomson Reuters).
Outside of blockchain, Sheikh manages a thriving advocacy practice, which finds him litigating complex corporate and commercial cases, with an emphasis on securities litigation, shareholder activism, professional liability claims and class proceedings. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, he served for four years as a prosecutor in the Enforcement Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission, where he played an integral role in several landmark cases.
In addition to being named to this year's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers list, Sheikh was also distinguished in the latest edition of Benchmark Litigation's "Under 40 Hot List," as well as the Acritas Stars rankings.
View the complete list of Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers for 2018.