Stephen Elam
FinTech Guide 2025
Band 1 : Crypto-Asset Disputes
Band 1
About
Provided by Stephen Elam
Practice Areas
Stephen is a disputes and regulatory lawyer, with a particular focus on financial services and crypto. He has extensive experience in crypto and blockchain disputes, most notably acting for cryptoasset exchanges and stablecoin issuers in litigation, including the defence of novel substantive actions brought against exchanges, related asset tracing and recovery actions, contractual disputes and broader risk management issues. He also acts for crypto firms on broader disputes relating to crypto, blockchain and the overlay with traditional finance. Stephen also advises crypto firms extensively on the evolving law and regulation of cryptoassets, and the practical demands of regulatory engagement required by the crypto sector. Aside from crypto, Stephen has extensive experience in traditional financial services and banking disputes, acting for FCA-regulated firms and bringing his product and sector knowledge to bear on a wide range of complex disputes and regulatory issues.
Career
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert – associate 2003-2007, Fulbright & Jaworski – senior associate, 2008 – 2010, MF Global – in-house litigation/contentious regulatory, 2011-2014, Cooke Young & Keidan – senior associate then partner, 2014 to date.
Professional Memberships
Stephen is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, the Financial Services Lawyers Association and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association.
Chambers Review
FinTech
Stephen Elam has a background in financial services and banking litigation, and uses this expertise to advise on cryptocurrency-related fraud cases.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Stephen Elam understands the Web3 sector and has an open and nimble mind."
"Stephen Elam is very bright, very personable and super responsive."
"Stephen Elam understands the Web3 sector and has an open and nimble mind."
"Stephen Elam is very bright, very personable and super responsive."
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Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP
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