Skylar McKeith features on ‘Talk to My Lawyer’ podcast

Posted on: February 5th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

In episode 20 of the ‘Talk to My Lawyer’ podcast, Head of Immigration Skylar McKeith explores the dynamic relationship between law and the media. With her unique media presence and international experience, she shares valuable insights into how public narratives impact legal practice. Skylar remarked, “I do think that the media has the potential to educate and shift perceptions by highlighting success stories or showing the positive contributions.

Skylar also talks about two pivotal moments that inspired her career: the empowering message of Legally Blonde and the sobering lessons of a documentary about a wrongful conviction.

You can listen to the podcast here: Talk to My Lawyer podcast 

For more information on our Immigration services, please click here

In Early Podcast S2E3: Marcin Zarakowski and Roman Bieda, Token Recovery

Posted on: November 7th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Welcome to the In Early podcast, where host Matt Green dives into the world of digital assets and technology. In this episode, Matt speaks to both Marcin Zarakowski and Roman Bieda, of Token Recovery, a Swiss outfit specialising in “combining technical expertise, legal proficiency and a swift, discreet, end-to-end process devised to get your property back”.

Matt also asks them about their backgrounds at BSV and Coinfirm respectively, and more about the operation, how Token Recovery take on victims of fraud where crypto assets are lost following a hack or scam, and how they work with lawyers, like me, law enforcement, and blockchain analytic services like Global Ledger to navigate the recovery process.

Key takeaways from Marcin Zarakowski and Roman Bieda

– Their backgrounds, including at Coinfirm, and EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum how Token Recovery was formed and its mission, with Roman referring work involving ChipMixer;

– How Token Recovery take on victims of fraud where crypto assets are lost following a hack or scam, and how they work with lawyers, law enforcement, and blockchain analytic services like Global Ledger to navigate the recovery process;

– Their roles in the world of academia and industry bodies including at SGH Warsaw School of Economics and INATBA – International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications

– Each of their processes “Consult and Review”, “Trace and Evaluate”, “Plan and Authenticate” and “Enforce and Reclaim”;

– Issues with the recovery process and how they are overcome;

– The role of transaction monitoring at crypto-exchanges and whether that’s a good tool for preventing crime.

Matt asks them about their backgrounds at BSV and Coinfirm respectively, and more about the operation, how Token Recovery take on victims of fraud where crypto assets are lost following a hack or scam, and how they work with lawyers, like me, law enforcement, and blockchain analytic services like Global Ledger to navigate the recovery process.

In Early Podcast S2E2: Professor Sarah Green, Law Commission, D2 Legal Technology

Posted on: October 3rd, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Welcome to the In Early podcast, where host Matt Green dives into the world of digital assets and technology. In this episode, Matt speaks to Professor Sarah Green who has just finished a four year tenure as Law Commissioner for Common and Commercial Law. During that time Sarah’s law reform work included the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023, Advice to the Government on Smart Contracts, updating the Arbitration Act 1996, scoping reforms to the law of Intermediated Securities and drafting guidance and a bill to ensure that English Law is well suited to accommodate Digital Assets. 

Key takeaways from the podcast

Matt questions:

  • The Law Commissions recommendation that issues should be dealt with in Courts, given important academic issues are then limited to whether a client has enough resources to litigate through to answer, when there is an opportunity to answer them now
  • What rivalrous means, given matt kimbers Pokémon references
  • Whether data as be property
  • As well as more about D2 Legal Technology and the problem it looks to solveThis episode features Professor Sarah Green who has just finished a four year tenure as Law Commissioner for Common and Commercial Law.

Matt and Sarah speak about the journey of crypto assets becoming “property” at common law and why that was important, to where we are now, with legislation looking to define “things” as property, using a negative definition proposed by the Judiciary:

  •  UK Jurisdiction Taskforce’s Legal Statement on Cryptoassets and Smart Contracts of 18 November 2019 which argued there should be no bar to cryptoassets being property at law, and for smart contracts to be legally binding: https://tinyurl.com/kmthub8z
  •  AA v Persons Unknown: Re Bitcoin, which relied on that paper, and in which the Judge confirmed “I consider that a cryptoasset such as Bitcoin is property” https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/…
  •  Law Commisison’s Digital Assets Call to Evidence April 2021, including some of Sarah’s favourite and notable feedback from the industry: Call for evidence: https://tinyurl.com/ft99r8ej Responses: Digital assets call for evidence responses
  •  Next was the Digital Assets Consultation Paper of 28 July 2022, which proposed a third category of property called a Data Object, with Sarah considering the inclusion and status of data, even considering absurd Matrix-esque environments where everything is data: https://tinyurl.com/5n6u8zs9
  •  The Law Commission’s Digital Assets Final Report of 28 June 2023, which removed the need for this new property definition to include “composed of data” and changes the definition to recognise property where “merely by reason of the fact it is neither a thing in action nor a thing in possession”: https://tinyurl.com/379up4ec
  •  finally the Supplemental Report and Draft Bill (now the Propert (Digital Assets etc.) Bill) continues that a “thing” can be property, with the words “digital” and “electronic” as references: https://cloud-platform-e218f50a481296…

Lawrence Stephens’ Real Estate Finance Borrower team drives summer success with a trio of transactions

Posted on: August 13th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

The Borrower team at Lawrence Stephens, led by Nisha Saigal and supported by Claire Boyd and Aida Gashi, has been making significant strides this summer in the real estate market. They’ve taken on a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial properties, collaborating with various lenders.

Here’s a closer look at some of their July deals:

Deal 1: Refinancing of Residential Flats

The Lawrence Stephens team facilitated the refinancing of two residential flats, with a substantial loan amount of £2.45 million. Acting as the sole representative for the borrower, they collaborated with the Bank for Intermediaries/Professionals as the lender. Their expertise in navigating complex transactions played a crucial role in achieving success.

Deal 2: Refinancing of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation)

The team successfully refinanced three Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with a loan amount of £1.45 million. Acting as the sole representative for the borrower, they collaborated with Hampshire Trust Bank plc as the lender. Their expertise in managing complex transactions ensured a smooth process for all parties involved.

Deal 3: Purchase of Freehold Property

The Borrower team also facilitated the acquisition of a freehold property, subject to tenancy, with a loan amount of £138,000. The transaction involved dual representation, and the lender was a specialist in Buy-to-Let financing. Their ability to navigate complex scenarios and find practical solutions was instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.

These transactions underscore their dedication to cultivating robust, enduring connections with borrowers. The team’s proactive mindset, industry acumen, and streamlined execution position them as a reliable ally in the real estate finance arena.

Collateral warranties – a turning point?

Posted on: July 18th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

On 9 July 2024, the Supreme Court gave judgment in a case which raised the question of whether the beneficiary of a collateral warranty had the right to refer disputes arising from the warranty to adjudication.

If you would like to know more about this judgment, please download the attached PDF.

If you would like some advice on the potential impacts of this ruling. please get in touch with Matthew Needham-Laing.

2024.07.18 Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Ltd v Augusta 2008 LLP collateral warranties