SEC’s crypto enforcement lawyer joins private law firm

Former SEC attorney Ladan Stewart transitions to White & Case, a firm known for defending crypto companies.

By SlamX2024-02-22 5:45 PM UTC

WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 18: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seal hangs on the facade of its building September 18, 2008 in Washington, DC. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has called for the ouster of SEC Chairman Christopher Cox in the wake of the collapse of several giant banks on Wall Street and the resulting financial crisis. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Ladan Stewart, an attorney known for her role in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) enforcement actions against major cryptocurrency companies, has joined law firm White & Case.

Her move comes after her involvement in high-profile SEC cases, including those against Ripple Labs and Coinbase.

The SEC charged Coinbase in June for allegedly listing crypto tokens as securities without proper registration. Coinbase has contested the SEC’s claims, arguing that the listed assets should not be classified as securities.

Ripple scored a partial victory in its three-year lawsuit against the SEC last July, which accused the former of conducting unregistered securities offering.

White & Case has a history of representing high-profile clients, including Microsoft and Fidelity, the latter for which it provided legal counsel regarding a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF).