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The DCLDC will play a key role in keeping the way free for innovators to build promising network technologies Gun Aficionados

More than 50 prominent US attorney from 40-plus law firms have joined together to form the Digital Currency and Ledger Defense Coalition (DCLDC).

This coalition brings together dozens of the top attorneys from around the country who focus on digital currency and distributed ledger legal issues in a united effort to protect the individual constitutional rights and civil liberties of innovators experimenting with these promising new blockchain technologies, said a statement.

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Brian Klein, partner at Baker Marquart LLP and the chair of the DCLDC, said: "Law enforcement and regulatory actions relating to this technology have been steadily increasing over time and are all too often misdirected or premature. It is all too common for responsible entrepreneurs and companies to be subjected to unfair scrutiny by some federal or state agency, which, at a minimum, stifles them and broader innovation."

The DCLDC will advance its important mission through pro bono attorney referrals to those who cannot afford legal services, as well as the submission of amicus briefs on key issues impacting those technologies.

Its board includes leading attorneys in the field: Marjorie Peerce (Ballard Spahr), Grant Fondo (Goodwin), and Marcia Hofmann (Zeitgeist Law). Over 50 attorneys, from over 40 law firms, universities, and non-profits, have joined the coalition at launch. They are:

Aaron Wright, Cardozo LawAdam Ettinger, Sheppard Mullin

Alan Cohn, Steptoe & Johnson

Alex Chen, Fortis

Amy Davine Kim, BuckleySandler

Andrew Hinkes, Berger Singerman

Andy Roth, Cooley

Ashley Martabano, Baker Marquart

Barrie VanBrackle, Orrick

Brian Klein, Baker Marquart

Bryan Skarlatos, Kostelanetz & Fink

Carol Van Cleef, Manatt

Catherine Foti, Morvillo Abramowitz

Christine Duhaime, Duhaime Law

Cindy McAdam, Goodwin

Courtney Linn, Orrick

Craig May, Wheeler Trigg

Dana Syracuse, BuckleySandler

David Gzesh, Gzesh Law

David Poitras, Jeffer Mangels

David Teitelbaum, Sidley Austin

Dax Hansen, Perkins Coie

Deborah Thoren-Peden, Pillsbury Winthrop

Gabriel Shapiro, Weil

Frank Prieto, Frank Prieto

Geoffrey Aronow, Sidley Austin

Grant Fondo, Goodwin

Greg Xethalis, Kaye Scholer

Hardy Calcott, Sidley Austin

Ira Schaefer, Hogan Lovells

Jared Marx, Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis

Jason Somensatto, MorvilloJason Weinstein, Steptoe & Johnson

Jeff Albert, Pryor Cashman

Jennifer Rose Jacoby, WillmerHale

Jerry Brito, Coin Center

Joseph Cutler, Perkins Coie

Josh Fairfield, Washington & Lee Univ.

Joshua Garcia, White & Case

Kathleen Moriarty, Kaye Scholer

Keith MIller, Perkins Coie

Kevin Debre, Stubbs Alderton

Matt Schwartz, Boies Schiller

Marcia Hofmann, Zeitgeist Law

Marci Gilligan, Ridley McGreevy

Marco Santori, Pillsbury Winthrop

Marjorie Peerce, Ballard Spahr

Michelle Feit, Capes Sokol

Pamela Morgan, Empowered Law

Patrick Murck, Pillsbury Winthrop

Peter Hardy, Ballard Spahr

Peter Van Valkenburgh, Coin Center

Phil Hodgen, HodgenLaw

Randy Lusky, Orrick

Rene Palomino, Corona Law Firm

Richard Levin, Polsinelli

Robin Emmans, Second Street Law

Sanford Boxerman, Capes Sokol

Ted Mlynar, Hogan Lovells

Tim Treanor, Sidley Austin

Tor Ekland, Tor Ekeland

Veronica McGregor, Goodwin

Jerry Brito, Coin Center executive director and DCLDC board member: "The early internet could not have reached the kind of global scale we see today without the work of motivated entrepreneurs and tinkerers. Historically, defence coalitions similar to the DCLDC have played a key role in keeping the way free for innovators pushing the envelope to build out promising network technologies."

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