Carlton Fields Adds Renowned Virtual Currency Lawyer Andrew Hinkes
March 27, 2019
Miami, Fla. – Carlton Fields welcomes Andrew “Drew” Hinkes to its Miami office. Nationally recognized as one of the Most Influential People in Blockchain by CoinDesk, Hinkes is the newest addition to the firm’s leading Blockchain and Digital Currency practice.
“We are thrilled that Drew is joining us,” said Carlton Fields’ Blockchain and Digital Currency practice co-chair Justin S. Wales. “He is one of the most sought-after experts in the field, adding even more depth to our practice.”
Carlton Fields’ national Blockchain and Digital Currency practice boasts a distinguished line up of lawyers based throughout the U.S., including in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York who advise clients ranging from new ventures to multinational insurance and financial companies. The firm’s multidisciplinary team is committed to embracing and maximizing the transformative potential of this technology.
Hinkes is a trailblazer in the digital currency field and will remain as the general counsel and chief legal officer of Athena Blockchain Inc., an investment bank focused on structuring and placement of tokenized securities. Hinkes has unparalleled experience advising companies and entrepreneurs – including token issuers, Bitcoin ATM networks, investment funds, and high-net-worth investors – in the digital currency and blockchain space. Drawing on that experience, as a member of Carlton Fields’ Business Transactions practice group, Hinkes will primarily advise blockchain, fintech, and financial services clients in corporate matters, including regulatory compliance and capital formation. He is also an accomplished trial attorney who has litigated a variety of complex commercial matters, with a particular emphasis on fraud, fiduciary representation, data privacy, and cybersecurity cases.
“Drew is among the very few lawyers in the nation who are fluent in the language of digital currency,” said Matthew E. Kohen, Carlton Fields Blockchain and Digital Currency practice co‑chair. “We have quickly built a roster of some of the country’s finest digital currency attorneys, and I look forward to the continued growth of the practice.”
In addition to his legal work, Hinkes is a frequently cited authority in the digital currency community. As a contributing writer for CoinDesk and The Business Journals, Hinkes has written or been quoted in more than 50 articles on blockchain and associated technologies.
“Quite simply, Matt and Justin, the co-chairs of the Blockchain and Digital Currency practice, were two of my top motivations for joining the firm,” said Hinkes. “They’ve built an exceptional practice that is based on a genuine understanding of a unique industry. Because of their efforts, Carlton Fields is at the forefront of addressing the complex legal issues faced by today’s innovators. I appreciate Carlton Fields’ commitment to embracing the transformative potential of this technology and I am looking forward to contributing to the practice.”
Hinkes will also continue his role as an adjunct professor at the New York University’s Stern Business School and the New York University School of Law, co-teaching “Digital Currency, Blockchains, and the Future of Financial Services.”
He holds an A.B., cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law.