Carey Olsen has been recognised as Digital Assets Practice of the Year at the 2025 Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Private Client Awards, securing one of the most competitive categories at the international event.

The offshore law firm is among the few with a dedicated digital assets team and has advised on landmark projects including the first Bitcoin investment fund, the first Ethereum-denominated fund and the world’s first digital asset exchange traded fund. Its lawyers have also supported clients on trading platforms, token issuances, digital asset-linked insurance products, decentralised finance protocols and decentralised autonomous organisations.

The practice, led by partners Steven Rees Davies, Chris Duncan, Chris Griffin, Elizabeth Killeen, Richard Munden and Matthew Brehaut, is also increasingly focused on the tokenisation of traditional financial assets on blockchain infrastructure. The firm has advised on the creation of offshore structures using permissioned tokens and so-called “smart contracts”.

Mr Duncan said the accolade underscored Carey Olsen’s leadership in the fast-evolving field. “Securing the Digital Assets Practice of the Year award highlights our leadership in this innovative area. We are proud to advise on some of the most complex matters at the intersection of law and technology, and this recognition is a testament to our forward-thinking approach and the trust our clients place in us.”

Now in their 20th year, the Step Private Client Awards honour excellence and innovation across the private client industry, drawing entries from firms worldwide.