Dean Armstrong KC

This is the centrepiece of Dean's practice so please see entries above.

• Cryptoasset recovery
• Cryptoasset insolvency data misuse
• NFT advice
• Art law advice in relation to digital assets.

Notable Cases

• FTX
• D’Aloia v (1) Persons Unknown (2) Binance and Others [2022] EWHC 1723 (Ch)
• Sports data rights

As Dean's practice has developed with the emphasis on crypto and digital assets, this aspect has gone hand in hand with asset recovery. Dean is currently instructed in the most prominent cryptoasset fraud and asset recovery case before the United Kingdom courts. This involves consideration of asset tracing and following; consideration of transfer of title; availability of equitable remedies and the ambit of jurisdiction over digital assets. Dean is also instructed in cases concerning methods of service by digital asset and the validity of claimed relief by the imposition of constructive trust.

Further, Dean is currently instructed in the largest crypto insolvency case that the world has seen. The collapse of FTX, and its associated companies, has caused multi billion dollar losses across the world.

Dean is instructed by a central government related body, along with Racheal Muldoon, his junior, as sole UK counsel to advise solicitors and counsel instructed in the Bahamas. This has involved dealing in a multitude of issues which are fully international, highly sensitive and involve vast sums of money. This has exposed us to issues of conflict of laws and jurisdiction and issues of enforcement of foreign judicial rulings. All of these matters are of the highest sensitivity and are matters attracting daily international scrutiny.

Dean is currently instructed in a multimillion pound claim by a prominent Georgian national, now living in the UK, against current and past high ranking figures in the Georgian political landscape. The seniority of the individuals concerned goes to the highest level. The legal issues involved are many and complex. These include issues of jurisdiction; applicable law; state immunity capacity of insolvent entities to sue. There is a second related but separate action concerning the misuse of patents.

This is an area of great strength to Dean. He has conducted fraud cases for the bulk of his career at the Bar. As Dean's practice has developed with the emphasis on crypto and digital assets, this aspect has gone hand in hand with asset recovery. Dean is currently instructed in the most prominent cryptoasset fraud and asset recovery case before the United Kingdom courts. This involves consideration of asset tracing and following; consideration of transfer of title; availability of equitable remedies and the ambit of jurisdiction over digital assets. Dean is also instructed in cases concerning methods of service by digital asset and the validity of claimed relief by the imposition of constructive trust.

Dean has been invited to head the crypto offering of a "Big 6" accountancy firm.

Dean is fully engaged in 11 data class actions which involve very high profile athletes, government bodies and corporates. A central plank of these will be the data rights implications of the use of AI and other digital enhancement. In these groundbreaking cases, Dean leads a team of legal and non legal experts.

Dean is currently instructed in several cases involving non fungible tokens. Some of these relate to well known works of art and depictions of famous media artists including John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Dean is also assisting with the largest Bollywood event outside of India.

Dean is fully engaged in 11 data class actions which involve very high profile athletes, government bodies and corporates. A central plank of these will be the data rights implications of the use of AI and other digital enhancement. In these groundbreaking cases, Dean leads a team of legal and non legal experts.

Please see entries above, all of which have strong international flavours. Trust law is also prominent in all of Dean's cryptoasset cases.

Dean recently authored the first textbook on crypto assets and matrimonial finance. Dean is currently instructed as the specialist silk in cryptoassets as part of the team advising in a multimillion pound divorce case. Dean regularly gives talks and seminars on this subject.

Dean is a barrister recognised internationally for his ‘Technology Law’ expertise encompassing a broad array of legal aspects concerning Web 3.0, digital assets, data, and artificial intelligence (AI).