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Helen Pugh published in JIBFL: “Not your key, not your coin”: the private key and ownership

Helen Pugh published in JIBFL: “Not your key, not your coin”: the private key and ownership

Helen Pugh has been published in the April 2026 edition of Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law on “Not your key, not your coin”: the private key and ownership. Ownership, possession and control of an asset have long been intertwined in the public’s consciousness. Albeit implicitly recognising that a possessory title can be displaced by a superior legal title, the old adage “possession is nine-tenths of the law” remains a popular refrain carrying more than a grain of truth. Following a series of high-profile collapses of crypto custodians in “the crypto winter”, a digital equivalent has emerged: “not your key, not your coin”. In this article, Helen considers the private key and its role in legal analysis of…

External Publications, News 20 Apr, 2026

Event: Developments in Cross-Border Digital Assets & Sanctions Law: A DIFC, UK & Global Perspective

We are delighted to invite you to join us on Wednesday 26th November 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai for an insightful breakfast seminar on digital assets and sanctions law. The panel of speakers will include Andrew Spink KC, Henry Reid, and Joshua Hitchens, all of Outer Temple Chambers. We are also delighted to be joined by Ed Crosse from Simmons & Simmons Middle East. Our panel of esteemed speakers will discuss the latest trends and global developments in the law, practice and asset enforcement strategies related to digital assets, including in the context of civil fraud claims. They will also consider the effect that extraterritorial US, UK and EU sanctions are likely to have on DIFC disputes and cross-border litigation. Agenda 08:30am – Registration &…

Events, News 19 Nov, 2025

A stellar set of rankings for OTC in Chambers & Partners UK 2026 Guide

Chambers and Partners UK Bar have today launched their 2026 Guide and we are delighted to share the highlights from this year’s rankings, including two new Band 1 awards for Personal Injury: Animal Claims and Cryptocurrency. We are thrilled to share that Outer Temple Chambers has been awarded 12 set rankings in this year’s Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide, including 4 new set rankings, and over 110 individual rankings. This is our best set of rankings yet, as our individual rankings see 14 new entries and 27 elevations, and 2 new Band 1 set rankings. A huge congratulations to all of our barristers and clerks for another year of excellent results. A particular thank you to all our clients…

News 16 Oct, 2025

OTC is delighted with an outstanding set of rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2026 Guide

OTC is delighted with an outstanding set of rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2026 Guide

News 7 Oct, 2025

Henry Reid co-authors article on crypto-asset recovery for Oxford Law Pro’s Expert Essentials, Oxford University Press

Henry Reid co-authors article on crypto-asset recovery for Oxford Law Pro’s Expert Essentials, Oxford University Press

Writing for peer reviewed Oxford Law Pro’s Expert Essentials, Outer Temple Chambers’ barrister Henry Reid and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets Matt Green of Lawrence Stephens provide a practical guide on the recovery of misappropriated crypto-assets. Henry Reid and Matt Green’s article was published in Oxford Law Pro, 14 May 2025, and can be found here. Following the loss of $1m of the stablecoin Tether, Henry and Matt explore the practical issues of asset recovery – including the use of blockchain analytics reports, dealing with crypto exchanges and pursuing persons unknown – as well as the legal considerations. The article begins by discussing an example of a scam in which the claimants transfer one million Tether to persons unknown, considering…

External Publications, News 3 Jun, 2025

Hin Liu joins Outer Temple Chambers

Hin Liu joins Outer Temple Chambers

We are delighted to welcome Hin Liu to the Outer Temple Chambers team as a professional associate. Hin is a distinguished law lecturer at the University of Oxford with extensive experience in the digital asset industry. Hin has worked with the Outer Temple Fintech team on projects such as the ground-breaking reform of the DIFC’s Law of Security and the DIFC’s Digital Assets Law (DIFC DAL). He is currently working on the DIFC AI Law project with members of the Outer Temple team. He has also worked on various cases involving digital assets including Fusang, UNIDROIT, Law Commission, and the Mongolian Government World Bank project. Hin spent two years as a legal and business consultant at a blockchain securities exchange,…

News 6 Mar, 2025

Justina Stewart to Chair 'Recent Developments and Future Trends in the Regulation of Cryptoassets', hosted by FSLA

Justina Stewart to Chair ‘Recent Developments and Future Trends in the Regulation of Cryptoassets’, hosted by FSLA

Justina Stewart will Chair a panel discussion on ‘Recent Developments and Future Trends in the Regulation of Cryptoassets’, hosted by the Financial Services Lawyer Association (FSLA) on Tuesday 18th February 2025 at DAC Beachcroft LLP, London. The panel discussion will focus on the latest developments, future trends and areas of concern in the fast-evolving and increasingly topical field of cryptoasset regulation, followed by an audience Q&A session. Justina Stewart of Outer Temple Chambers will be speaking alongside Victoria McLoughlin of the Financial Conduct Authority, Katie Fry-Paul of Coinbase, and Steve Elam of Cooke Young & Keidan. The event will take place from 5:45pm to 7:30pm, followed by networking drinks. This event is hosted by Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA). FSLA provides a forum…

News 11 Feb, 2025

Justina Stewart speaking at CFAAR Cayman's event: Global Developments in Crypto Disputes

Justina Stewart speaking at CFAAR Cayman’s event: Global Developments in Crypto Disputes

Join Justina Stewart, alongside a panel of experts as they discuss ‘Global Developments in Crypto Disputes’ on Wednesday 12th February 2025 at the George Town Yacht Club in Cayman. The Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery network (CFAAR) Cayman brings together attorneys, insolvency practitioners, fiduciaries, digital asset experts and other relevant professionals to develop networks and share best practices in relation to digital assets, digital asset recovery, and liquidations of funds investing in crypto and other digital assets. CFAAR’s ‘Global Developments in Crypto Disputes’ panel session will bring together experts in digital assets and digital asset recovery from the US, UK and the Cayman Islands who will explore a number of topical global issues in cryptocurrency disputes. Outer Temple’s Justina Stewart , alongside Clare…

News 5 Feb, 2025

Darby v Wang: Cryptocurrencies and Contempt in the Court of Appeal

Darby v Wang: Cryptocurrencies and Contempt in the Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in Darby v Wang in which Helen Pugh acted for the successful appellant. The Court of Appeal once again emphasised the need to adhere to the procedural and other safeguards enjoyed by defendants in civil claims facing contempt of court proceedings. The Background The case of Wang v Darby [2021] EWHC 3054 made waves from the outset when it was taken as authority for the proposition that cryptocurrencies could constitute property subject to a trust. In this latest set of proceedings, cryptocurrencies were again the focus; this time in relation to a defendant’s duty to provide disclosure of assets ancillary to a worldwide freezing order. The claimant issued contempt proceedings on the…

News 4 Feb, 2025

Chambers & Partners award Band 1 Set status to Outer Temple Chambers

Chambers & Partners award Band 1 Set status to Outer Temple Chambers

Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2025 have today launched their 2025 Guide and we are delighted to share the highlights from this year’s rankings, including two Band 1 awards for our Pensions Law team and Travel Law team. We are delighted to share the news that Outer Temple Chambers has yet again been awarded 9 set rankings in the 2025 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide and over 110 individual rankings. In what is our best set of rankings ever, our individual rankings see 12 new entries and 16 elevations, whilst we are delighted with two new Band 1 set rankings. A huge congratulations to all of our barristers and clerks for another year of excellent results. A particular thank…

News 17 Oct, 2024

London Bar Legal 500 Rankings 2025

Another stellar set of rankings for OTC in the Legal 500 2025 Guide

The Legal 500 2025 rankings have just been announced and Outer Temple Chambers is delighted with another year of excellent results including a Tier 1 Pensions ranking We are proud to announce that we have been recognised as a Top Tier Set in Crypto & Blockchain Assets again, as well as achieving a Top Tier Set ranking in Pensions. These Tier 1 rankings mean we are now ranked for excellence in nine practice area rankings with 73 individual members ranked across 27 practice areas. A huge congratulations to all of our barristers and clerks within these teams for another year of excellent results. A particular thank you to all our clients and colleagues for taking the time to provide references.…

News 2 Oct, 2024

Andrew Spink and Justina Stewart speaking at the CFAAR Fireside Chat

Andrew Spink and Justina Stewart speaking at the CFAAR Fireside Chat

Join CFAAR’s Fireside Chat event with Outer Temple’s Crypto specialists Andrew Spink KC and Justina Stewart as they discuss important crypto legal developments in the DIFC. CFAAR is a group of legal industry professionals and intends to bring together some of the world’s leading names in crypto dispute resolution and advisory with the purpose of developing and sharing best practice in this rapidly evolving sphere and placing the UK and common law jurisdictions at centre stage for global crypto dispute resolution. Outer Temple’s Crypto specialists Andrew Spink KC and Justina Stewart are delighted to be joining CFAAR’s Fireside Chat discussing all things Crypto. Join Andrew Spink KC and Justina Stewart on Tuesday, 10th September 2024 at RPC, Tower Bridge House…

News 13 Aug, 2024

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