Blockchain and Smart Contracts: The Impact on Your Legal Practice, Startups, and the World (2025 Edition)

Andrew Bull | Bull Blockchain Law LLP

Andrew is the founder of Bull Blockchain Law LLP. After finding Bitcoin in 2011, Andrew ran one of the first cryptocurrency mining companies in the U.S. Since writing a thesis on Bitcoin regulation in 2013, he has written several publications for legal journals, been quoted in Forbes on digital assets, spoken at international blockchain conferences, contributed to a European Union publication on U.S. blockchain legislation, and developed some of the first blockchain-focused courses for law schools and graduate programs. In 2020, he was one of the American Bar Association’s Top 40 Young Lawyer Award nominees and is currently an adjunct professor of law at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline’s School of Law, teaching blockchain and cryptocurrency law. Today, Bull Blockchain Law LLP is one of the largest solely blockchain technology focused law firms in the U.S., representing clients in domestic and international jurisdictions.

I. Understanding blockchain technology and smart contracts | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

• Key legal definitions and essential terminology
• How smart contracts work: Code as law and its implications

II. Regulatory developments and compliance | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

• Global and U.S. regulatory frameworks for blockchain
• Addressing legal challenges, privacy concerns, and jurisdictional issues
• Federal and state regulatory precedent
• General applications of the technology and conflicts with the law

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. Real-world applications for blockchain and smart contracts | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

• Use cases in corporate law, intellectual property, and contract automation
• Blockchain’s role in startups: Fundraising, governance, and operational strategies

IV. Navigating risks and disputes | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

• Common vulnerabilities in blockchain systems and mitigating legal risks
• Enforceability and dispute resolution strategies for smart contracts

V. Practical considerations for legal professionals | 2:50pm – 3:10pm

• Ethical implications and tools to implement blockchain in legal practice
• Future trends shaping the legal profession and global markets