Perkins Coie has brought on Michael Didiuk, a former official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who headed exams of registered investment advisers to cryptoasset funds, as a partner in its investment management group in San Francisco.

Didiuk was a senior associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Washington, D.C., when he left the firm in January 2010 to join the SEC. During his nearly eight years at the regulator, Didiuk was a member of the SEC's distributed ledger technology and structured products working groups, while also serving as counsel to two SEC commissioners.

“Mike's extensive experience will be a terrific complement to Perkins Coie's market-leading fintech practice,” said a statement by Michael Glaser, chair of the firm's corporate practice. “[He] is poised to make immediate contributions in our clients' leading-edge cryptocurrency and distributed ledger projects, and we enthusiastically welcome him to the firm.”

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Didiuk will work with Perkins Coie's investment management, fintech and blockchain teams. He will also represent clients on various federal securities laws and complex regulatory issues raised by blockchain technology and in connection with the emergence of digital asset sales and digital securities, Perkins Coie said.

“[Mike's] deep experience and understanding of the complex regulatory, enforcement and investment issues in this fast-moving space will allow Mike to provide insightful and strategic counseling to our wide range of clients focused on fintech and crypto,” added a statement by Dax Hansen, chair of Perkins Coie's blockchain and fintech industry groups.

Prior to joining the SEC, Didiuk spent four years at Willkie Farr, where he was part of a team assembled by a former director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management. He previously worked as an associate at Shearman & Sterling and Dechert.

“It's a particularly exciting time to be joining given Perkins Coie's leadership in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space,” Didiuk said in a statement by the firm touting his hire. “I look forward to helping our clients successfully navigate the complexities of the regulatory landscape.”

Perkins Coie's blockchain technology and digital currency industry group was launched in May 2013 as one of the first legal practices focused on decentralized cryptocurrencies and shared ledger technologies.

Perkins Coie has brought on Michael Didiuk, a former official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who headed exams of registered investment advisers to cryptoasset funds, as a partner in its investment management group in San Francisco.

Didiuk was a senior associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Washington, D.C., when he left the firm in January 2010 to join the SEC. During his nearly eight years at the regulator, Didiuk was a member of the SEC's distributed ledger technology and structured products working groups, while also serving as counsel to two SEC commissioners.

“Mike's extensive experience will be a terrific complement to Perkins Coie's market-leading fintech practice,” said a statement by Michael Glaser, chair of the firm's corporate practice. “[He] is poised to make immediate contributions in our clients' leading-edge cryptocurrency and distributed ledger projects, and we enthusiastically welcome him to the firm.”

➤➤ Sign up for What's Next, Law.com's new briefing on the evolving legal framework for cryptocurrency and other new technologies.

Didiuk will work with Perkins Coie's investment management, fintech and blockchain teams. He will also represent clients on various federal securities laws and complex regulatory issues raised by blockchain technology and in connection with the emergence of digital asset sales and digital securities, Perkins Coie said.

“[Mike's] deep experience and understanding of the complex regulatory, enforcement and investment issues in this fast-moving space will allow Mike to provide insightful and strategic counseling to our wide range of clients focused on fintech and crypto,” added a statement by Dax Hansen, chair of Perkins Coie's blockchain and fintech industry groups.

Prior to joining the SEC, Didiuk spent four years at Willkie Farr, where he was part of a team assembled by a former director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management. He previously worked as an associate at Shearman & Sterling and Dechert.

“It's a particularly exciting time to be joining given Perkins Coie's leadership in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space,” Didiuk said in a statement by the firm touting his hire. “I look forward to helping our clients successfully navigate the complexities of the regulatory landscape.”

Perkins Coie's blockchain technology and digital currency industry group was launched in May 2013 as one of the first legal practices focused on decentralized cryptocurrencies and shared ledger technologies.