Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP has announced that Jonathan Galea has joined the firm as a counsel in its Digital Assets and Emerging Technology practice, CahillNXT, in London.

With a career spanning over a decade in the crypto asset sector, Dr Galea is recognised as one of Europe’s pioneering crypto-native lawyers and a strong advocate for Bitcoin adoption and open finance.

Dr Galea, who previously founded and led BCAS for the past eight years, described the move as a pivotal step in his professional journey. In a statement on his LinkedIn profile, he remarked, “Well... the cat's finally & officially out of the bag. Today's the day I start a new and exciting chapter in my career, as I join the team at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP.”

Dr Galea recently served as lead external EU counsel to two of the top five stablecoin issuers by market capitalisation, assisting them in navigating the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). He has also been instrumental in helping crypto exchanges secure regulatory licences in Malta and Liechtenstein.

Reflecting on his decision to make the move, Dr Galea noted that while he remains passionate about advisory work in MiCA and legal engineering, he felt it was time to establish a stronger presence in the United States. He elaborated, “I've worked with practically every major name in the industry, tackled some of the toughest problems in European crypto law, and hopefully changed the industry for the better. I feel that I've reached a plateau in my growth... There's nothing more that terrifies me than stagnation.”

Lewis Rinaudo Cohen, Co-Chair of CahillNXT, expressed his enthusiasm about Dr Galea’s appointment, stating, “I have known Jonathan and respected his work for many years. He is one of the very top lawyers in the crypto space in Europe. Jonathan’s arrival underscores the global commitment that we have to major emerging technologies at CahillNXT.”

Samson A. Enzer, also Co-Chair of CahillNXT, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Dr Galea’s deep understanding of the sector. “Jonathan has a passion for the use and adoption of Bitcoin and other crypto assets and believes strongly that providing effective legal advice to clients requires a deep understanding of the nuances of the issues at stake. His ability to break down the barriers between law and technology in this area will truly help differentiate us in the field.”

Dr Galea has also co-authored Malta’s Virtual Financial Assets framework and consulted various regulatory bodies, including the European Banking Authority and the Financial Services Agency in Japan. Additionally, he has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta, educating students on the history and taxonomy of crypto projects.

While his new role at CahillNXT marks a major shift, Dr Galea reassured his network that he will continue to be based in London. “Will still be based in London (I couldn't live without hearing 'see it, say it, sorted' at least once a day), and will still remain as approachable as ever,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, Dr Galea expressed excitement about joining the firm, stating, “Cahill has shown a level of commitment to being leaders in the crypto asset space that is not seen at many firms. I am excited to bring my crypto native experience in the EU and elsewhere to Cahill and to work alongside Lewis, Sam, and the rest of their outstanding team.”