About Crypto License Services
A specialist crypto licensing firm. Not a generalist that also does crypto.
We work exclusively on digital asset regulation, licensing and compliance. Founded in 2018. Partner-led from the first call to ongoing licence maintenance.
Our story
Built for the way crypto regulation actually moves
CLS — Crypto License Services — was founded in 2018 by Daniel R. Whitmore after eight years at a Magic Circle firm leading the financial regulation emerging-tech desk. The thesis was simple. Crypto regulation was about to fragment across dozens of jurisdictions, and clients would be better served by a specialist firm with senior counsel in each region than by a generalist firm where crypto sits behind banking, securities and fintech in the partner queue.
Two more anchor partners joined within 18 months. Layla A. Hassan built MENA & APAC out of Dubai and Singapore. Marcus T. Andersson took the Americas and offshore practice. Two senior specialists followed: Tomáš Novák for EU MiCA and Eastern Europe (joining from the European Banking Authority), and Dr. Ingrid Müller as AML lead (joining from FINMA). Today the firm runs out of five offices, with 30+ people on the bench, exclusively focused on digital asset matters.
What we do
End-to-end licensing across 17 jurisdictions. Jurisdiction strategy, entity formation, AML / KYC programme design, licence application, regulator Q&A, banking introductions, and ongoing MLRO and reporting support.
- Licensing. VASP, CASP, VATP, VARA, MSB, MTL, BitLicense, EMI, DLT, AFSL and 20+ other crypto-relevant frameworks.
- AML / KYC. Compliance programme design, transaction monitoring rules, FATF Travel Rule implementation, MLRO function as a service.
- Banking. Direct relationships with crypto-friendly banks across UK, EU, UAE, Singapore, Switzerland and the US.
- Token classification. SEC Howey analysis, MiCA EMT / ART / utility token mapping, FCA financial promotions opinions.
- Ongoing support. Annual filings, change-of-control approvals, regulator audits, AML programme refreshes.
What we believe
Four principles that shape every engagement
Honest assessment first
We say no if your project doesn't fit a jurisdiction, even when it costs us a fee. A wrong-fit application costs you 6–12 months and a refusal on file that follows you everywhere.
One license is rarely enough
We plan multi-jurisdictional structures from day one. A single licensed entity is brittle. The right architecture is two or three legs, not one.
Substance over shells
We won't help build a paper company that collapses on first regulator audit. Director residency, office space, MLRO function and AML governance are designed to be defensible.
Always-current rulebook
Every recommendation is grounded in the current rulebook, not last year's blog post. We update internal jurisdiction memos quarterly and replace them entirely when a regime shifts.
Our team
Senior counsel covering five regions
Partner
Daniel R. Whitmore
Founder & Managing Partner
Founder of CLS. Dual-qualified Solicitor (E&W) and NY Attorney. LL.M. Financial Regulation, LSE.
Partner
Layla A. Hassan
Partner — Head of MENA & APAC
Founding partner. Lead authority on UAE virtual asset regulation (VARA, ADGM FSRA, DMCC) and APAC licensing.
Partner
Marcus T. Andersson
Partner — Head of Americas & Offshore
16 years of international tax structuring and offshore corporate experience. Admitted to the BVI, Cayman and Sweden Bars.
Senior Specialist
Tomáš Novák
Senior Counsel — EU & Eastern Europe
Leads the firm's MiCA implementation practice and Eastern European jurisdictions. Former EBA Senior Policy Officer.
Senior Specialist
Dr. Ingrid Müller
Senior Compliance Officer & AML Lead
Lead authority on AML / CFT compliance frameworks. Former senior examiner at FINMA. PhD Financial Regulation, Zurich.
Where we are
Five offices, one partnership
We're not a referral network of independent firms. Every office is part of one partnership, on one matter management system, with one engagement letter for the client.
HQ
London
London, United Kingdom
MENA
Dubai
Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE
APAC
Singapore
Singapore Central Business District
EU
Tallinn
Tallinn, Estonia
Americas
Miami
Miami, Florida, United States
Recognition
Where the market places us
- Chambers FinTech. Ranked firm for Crypto & Digital Assets, UK and UAE bands.
- Legal 500. Recommended for Financial Services Regulation: Cryptoassets.
- Industry membership. Global Digital Finance, Crypto Council for Innovation, ACAMS.
- Working groups. UK Treasury cryptoasset financial promotions, EBA MiCA technical standards consultations.
- Press. Quoted in the Financial Times, CoinDesk, The Block, Reuters, Bloomberg.
Rankings reflect Chambers and Legal 500 editorial. We don't pay for entries.