# Tokenization, crypto & Web3 law firm. Tokenizing a real-world asset (RWA)? Launching a token? Get help with the legal structure, licensing and compliance. Based in the UAE. Working with businesses worldwide. [Get Expert Advice](https://ape.law/#contact) Selected clients and partners Animoca Brands Illuvium BTC Markets Sparta Labs El Dorado CBI APY App Alphanomics Lizard Labs Breathe Education Dame ZigZag Labs ## Where Do You Need Help? Start with where you are now. - [Set Up Clean](https://ape.law/services#setup-services) — Choose where to set up, how to own the business and what to agree with your co-founders before you launch. - [Operate With Confidence](https://ape.law/services#structure-services) — Get help with licences, tokens, funds, contracts and compliance as your business grows. - [Get Out Of Trouble Fast](https://ape.law/services#help-services) — A founder dispute, frozen funds or a regulatory investigation? Find out what you can do and what needs attention first. [View all legal services](https://ape.law/services) ## Real Problems. Real Legal Work. What happened, what changed, and what you can learn from it. Watch the breakdown or read the full case study. - [The license said no?](https://ape.law/case-studies/adgm-web3-vc-regulatory-pathway) — ADGM STRATEGY WEB3 VC · ADGM REGULATORY STRATEGY The regulations appeared to end the project. Challenge Licence did not permit token investments The Win A new ADGM pathway created - [Starting with the token?](https://ape.law/case-studies/tokenization-should-not-start-with-token) — TOKENIZATION TOKENIZATION · REGULATORY STRATEGY The token was not the place to start. Challenge The token was being treated as the start The Win Regulator-ready structure designed first - [No perfect evidence?](https://ape.law/case-studies/founder-dispute-evidence-leverage) — FOUNDER DISPUTE FOUNDER DISPUTE · EVIDENCE STRATEGY The founder had more leverage than he realised. Challenge No single piece of perfect evidence The Win Evidence rebuilt into leverage - [Just another contract?](https://ape.law/case-studies/crypto-acquisition-contract-risks) — TRANSACTIONS CRYPTO ACQUISITION · TRANSACTION STRATEGY This acquisition needed more than a contract. Challenge Crypto was treated like a normal asset The Win Crypto-specific protections built in [View all case studies](https://ape.law/case-studies) ## The People Behind The Advice Victoria Wells ### [Victoria Wells](https://ape.law/victoria-wells) Principal & Co-Founder Victoria leads Ape Law’s legal practice and works on licensing, tokenization, corporate and regulatory matters for digital-asset businesses. Stephan Roberto ### [Stephan Roberto](https://ape.law/stephan-roberto) CTO & Co-Founder Stephan leads Ape Law’s technical direction and brings technical input to work involving token mechanics, smart contracts and protocol design. Haider Ali ### [Haider Ali](https://ape.law/haider-ali) Associate, Web3 Regulation & Compliance Haider works with Victoria on licensing, compliance and corporate matters for crypto, Web3 and digital-asset businesses. ## Reviews > Victoria from ApeLaw is our chief legal officer and like no other. Her unique blend of web-native legal expertise, enthusiasm for her work and unperturbed commitment to navigating regulatory uncertainty set her apart. Her energy, speed, and fearlessness are invaluable in navigating the legal complexities of GameFi and Web3. Danny Wilson CFO - Illuvium > Victoria and her team bring an exceptional level of depth and clarity to what is often a complex and fragmented regulatory environment. Her detailed understanding of the various regulatory frameworks for digital asset businesses in the UAE from VARA to ADGM to DIFC is truly par excellence. Her ability to parse regulatory intent, anticipate implementation risks, and translate that into operational impact is unmatched in our experience. Caroline Bowler CEO - BTC Markets > Ape Law was our go to for best-in-field legal advice and tokenomics for our fine art asset token launch. Their expertise across our issue and launch jurisdictions, web-native perspective and network have supported us in taking our venture from a concept to reality. They are partners in our artistic revolution. Troy Sadler CEO - ArtworksX > Victoria and her team were our first choice for legal advice, corporate structuring & licensing from the get go when we looked to relocate our blockchain project to the UAE, specifically the ADGM. Ape Law's multidisciplinary expertise have been invaluable as we set up. We have saved valuable time and a lot of money working with Ape Law. Ryan Baggage Founder - OceanBlocks ## How It Works 01 ### Tell Us What’s Happening Tell us what you are building or what has gone wrong. Include where you operate and any deadline you are facing. 02 ### Agree On The Work You will know what the work covers, what you will receive and what it costs before it begins. 03 ### Put The Advice To Work Work through the next step, whether that means preparing an application, drafting agreements or responding to a dispute. ## Insights & Resources Guides, legal updates and lessons from real matters. - [How can I check if a crypto company is licensed in the UAE?](https://ape.law/blog/check-crypto-company-licensed-uae) — Regulation & Compliance Read the guide - [How Should You Structure RWA Tokenization in the UAE?](https://ape.law/blog/rwa-tokenization) — Tokenization & Real-World Assets Read the guide - [Should Your Crypto Fund Use Singapore, Cayman or the UAE?](https://ape.law/blog/singapore-vs-cayman) — Funds, Finance & Transactions Read the guide [View all insights](https://ape.law/blog) A free tool from Ape Law ### Check a UAE crypto licence Check the company, licence status and permitted activities against the regulator’s register. [Open the licence tracker](https://tracker.ape.law/) ## Frequently Asked Questions What to expect, what to prepare and how fees work. What services does a crypto law firm provide? A crypto law firm can advise on entity and founder structures, virtual-asset licensing, token and fund design, AML/CFT compliance, commercial agreements, ongoing counsel and crypto-related disputes. The right scope depends on what you are building, where it will operate and the decision you need to make. Why can legal and technical input matter for a crypto project? A token, smart contract or platform feature can affect the legal analysis because the technology determines what users can do and which rights or risks may arise. Ape Law can bring legal and technical input into the same engagement where both are relevant to the agreed scope. How can Ape Law support a UAE crypto licence application? Support can begin before an application by mapping the proposed activities, customers, custody, money flows, ownership, governance and operational readiness. That work helps identify potential regimes and the documents needed for the chosen route. The regulator makes the licensing decision. What happens before a new legal engagement begins? An initial discussion establishes what you need to decide and whether the matter fits the practice. The next step is to agree the questions, required inputs, deliverables, fees, timing and limits of the engagement. How much do crypto lawyers charge? The fee arrangement depends on the scope. Defined projects may use flat or milestone fees, ongoing counsel may use a retainer, and disputes or changing matters may require hourly work. The scope, inputs, deliverables and fees should be agreed before work begins. Can a crypto lawyer guarantee a licence, bank account or result? No. Regulators, banks, counterparties and courts make their own decisions. Legal support can help you understand the requirements, prepare the work and assess the options, but it cannot promise an approval, account, recovery or particular outcome. ## Get clear answers Tell us about your project and what you need help with. - **$500M+** in compliant token raises structured - **First-ever** VC fund manager licence in ADGM for virtual assets Canonical page: https://ape.law/