Stephen Rutenberg A former co-leader of Polsinelli PC's blockchain and cryptocurrency practice has joined Duane Morris LLP in Miami, the firm announced Wednesday.

Stephen Rutenberg has joined Duane Morris as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group. He practices in the area of digital assets, blockchain technology, fintech and special situations investing.

"Duane Morris has an emerging and comprehensive digital assets practice and a clear commitment to expanding its capabilities," Rutenberg said in a statement. "With digital assets and blockchain technology increasingly converging with special situations investing and traditional finance, I'm eager to help drive the firm's momentum in this fast-moving sector."

In his practice, Rutenberg represents asset managers, hedge funds, private equity firms, financial institutions and technology companies in transactions that involve tokenized structures, crypto-secured lending, digital asset trading and claims, and Web3 applications, the firm said. He can also help clients with distressed debt and secondary trading markets, such as the purchase, sale and financings of loans, digital asset-related claims and other credit instruments.

Rutenberg negotiates total return swaps, credit default swaps and other bespoke structures used for the acquisition or financing of loan and claim portfolios, as well as advises clients on general financings, lending transactions and the formation and structuring of funds and startup ventures, the firm said.

Rutenberg has been involved in the digital asset space since its early years and served as a founder and principal contributor to Polsinelli's BitBlog, a resource on digital asset policy and regulation.

"Stephen's leading-edge experience with digital assets will bolster our work in the banking, private equity and deal sectors. And we anticipate the opportunity for his broader contributions in tax, business restructuring and private client services," said Brian P. Kerwin, chair of the corporate practice group, in a statement.

The corporate practice group is made up of nearly 200 attorneys and has grown in the areas of capital markets and mergers and acquisitions already this year, Kerwin added.

"[We] now look toward the blockchain and fintech sectors to diversify our client offerings," Kerwin said.

Rutenberg is admitted to practice in Florida and New York, and as a solicitor in England and Wales. He regularly handles cross-border trading, digital asset and special situations matters.

"Our corporate practice continues on an upward trajectory in an increasingly fast-paced and demanding environment, and we are thrilled to add a partner with Stephen's background and experience in Miami, an important city and international gateway for us," said the firm's chairman and CEO, Matthew A. Taylor, in a statement. "Our offices in South Florida, including Boca Raton, are increasingly significant to our platform, and we will continue our efforts to recruit and retain our tremendous bench of talent in the region."

Rutenberg is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and holds a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College.

"We welcome Stephen to our office and are so pleased that he has selected Duane Morris for this next phase of his career," said Scott D. Kravetz, managing partner of the firm's Miami office, in a statement.

Duane Morris is home to more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm said it represents clients in all major practices and industries.