Sector

Digital Assets & Blockchain

Digital finance and online assets create unique challenges that require specific expertise. Quastels provides clear, strategic advice across all digital asset matters in the UK and internationally.

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An introduction to Quastels for digital assets & blockchain

Our specialist team of digital asset lawyers helps businesses, individuals, financial institutions and investors protect and maximise their digital assets.

We act for clients on a wide range of issues, including contentious matters such as crypto disputes, digital asset recovery and blockchain regulations, to non-contentious support covering tax-efficient transactions and private wealth portfolio management.

With a strong track record of legal expertise in crypto litigation and compliance, we handle everything from enforcing smart contracts to resolving jurisdictional issues.

Digital Assets & Blockchain

Our Digital Assets & Blockchain Services

Quastels’ digital assets solicitors provide expert legal advice in crypto litigation, digital asset recovery, and compliance.

Expertise

Smart Contracts & Licensing

We create smart contracts that enable businesses to exploit their digital assets whilst protecting their interests.

Services provided:

  • Drafting and enforcing smart contracts
  • Licensing agreements for digital assets
  • IP protection in smart contract frameworks
  • Legal guidance on blockchain licensing

Expertise

DAO Structure and Governance

We provide guidance on structuring, governance, and compliance to ensure DAO’s operate smoothly and legally.

Services provided:

  • DAO formation and governance
  • Legal compliance for DAOs
  • Drafting DAO operating agreements
  • Regulatory advice for decentralised entities

Expertise

Brand Protection & Enforcement

Our digital asset lawyers offer strategic enforcement and effective legal action for infringements against unauthorised use of brand assets.

Services provided:

  • Intellectual property rights protection for digital assets
  • Brand enforcement for Non-Fungible Tokens and blockchain solutions
  • Cease-and-desist actions
  • Litigation for brand infringement in digital spaces

Expertise

Compliance & Data Security

Our team helps clients navigate the complex regulations governing digital assets, ensuring operations are compliant and data is secure.

Services provided:

  • GDPR and global privacy law compliance
  • Artificial intelligence compliance
  • AML/KYC compliance for crypto businesses
  • Data protection advisory for blockchain entities
  • Strategic advisory on data security in digital operations

Expertise

Statutory Regulation

We provide proactive advice on how to remain compliant with the latest laws governing digital assets and blockchain technology.

Services provided:

  • Regulatory compliance for crypto and blockchain entities
  • UK and international statutory regulation advisory
  • Legal guidance on evolving crypto regulations
  • Representation before regulatory bodies

Expertise

Tax of Digital Assets for Individuals and Companies

Strategic tax advice for individuals and companies involved in the digital asset space.

Services provided:

  • Tax planning for crypto transactions
  • International tax compliance for digital assets
  • Tax advisory for NFTs, tokens and digital assets
  • Corporate tax structuring for blockchain companies

Expertise

Jurisdictional Issues

We help clients achieve compliant digital operations across multiple jurisdictions.

Services provided:

  • Jurisdictional advisory for crypto and blockchain operations
  • Cross-border legal compliance for digital assets
  • Regulatory defence across jurisdictions
  • Legal strategies for operating across multiple territories

The Quastels Team

Your Digital Assets & Blockchain Experts

Jonathan-Gross-2-scaled-e1734953164413
Jonathan Gross

Partner

Commercial Real Estate

Ben-Rosen-2-scaled-e1735039661602
Ben Rosen

Partner

Private Wealth & Tax

Jack-Burrows-2-scaled-e1737043834785
Jack Burroughs

Senior Associate

Private Wealth & Tax

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Frequently Asked Questions

Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries

Before the estate is distributed, the executors must confirm that all of the deceased’s creditors have been located and any debts are settled. The executors must place a newspaper notice to creditors, also allow six months from the date of the grant for any claimant against the estate to come forward.  The executors must also ensure that the deceased’s tax affairs have been finalised, including settling all IHT, income tax and capital gains tax.

 

The residuary estate can only be distributed to the beneficiaries in accordance with the deceased’s Will once the estate has been finalised.

 

It is important to note, that the above stages are based on the assumption that the deceased left a valid Will appointing executors to deal with their estate. If there is not a valid Will, otherwise known as an intestacy, the process to administer the estate will be slightly different.

 

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Collecting the estate assets and settling estate liabilities

The executors will provide a copy of the Grant of Probate to any asset holders and request that the deceased’s assets are sold, liquidated or transferred.

 

Once all assets are collected in, any outstanding liabilities will be settled from the deceased’s estate funds before the estate can be finalised and distributed.

Applying for Probate

The executors will make an application to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate.  If the estate is taxable the executors will not be able to apply for Probate until HMRC have accepted that all IHT has been paid.

 

The Grant of Probate is the document that confirms the individuals who are legally entitled to administer the estate. Once this has been obtained, the executors are able to begin collecting in the estate assets and settling any liabilities.

Reporting the value of the estate to HMRC and paying IHT

When the estate must be reported to HMRC, the executors need to complete an IHT return, known as an IHT400.

 

The IHT400 and enclosed schedules will set out the value of the deceased’s assets and any outstanding liabilities.

 

Any applicable IHT reliefs or exemptions will be applied to the gross value of the estate and the IHT due will be calculated and paid to HMRC.  IHT is ordinarily paid in advance of applying for probate subject to the availability of the option to pay by instalments. The instalment option is usually available when the deceased owned a property.

Valuing assets for probate

The value of assets for probate purposes is the value as at the date of death.

 

When valuing property, it is recommended to obtain a red book valuation of the property as at the date of death.

 

If, however, you are valuing personal possessions such as jewellery, the value included is the market value as at the date of death, not the insurance value. It is also recommended that a professional valuation of any jewellery, or valuable possessions, is obtained.

 

When valuing shares and investments, it is the value of those holdings as at the end of the day on the date of death that is required.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process whereby a deceased individual’s estate is administered.

 

The principal stages during the administration of the estate include:

1. Valuing the assets and liabilities within the estate as at the date of death;

2. Reporting the value of the estate to HMRC and paying inheritance tax (IHT), if required;

3. Applying for the Grant of Probate;

4. Collecting in the estate assets and settling estate liabilities; and

5. Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries.

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