Piper Alderman is proud to announce the launch of “Law of Code: Blockchain and the Law in Australia”, a legal textbook authored by Steven Pettigrove and Michael Bacina. This title, published by LexisNexis, is the first of its kind in Australia to comprehensively explore the intersection of blockchain technology and the law.
The book provides a cutting-edge guide to the legal challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain and digital assets. It covers a wide range of topics including smart contracts, DAOs, NFTs, property law, financial services regulation, AML/CTF, intellectual property, and privacy law. Aimed at legal professionals, academics, and students, Law of Code is set to become a foundational resource in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
To celebrate the release, Piper Alderman hosted two official launch events:
- Melbourne – 19 June 2025, featuring Dr Aaron M Lane, barrister and academic as moderator.
- Sydney – 20 June 2025, featuring Alice Dillon, Deputy General Counsel at Immutable as moderator.
The authors discussed the current state of cryptocurrency regulation in Australia, as well as insights into the key themes of the book.
Author and Partner at Piper Alderman, Steven Pettigrove commented on the book:
“Blockchain and digital assets are increasingly interacting with the legal system. This textbook is intended to help policymakers, lawyers, students and builders navigate the digital economy and the growing body of regulation and case law relating to this emerging technology.”
Co-author and former partner of Piper Alderman, Michael Bacina stated:
"By giving policymakers, regulators, lawyers and law students the facts about blockchain and the latest caselaw, we hope this book will help move Australia forward to catch up with the global adoption of fit for purpose crypto laws and drive more innovation down under."
About the Authors:
- Steven Pettigrove is a Partner at Piper Alderman and Head of the Blockchain Group. He brings over 15 years of experience in financial services, fintech, and digital asset regulation.
- Michael Bacina is Executive in Residence at Global Digital Finance and a leading authority on digital assets law, with 20 years of legal experience and a background in tech entrepreneurship.
The book can be purchased and is available now through LexisNexis.
