Jaak Poldma
Biography
Overview
Jaak is a senior associate in the White & Case Commercial Disputes group. He is an experienced lawyer representing clients in high-stakes disputes in English courts, arbitration tribunals and other forums, and advising on regulatory issues. In 2023, he completed a 6-month secondment at a fintech unicorn, advising mainly on contentious regulatory issues.
Jaak is dual-qualified (England & Wales and New York) and has represented technology companies, financial institutions, asset managers, and multinational corporations in litigation and arbitration, including joint venture disputes, shareholder disagreements, contractual breaches, and breaches of directors' duties.
Since 2018, Jaak has actively participated on blockchain and cryptocurrency matters, representing a FinTech company in a shareholder dispute, representing a shareholder in a dispute related to DeFi projects, and advising clients and speaking on cryptocurrency regulations and litigation risks.
As a former professional tennis player, Jaak is a competitive and passionate advocate for his clients' needs.
Experience
Representing the Defendant in Commercial Court proceedings concerning an alleged loan and option agreement relating to a proposed fintech venture.
Representing a corporate lender in relation to its rights against a defaulting borrower under a bespoke, high-value facility agreement and associated share charge, as well as the proposed launch of a new financial product.
Acting for a private equity investment vehicle in LCIA arbitration proceedings relating to the operation of drag-along provisions in a shareholders' agreement, which focused, in particular, on whether the proposed purchaser was a "bona fide third party" in the context of a private equity structure.
Advising a founder and shareholder of blockchain-enabled businesses, including cryptocurrency wallets, decentralised finance platforms, and prime brokerages for digital assets, in disputes related to ownership of digital assets, management of the businesses, regulatory issues, and relationships with cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms.
Representing a limited partnership in LCIA proceedings in relation to a shareholder dispute and contractual breaches in the energy space.
Representing an international technology company in resolving disputes with an investor and a director of the company, relating to the use of cryptocurrencies.
Representing a major commodities firm in ICC arbitration proceedings, relating to a multi-billion-dollar international joint venture project.
Representing an asset manager in LCIA proceedings seated in London, relating to debt and equity investment disputes.
Representing a logistics and engineering company in LCIA proceedings seated in London, relating to fraud claims and contractual disputes in Africa.
Representing a global technology company in a copyright infringement suit in the US District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Advising blockchain and cryptocurrency projects on global litigation risks.
"Arbitration and cryptocurrencies: Can arbitration bring a form of stability to this fluctuating market?", Club Español del Arbitraje - French and Mexican Chapters, November 2022
"Cryptocurrency disputes – Litigation v Arbitration", Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' London Branch Committee, February 2022
"Jurisdictional Questions for non-US Blockchain Companies", London Blockchain Foundation (LBCF), November 2018
