ROBERT UHL helps clients decode the world of digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology. Robert advises on a broad range of regulatory, transactional, public policy, and enforcement matters, helping clients navigate the emerging rulemaking, legislative, and political environment surrounding the industry.
Robert represents U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, exchanges, trading platforms, FinTech and technology companies, software developers, broker-dealers, investors, financial services firms, and funds.
In the regulatory arena, Robert helps clients develop business plans and offer products and services in compliance with the law as it is today—and with an eye toward what the law might be tomorrow. He guides clients through public and private securities offerings (including token distributions), structuring questions, day-to-day compliance issues, private placement agent requirements, custody rule requirements, cross-border regulatory issues, money services business registration requirements, broker-dealer and investment adviser registration requirements, and SEC regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions.
Robert also works with transactional teams to structure deals and negotiate agreements involving digital asset products, tokenized assets, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, and cryptocurrencies. He offers specialty advice and practical solutions in light of evolving U.S. securities laws and broker-dealer regulatory issues associated with these emerging technologies. Previously, Robert represented public and private companies across industries on cross-border corporate and transactional matters throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, drafting substantive documentation, conducting due diligence, analyzing compliance questions and strategies, negotiating deal terms, and coordinating with clients and counterparties to solve problems and reach closing.
Finally, Robert advises clients on complex legislative, policy, and political matters across the federal government, helping clients navigate Capitol Hill, the White House, and executive branch agencies—including the SEC. Robert strategizes with clients to develop the most effective, individually-tailored plan for them to successfully shape law and policy, efficiently structure their business operations, and deftly maneuver the latest legal and political developments. He remains current with legislative efforts related to digital assets, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrencies (including stablecoins), interpreting relevant changes to federal law and new market regimes as they are proposed, developed, and discussed in Congress. Robert is also a member of the Chamber of Digital Commerce.
In March 2024, Robert was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) Advisory Board, which reviews applications to the JET program and recommends grant awards to buy and install equipment for career and technical education courses that lead to a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.
Robert also provides pro bono services to veterans applying for benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including combat-related special compensation and service-connected disability. Robert supports Sidley’s partnership with Yale Law School’s Free Exercise clinic, helping clients file amicus curiae briefs in appropriate religious liberties cases in the Supreme Court of the United States (which has favorably cited their work). Robert is a member of the Society for the Rule of Law, a group of Constitutionally-focused attorneys who believe in the rule of law, the independence of the criminal justice system, the imperative of individual rights, limited government, and the necessity of civil discourse. He regularly researches current political, policy, national security, and intelligence issues facing the United States.
While attending law school, Robert served as an extern with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and with Mark Cuban Companies. Robert earned his J.D. from the SMU Dedman School of Law and his B.B.A. in finance, with a minor in constitutional studies, from the University of Notre Dame.