Adrianus Schoorl, Financial Services Regulatory Partner at DLA Piper — On Building Financial Centres, Big Law Globalisation and the Rise of Crypto

In this episode, Adrianus shares his journey from starting his legal career in the Netherlands to becoming a partner advising on financial services, fintech and crypto across the Middle East.  From the early days of domestic law firms to the rise of global legal networks, Adrianus explains how the industry has evolved — and what it’s like to be part of building financial centres from scratch in places like Dubai.  He discusses his experience as a regulator, working on market infrastructure such as Euronext and how globalisation has reshaped both legal practice and financial markets.  The conversation also explores the rapid development of the Middle East as a financial hub, including its approach to regulation, virtual assets and innovation in areas like crypto and payments.  Finally, Adrianus shares practical advice for junior lawyers on taking ownership of their careers, embracing hard work and navigating long-term professional growth.  00:00 Introduction  00:30 Adrianus’ Early Career and Why He Chose Law  02:00 Training as a Lawyer in the Netherlands  04:30 Life as a Trainee in the Early 2000s  07:00 The Rise of Big Law in Europe  10:00 Becoming a Financial Markets Lawyer  12:00 Moving into Regulation and Euronext  15:00 Why Adrianus Moved to Dubai  18:00 Building a Financial Centre from Scratch  21:00 Life and Work in Dubai  25:00 Working Across the Middle East  28:00 Differences in Clients and Markets  32:00 The Growth of Financial Services in the Region  35:00 Crypto, Virtual Assets and Regulation  40:00 Market Confidence and the Role of Regulators  45:00 How Financial Markets Are Evolving  50:00 Working at DLA Piper in the Middle East  53:00 What Makes a Successful Lawyer Today  57:00 Advice for Junior Lawyers  01:01:00 Career Reflections and Looking Ahead