{"id":"paul-grewal","title":"Paul Grewal","content":"**Paul Grewal** is an American attorney and legal executive best known for serving as the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), one of the world’s largest [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) exchanges, from 2020 to 2026. During his time at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), he led the company’s legal and regulatory affairs, including its public listing and high-profile litigation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). \n\nPrior to joining Coinbase, Grewal served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Facebook and previously worked as a Judicial Law Clerk and United States Magistrate Judge. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-5y6j7tz1kl8)​[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-jpycjag2kvh)​\n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](sbBjf4nVj3c)\n\n## Education\n\nPaul Grewal earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993. Subsequently, he completed his Doctor of Law (J.D.) in Law at the University of Chicago Law School in 1996. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-dtnvnhv69tl)​\n\n## Career\n\nPaul Grewal began his professional career as a Judicial Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he served from August 1999 to September 2000 in Washington, District Of Columbia. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\nFollowing this, he joined Howrey LLP, where he held the role of Partner for 10 years, from December 2000 to November 2010, based in California. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\nPaul Grewal continued to his career in law, serving as a United States Magistrate Judge at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California for 5 years and 7 months, from December 2010 to June 2016, in San Jose, California. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\nFrom June 2016 to August 2020 he took on the role of Vice President & Deputy General Counsel of Facebook, at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\nSubsequently, Paul Grewal transitioned to Zapproved, where he served as a Director from July 2021 to January 2023, during which, the company was acquired by Exterro. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\nIn May 2020, he became a Director of Nomination and Governance Committee at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, where he continues to contribute his expertise. In December 202, he join Epiq, also as a Director, further expanding his legal career. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​\n\n### Coinbase\n\nSince September 2020, Paul Grewal has held the position of Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), where he oversees most legal functions within the company and manages the legal team. He joined Coinbase because he was impressed by the Coinbase team and believed that they would be able to fulfill the company's vision for creating a global open financial system. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8)​[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-9vfhbzeyio)​\n\n> \"At Coinbase, Paul will oversee all legal functions of the global business and will manage the continuing growth of our best-in-class legal team. \n> As part of our commitment to operating the world’s leading regulated crypto business, Paul will also lead the team’s continuing work to partner with financial services regulators, contribute to the development and rollout of innovative, regulated products and services, and support the company’s global growth and regulatory strategy. \n> Paul’s unique mix of experience in private practice, as a federal judge, and as a leading in-house lawyer and business leader will make for another phenomenal addition to the executive management team at Coinbase.\" - Emilie Choi COO\n\n> \"When I asked Paul what made him want to join the company, he said, “I came to understand the vision for an open financial system for the world. And I got to see just how talented and committed the entire Coinbase team is in making that vision a reality. I decided then and there that I just have to be a part of this.” - Emilie Choi COO\n\n#### Departure from Coinbase (2026)\n\nOn July 10, 2026, Paul Grewal stepped down as Chief Legal Officer of [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) after six years with the company.  [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-vY8xWBH938QaNTwP) \n\nDuring his tenure, Grewal played a central role in Coinbase’s legal and regulatory strategy, including overseeing the company’s 2021 public listing and leading its defense in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against the exchange. \n\nHis departure marked the end of one of the most significant legal tenures in the cryptocurrency industry. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-vY8xWBH938QaNTwP) ","summary":"Paul Grewal is the Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, former Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Facebook, and former U.S. Magistrate Judge.","images":[{"id":"QmZMdRQBJq2jft6B12NAWTEM9qkoRXJ7LsCTnTkK2w59B7","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Advisor"},{"id":"Speaker"}],"media":[{"id":"QmSSRQUBUeoS3eGScKDJPBUXbb1TVwtEsBpiDpe7Gcfutp","size":"0.19","name":"image","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbBjf4nVj3c","size":"0","name":"sbBjf4nVj3c","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"5y6j7tz1kl8\",\"url\":\"https://www.crunchbase.com/person/paul-grewal-57f7\",\"description\":\"Crunchbase Profile\",\"timestamp\":1695986937325},{\"id\":\"jpycjag2kvh\",\"url\":\"https://fedsoc.org/contributors/paul-grewal\",\"description\":\"Federalist Society on 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leading the company’s public listing and defense vs. the SEC [[1]](#cite-id-5y6j7tz1kl8) [[2]](#cite-id-jpycjag2kvh) [[3]](#cite-id-dtnvnhv69tl) [[4]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8) [[5]](#cite-id-9vfhbzeyio) [[6]](#cite-id-vY8xWBH938QaNTwP)\",\"Reworded/clarified Coinbase section: changed tense and phrasing (e.g., \\\"Since September 2020, Paul Grewal has held...\\\" → \\\"In September 2020, Paul Grewal started his position...\\\") and emphasized responsibilities and reasons for joining Coinbase [[1]](#cite-id-5y6j7tz1kl8) [[2]](#cite-id-jpycjag2kvh) [[3]](#cite-id-dtnvnhv69tl) [[4]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8) [[5]](#cite-id-9vfhbzeyio) [[6]](#cite-id-vY8xWBH938QaNTwP)\",\"Added new section \\\"Departure from Coinbase (2026)\\\" describing that Paul Grewal stepped down on July 10, 2026 after six years and summarizing his role in Coinbase’s legal strategy [[1]](#cite-id-5y6j7tz1kl8) [[2]](#cite-id-jpycjag2kvh) [[3]](#cite-id-dtnvnhv69tl) [[4]](#cite-id-wixrqexmih8) [[5]](#cite-id-9vfhbzeyio) 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