Rieke Smakman is a Dutch lawyer drawing from 20+ years of experience in corporate and commercial litigation. Rieke started her career with Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam, and went on to co-found a law firm, that earned international acclaim for its success in art restitution. Early 2018, Rieke pivoted her career to pursue her passion (also) for technology, drawn by the opportunities offered by bitcoin and related technologies. In 2018, Rieke joined a London-based blockchain start-up, a pioneer in ‘encoded agreements’. Rieke most recently held the position of Senior Legal Counsel with a Dutch challenger bank. Rieke regularly sits as an arbitrator in corporate and commercial disputes.