Regulators at both national and EU level have recently focused on payments as an industry sector where enhanced competition, improved transparency and harmonised and heightened consumer protection, as well as product standardisation, will result in significant benefits for the economy as a whole. Fraud prevention and the proper use of personal data remain priorities also for regulators.

At the same time, new and different payment channels and methods are evolving, driven by technological developments, such as e-money and micro-payments, by changing consumer practices, such as pre-paid and gift cards, and by both, such as payments made using mobile devices.

Regulatory pressures, evolving payment channels and technology and institutions' increasing focus on operational costs are leading to significant changes in terms of payment product offerings, the structure of and interoperability between payment systems and consolidation both vertically and horizontally within the payments industry.

At Osborne Clarke, we understand these dynamics. Our payments focused lawyers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable and who have considerable specific experience and expertise in the cards and payments industry. Very few law firms can match our offering and commitment to the industry and cutting-edge expertise, such as on PSD (Payment Services Directive) and SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area).

Paul Anning and Kate Johnson in particular are regular contributors of written materials and speakers at external conferences/seminars on cards and payments. We also work alongside various stakeholder groups, such as the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) and Lafferty's International Cards and Payments Council (ICPC).

Click here to see the latest payment hot topic entitled "Legal Issues in Payments Oversight"

Click here to see Paul Anning's latest article published in European CEO magazine entitled "PSD: A Corporate Treasurer's Dream?"

• undertaking a commercial and regulatory review of Citibank's entire corporate cards programme across 14 European jurisdictions
• advising on the creation of the UK's new strategic body for payments, the Payments Council, which will soon be consulting on a new National Payments Plan
• advising Voca on its merger with LINK to create Europe's largest payments processor

Paul Anning
t +44 (0)20 7105 7446
paul.anning@osborneclarke.com