The financial services sector is one of the most highly regulated of all industries and increasingly the one with the highest public profile. The key to good legal advice in this area is practical experience – and that’s exactly what our team has.

Our advice

We monitor and advise financial institutions and corporate entities on all aspects of financial services authorisation and the regulatory environment in which they operate. We advise on all aspects of domestic and European financial services regulatory regime. Our clients include clearing, commercial and investment banks, private banks, securities firms and insurance companies.

International regulation

The international nature of financial services means that we regularly advise on pan-European matters, using our expert teams in the major EU jurisdictions. We also advise companies from outside Europe that are establishing European operations. Regulatory compliance is at the heart of financial services. Our experienced team can help you understand, observe and, where necessary, challenge the regulatory regimes that govern your business.

Experience

News UK

Advised on the commercial and regulatory aspects of the launch of the Times Currency Service, a foreign exchange service provided through a partnership with World First.

Verisign

Advised on establishment in the UK and Germany, and on European partner and direct sales arrangements and compliance with European data protection regulations.

Payward Inc (operator of Bitcoin exchange service Kraken)

Advised on its entry into the European market, including the regulatory status of virtual currencies and brokering arrangements with a European credit institution.

JP Morgan

Advised on the structuring of a prepaid card product following the implementation of the Second Electronic Money Directive.

KPMG International

Advised across multiple jurisdictions on the regulatory aspects of a global credit card incentive scheme.

HSBC

Advised the Global Banking and Markets team on the implementation of the SEPA End Date Regulation, including specific queries around the SEPA Scheme Rulebooks and XML/BIC/BBAN derivation services.

Insights