Financial services

The financial market place is an increasingly complex environment, particularly where regulation and the law are concerned. Our financial services experts advise UK and international commercial and investment banks, investment managers, mortgage brokers, insurers, and other key players in the FS markets on legal and regulatory developments, assisting them in structuring and operating their businesses in accordance with compliance requirements.

Working with our international legal network, we provide integrated advice to assist our clients in expanding their business and product offerings across multiple jurisdictions.

Navigating the web of European and UK financial services regulation is becoming ever more complex . The introduction of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) on1 November 2007 brings opportunities for exploiting synergies where clients have multi-jurisdictional operations, but also requires significant changes to the way financial services businesses deal with their clients, on issues such as providing best execution and handling conflicts of interest appropriately. For UK businesses, the challenge is heightened by the current focus on embedding the concepts of More Principles-Based Regulation and Treating Customers Fairly within their organisations. We are assisting our clients in getting to grips with these and other new legal and regulatory developments, analysing the implications for their businesses and helping them implement the necessary measures to strengthen their businesses and product offerings.

We work closely with experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers covering areas such as financial services regulation, tax, business assurance, corporate finance, risk management and management consultancy, providing us with a full understanding of our client's situation and an ability to provide real commercial solutions.

Our services

• Advising on FSA initiatives such as:
  • MiFID
  • more principles-based regulation
  • treating customers fairly
• Advising on EU and UK financial services regulation and compliance matters, including:
  • Regulated activities and passporting
  • Conduct of business
  • Supervision
  • Senior management responsibilities and directors duties
  • Approved persons regime
  • Training and competency
  • Financial promotion
  • Collective investment schemes
• Launching new financial services businesses, including FSA authorisations
• Developing and implementing new products, such as investment funds
• Implementing significant organisational change including MiFID, M&A and corporate re-organisations

Contact details
Email: Laura Cox
Tel: +44 (0)20 7212 1579

Email: Richard Brady
Tel: +44 (0)207 804 7003