""

Financial Regulation Compliance & Investigations

Financial Regulation Compliance & Investigations

Financial Regulation Compliance & Investigations

Download PDFDownload PDF
Print
Share

Overview

We work with the full spectrum of financial institutions to support them and provide pragmatic and commercially astute guidance to ensure they meet their vast global and local financial regulatory requirements. We help our clients ensure they are prepared for changes in regulations, that they are operating within the relevant legal framework, and that their staff are trained in and confident with their local regulatory requirements and expectations. If they become subject to an investigation by a regulator or government agency, or need to conduct an internal investigation, we advise on the investigation and dealings with external agencies. 

Across our global network of offices we work with a wide range of financial institutions in the retail and wholesale sectors, including banks, asset managers, broker-dealers, commodity traders, corporate financiers, custodians, insurance/reinsurance firms and intermediaries, life and general insurers and payment services and currency exchange platforms 

We immerse ourselves in the financial services industry, ensuring we fully understand the world our clients operate in. We combine this with an in-depth knowledge of the relevant regulators and how their authorisation, supervision and enforcement divisions operate in practice, together with technical excellence in the relevant law and regulations. A number of our team have gained direct experience from working at the regulators (including the FCA, PRA, SFO, CMA, OCC, SEC, CFTC, FINRA, CFPB and NY DFS) as well as a wide range of global financial institutions and investment exchanges. 

As well as representing financial institutions, we also advise members of senior management on their personal regulatory responsibilities, and listed companies on their regulatory requirements 

We recognize that, as much as the regulators expect a culture of compliance to pervade, in the current regulatory climate regulatory compliance advice cannot exist in a bubble. Our approach to providing regulatory compliance counsel recognizes that any compliance solution or enforcement resolution must be considered in the context of its practical impacts on our clients business. We work with our clients to develop practical, workable solutions that allow their businesses to move forward and to thrive. And when issues are identified, we conduct efficient, legally privileged investigations to obtain the factual basis to provide the best legal advice to the institution.

Experience with over 10 global regulators & agencies

  • the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
  • the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
  • European Commission (EC)
  • the UK National Crime Agency (NCA)
  • US Department of Justice (DoJ)
  • Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • New York Department of Financial Services (DFS)
  • Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
  • US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

Experience with over 10 global regulators & agencies

  • the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
  • the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
  • European Commission (EC)
  • the UK National Crime Agency (NCA)
  • US Department of Justice (DoJ)
  • Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • New York Department of Financial Services (DFS)
  • Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
  • US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

Protecting what's important

Protecting what's important

Financial Regulation & Disputes 2024

Emerging Themes

This year, our team have focused on the theme ‘People in Focus‘, as, whilst the growth and adoption of technological innovation is evident, the quality of our human capital, the strength of connections between individuals and their capacity to navigate change, remains vital. We hope you enjoy reading the latest insights that consider the key trends, risks and opportunities in financial services in 2024.

Christine Cesare

Christine Cesare

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, New York

+1 212 541 1228
Polly James

Polly James

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 3158
Kenneth M. Achenbach
+1 404 572 6808
Christine Cesare

Christine Cesare

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, New York

+1 212 541 1228
Polly James

Polly James

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 3158
Kenneth M. Achenbach
+1 404 572 6808

Meet The Team

Christine Cesare

Christine Cesare

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, New York

+1 212 541 1228
Polly James

Polly James

Partner and Global Practice Co-Leader - Financial Services Disputes and Investigations, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 3158
Kenneth M. Achenbach
+1 404 572 6808

Experience

  • We advised a major US investment bank on the global FX investigation. This has involved parallel investigations by regulators in the US, UK, EU, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Korea and Brazil.  We have advised on strategy and substance in the UK, EU and Hong Kong SAR, and have managed outside counsel in all other jurisdictions. No action was taken against our client. 
  • We are advising a leading intermediary in an FCA investigation into the implementation of the Market Abuse Regulation and systems for automated surveillance of trading. 
  • We advised a major UK listed company on an FCA investigation into alleged failure to obtain prior shareholder approval in relation to a significant acquisition. No action was taken against our client. 
  • We are regularly instructed by leading financial institutions to act as independent legal advisers (“ILAs”) for their senior management and other employees on threatened enforcement action by the FCA, PRA and overseas regulators and agencies. Our substantial experience includes acting for individuals who are asked to attend regulatory interviews as witnesses, as well as individuals who are themselves the subject of a formal investigation. 
  • We advised a leading global insurer on an FCA (and subsequent European Commission) investigation into suspected information sharing and other anti-competitive conduct in relation to the aviation insurance market. No action was taken against our client. 
  • We advised a range of financial institutions, including non-EEA banks, in relation to their implementation of MiFID II, the largest and most onerous regulatory reform package to affect the European financial services sector in recent years

Related Insights

Insights
Jan 30, 2025
AI and machine learning in financial crime compliance
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
AI regulation in 2025: has the UK government’s wait-and-see gamble played off?
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
Cybersecurity risks for financial services firms
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
Fighting fraud: where does the responsibility to protect consumers lie?
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
Modernising the redress system
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
Regulatory focus on non-financial misconduct
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
The top 5 banking litigation cases from 2024
Insights
Jan 30, 2025
UK and US Cryptoasset regulation: what direction next?
Insights
Jan 27, 2025
Will This Be on the Exam? FTC Staff Issues Two Initial Reports on Surveillance Pricing