Financial Services Regulation

Supporting authorised firms, appointed representatives and distributors with ongoing regulatory compliance and obligations in the usual course of business, including regulatory returns, FCA reporting and relationship management.

Expert advice on financial service provide design against key conduct of business rules and Consumer Duty requirements; support establishing key distribution relationships (appointed representatives, agents, distributors), negotiating critical service agreements, and product terms/wordings.

The Senior Managers & Certification Regime places direct regulatory accountability on a firm’s most senior staff – we advise on SMCR implementation and process, key FCA applications and approvals, certification regime process and governance frameworks for regulated firms.

A priority area for regulators. The UK’s Money Laundering Regulations 2017 impose extensive obligations to a broad range of firms – we advise firms on securing MLR registration with the FCA and HMRC, on design and implementation of financial crime frameworks, training and regulatory developments.

The UK’s financial promotions regime requires careful consideration by anyone communicating offers or inducements relating to financial services to persons in the UK. We advise on FCA approval processes, regulatory exemptions, financial promotion frameworks tailored to user journey, including digital and social media formats.

Working with legal, compliance, product and marketing to complete gap analysis and updates to consumer and business banking products; including advice on Payment Service Regulation and FCA approach document matters.

Advice to UK agricultural retail group, on credit broking activities, FCA regulatory returns, FCA perimeter in relation to regulated consumer credit and hire.

Financial regulatory advice on aspects of asset/client book purchases, business purchases and subsequent sale of Group, including input on key transactional documents; plus FCA COBS rules and advice on FCA change in control regime.

Supporting multiple alternative lending firms with FCA Annex 1 registration under the UK Money Laundering Regulations; plus advice and design of internal financial crime systems and controls and remediation processes.