Our integrated financial services regulatory team provides a seamless service covering the full range of regulatory issues that you may face. We have built a team with an unrivalled depth of insight into the workings of the regulators and the business needs of financial institutions.
An integrated service
Regulatory issues cut across the traditional law firm divide between “contentious” and “non contentious” work. That is why we have brought together a team with the skills and expertise to assist clients at all stages of the regulatory process, including:
- authorisations and issues surrounding corporate restructuring
- advice on compliance and risk management policies and procedures – including advice on the implementation of new regulatory requirements
- advice on responding to compliance problems, including conduct of reviews or internal investigations (whether or not at the request of the regulator)
- advice and representation during regulatory investigations and enforcement actions – combining heavyweight litigation expertise with leading regulatory capability and top-ranked public lawyers, we handle the full range of civil, criminal and regulatory investigations and enforcement actions that can result from a regulatory failure.
We understand the challenges faced by financial institutions managing regulatory risk across multiple jurisdictions. We have extensive experience of assisting clients on such issues – from advising clients on compliance strategies for business lines that operate across national boundaries to managing regulatory investigations/enforcement involving multiple regulators - and of specialist regulatory expertise local to each relevant jurisdiction.
In particular we have experience of working on issues involving the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice and financial regulators across the EU. Our Asian offices advise on the full range of financial services regulatory issues for both multinational and local institutions.
Unrivalled depth of insight
Our lawyers have a broader range of experience than many legal advisers: outstanding technical and professional skills are a prerequisite for our work, but they are not enough on their own. An in-depth understanding of regulatory policy and process and how it impacts on our clients and their business is crucial.
Our regulatory team includes partners who have considerable experience working in senior in-house legal roles within the regulator or within financial institutions. We have also invested heavily in ensuring that our associates spend time on secondment with clients and with regulators. These have included recent secondments to the UK FSA’s General Counsel’s Division MiFID team and Enforcement Division, and to Lehman’s equities sale and trading legal team.
Financial Services & Insurance Team of the Year
The Legal Business Awards 2008
“Herbert Smith is very much in the leading group when it comes to regulation.”
IFLR 1000 2008
“one of the best in terms of experience in…enforcement of regulatory standards…”
Chambers UK 2008
“This powerhouse expanded its influence significantly this year, advising on market-leading transactions and contentious matters…”
Chambers 2007