Lovells

We have specialist knowledge across all types of financial institutions operating in the regulated sector from banks to insurers.  Our experience covers the full range of current contentious issues that arise both in the wholesale and retail markets. In the wholesale area we regularly advise clients on insider dealing, market abuse and other regulatory issues arising from trading, such as disclosure of price sensitive information, improper PA dealing, Chinese wall issues, IPO abuses, spread betting and Conduct of Business issues.  On the retail side we have advised on issues relating to the sale of mortgages, PPI, precipice bonds and other investment products, personal pensions and annuities.  We are also regularly involved in assisting with enforcement issues in a variety of areas such as anti-money laundering, sanctions, listing matters and company law duties.  

In the UK, we are well known to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and other regulators.  A number of our former employees currently work for the regulators and we encourage secondments.  In the UK we have also acted for the Complaints Commissioner for the FSA in respect of the investigation of complaints against the FSA.  We are therefore close to the current thinking of the regulators allowing us to provide informed and insightful advice.

Increased scrutiny by regulators across a range of issues, in particular with regard to insider trading and market abuse, has led to an increase in the number of investigations in this area globally.  Our international network means we are able to assemble cross border teams ensuring matters are dealt with in a seamless manner and that we provide consistency of response to different regulators in different jurisdictions. We also have considerable experience providing a coordination role for large cross border regulatory cases, bringing to bear our specialist skills to assist and support cases in local jurisdictions and marshalling local advice for the benefit of an international audience within large institutional clients.  

We have considerable experience internationally in dealing with mis-selling reviews, complaints handling arrangements and, in the UK, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), including challenges to and judicial review of FOS decisions. 

Our team draws on specialist expertise in Human Rights, Data Protection and Freedom of Information in connection with any areas which overlap with Financial Services.  In addition, we work closely with our Employment Group in relation to issues affecting individually authorised persons, or their international equivalent, including advice on whistle blowing and individual liability.