Service Objectives
Established to meet the specialist needs of institutional, corporate finance and intermediary clients, our Financial Services Group has brought together the regulatory and commercial skills of a number of Principals with wide experience of advising in this rapidly developing sector. Unusually for a smaller City firm we offer a complete service for banks, life offices, investment funds, brokers and IFAs regulated by the FSA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).
We provide advice structured to suit the compliance environment in which our clients operate. Our approach is designed to be tax efficient, commercial and transactional whilst acknowledging and understanding the technicalities of the relevant legislation, statutory instruments and rule books. Certain of our Principals are well known in the financial services sector through their contributions to practitioner publications or involvement with professional associations.
The firm is also able to handle large scale corporate finance work and has advised clients on listed, Alternative Investment Market, insurance demutualisation and takeover transactions. We have a particular interest in handling the transfers of regulated businesses, with attendant "change of control" issues.
Adapting for Change
It is clear that FSMA and the FSA Handbook have not produced a settled regulatory landscape and constant revision can overburden smaller firms and even take seasoned Compliance Officers unawares. The terrain changed again in 2004/5 when the selling of mortgages and general insurance was included. We understand the pressures faced by newly-regulated businesses and the need to become compliant and develop operating processes and client-facing documents without incurring disproportionate expense.