Supervision

Our financial regulation specialists advise on every aspect of the FSA Handbook of Rules and Guidance from conduct of business rules (including FSA initiatives such as Treating Customers Fairly ("TCF")) to capital resource requirements and the discipline and enforcement process, in relation to which we work closely with dispute resolution lawyers on Financial Regulatory Investigations matters.

We closely monitor the implications for clients of FSA Handbook amendments and developments and the many regulatory policy initiatives which have followed the financial crisis.

As the FSA's principles-based regulatory approach develops into an 'outcomes based' approach to be delivered through intensive supervision, we are increasingly advising a number of clients on the impact of these changes for their systems and controls. Our experience gives us a close understanding of how the FSA works. We are well equipped to highlight to our clients areas of particular contemporary interest to the regulator and we are currently heavily involved in advising clients on a range of issues arising out of the credit crunch.

Many of our lawyers are very experienced in aspects of financial crime and we regularly advise Financial Institutions, and other entities, on their anti-money laundering policies and procedures.

We frequently advise on the impact of EU developments, such as the Markets and Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID") both for FSA-regulated clients concerned with the impact of MiFID on their businesses and from non-regulated clients on the consequences of MiFID for them in their dealings with financial services providers. Our financial regulation lawyers have assisted many clients on the review and update of their customer documentation as a result of recent regulatory changes.