Financial services

Our lawyers work with both financial institutions and their customers on FSA-related regulatory enforcement issues. These include the promotion of financial products, investment schemes, market abuse and the 'fit and proper' status of FSA approved persons.

                                                           As well as this core financial services regulatory advice, we also help our financial services clients by drawing on the expertise of other Bristows' teams in areas such as corporate, tax, data protection, outsourcing and procurement, and IP & copyright. This enables us to offer a service that combines our financial services sector and regulatory expertise with deal-specific experience.

We also have extensive experience in commercial dispute resolution in the financial services industry, including constructive trusts and tracing issues, syndicated loan disputes and actions relating to exchange listed debt instruments, securities and commodities.

Recently we have advised:

• In connection with various Financial Services Authority regulatory investigations and enforcement actions relating to the Financial Services and Markets Act, its secondary legislation and the FSA Handbook 
   
• A German bank in Commercial Court proceedings on a contract dispute concerning commercial asset financing of around €200 million
   
• A financial instruments broking company in a claim relating to the failure to deliver up and sell on a US$ 50 million Eurobond Medium Term Note issued by a major bank listed on the Luxembourg Stock exchange 
   
• A multinational insurance company in connection with global data protection compliance strategy to enable international transfers of employment and insurance-related personal data 
   
• A joint-venture of major Swiss banks in connection with a business process outsourcing transaction (for the handling of credit card payments on behalf of a UK high street bank)