Financial Services & Regulation
Our Financial Services & Regulation team can provide a wide range of legal services advice associated with the regulated financial sector.
Latest
With leading practices in the UK’s two biggest financial services centres, London and Edinburgh, our team combines wholesale and retail, contentious and non-contentious expertise across banking, insurance, asset management and financial intermediation. You can be assured we understand the regulatory context in which you operate and recognise the importance of finding commercial solutions.
Our specialist regulatory lawyers advise retail and wholesale financial services firms on managing regulatory risk and resolving and avoiding regulatory action and disputes.
Having represented firms in over 400 regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, our team combines knowledge of regulated businesses with a clear understanding of what the regulators require.
We use that experience to help clients manage and grow their businesses through the development of new products, services and distribution channels.
Further reading
Our specialist practice areas
Legal experts for Financial Services & Regulation
Regulatory News - Financial Services & Regulation
See all Regulatory News - Financial Services & RegulationFCA: CP26/30: Supporting equity market transparency and considering market structure developments/ CP26/31: Policy Statement for the framework for a UK equity consolidated tape and next steps for delivery
CP26/30 builds on Chapter 4 of CP25/20 and proposes targeted changes intended to reinforce transparency and market functioning, which recognise the growth of bilateral trading and support the establishment of a consolidated tape. CP26/31 contains final rules on the framework for a UK equity consolidated tape and the next steps for its delivery, including proposals on further aspects of how the equity consolidated tape will work. Responses are required by 16 October 2026.
FCA: Market activity reporter for shares
FCA has launched a market activity reporter for shares which provides visibility of overall UK equity market activity each day. A user guide and methodology document have been published and may be accessed via the following link.
FCA: Handbook Notice 143
The Handbook Notice sets out changes to the Handbook and other material as made by the FCA Board on 25 June 2026 and 30 July 2026.
For more information
PSR: CP26/2 Specific Direction 17 (Confirmation of Payee) – removing the expiry date and expanding the scope of directed firms
Specific Direction 17 is due to expire on 1 November 2026. PSR is consulting on proposals to remove the expiry date and views on whether it would be appropriate to expand its scope to place all payment service providers) currently offering confirmation of payee on equal regulatory footing, including those that offer it on a voluntary basis. Responses are required by 20 August 2026.
FCA: Regional financial development and growth in the UK
FCA has now published two independent research reports. The first report analyses bank lending to SMEs, branch density, stock market listings and fintech across UK International Territorial Level 2 regions from 2009 to 2023,. The second report considers what channels FS hubs contribute to UK GDP growth (including the relative contribution of London versus regional hubs), and whether regional FS hubs generate distinct growth benefits compared with additional growth in London.
For more information
- https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/external-research/regional-financial-development-and-growth-uk
- https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/external-research/regional-financial-development-growth-uk.pdf
- https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/external-research/role-played-financial-services-clusters-centres-local-city-regional-growth.pdf
.jpg)
Local market knowledge. Global outlook
We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.
About CMS