Financial Services & Regulation
Our Financial Services & Regulation team can provide a wide range of legal services advice associated with the regulated financial sector.
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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.
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Regulatory News - Financial Services & Regulation
See all Regulatory News - Financial Services & RegulationThe Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (Draft)
These Regulations amend and add to the regulatory regime for certain cryptoasset activities, including amends to the RAO and FPO. It narrows the scope of certain cryptoasset regulated activities by excluding dealings and arrangements involving UK-issued qualifying stablecoins that are authorised under FSMA and excludes the temporary holding of UK-issued qualifying stablecoins for payment transactions from the cryptoasset safeguarding regime. The SI also clarifies the regulatory perimeter for issuing qualifying stablecoins in the UK, excludes backing asset arrangements from certain safeguarding requirements, and introduces targeted exemptions for proprietary trading, market making, technical services and central securities depository activities.
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FCA: PS26/18: Cryptoasset perimeter guidance
Further to CP26/13, this PS provides guidance on when cryptoasset activities need FCA authorisation. With regard to the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, FCA states that it will consult in October 2026 on targeted updates to this guidance relating to UK qualifying stablecoins, proprietary trading and market making, certain technology providers, decentralised protocols, safeguarding arrangements involving central securities depositaries and financial promotions.
Financial Services and Markets Bill
The first reading of the Bill in HoC has taken place with no debate on the Bill at this stage. The second reading debate will take place at a date yet to be confirmed. The Bill as brought by HoL has been published.
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The Central Counterparties (Transitional Provision) (Extension and Amendment) Regulations 2026/1010
The SI extends by a further 12 months the transitional regime for overseas qualifying CCPs contained within Article 497 of the UK CRR.
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BoE: Speech by Carolyn Wilkins: Money and power – lessons from history for stablecoins and US dollar dominance
Text of Carolyn Wilkins’ speech of 15 September 2026 follows in which she discusses whether private digital money can operate safely at scale and what could happen if US dollar stablecoins become widely used.
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