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Portrait ofLaura Houët

Laura Houët

Partner
Co-Head of the ESG Task Force

Contact
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English, Dutch, French

Laura Houët is a partner in CMS’ Financial Services and Products team and CMS’ Co-Head of ESG. Laura has over 14 years’ experience advising the asset management industry. She is a regulated funds specialist with particular expertise on the product side across all types of asset class.

Laura is a sustainability expert advising a wide range of international fund houses on sustainable investment strategies, on the implementation of sustainability related regulation and reporting, including SFDR, TCFD and the EU Taxonomy, and on strategic governance and internal preparation for climate transition. Her practice in this area spans the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. 

Laura also sits on the CMS sustainability board committee and the FMLC ESG scoping forum. She is a frequently invited speaker on sustainable investment issues. 

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“Laura is an expert in her field... she is respected by all areas of the business from legal and compliance to fund managers and the board. She operates as an extension of her client teams and is considered as such”

Client Feedback

“She is extremely commercial and has provided accurate and efficient counsel to us over a number of years on complex matters.”

Client Feedback

Relevant experience

  • A number of asset managers on the impact of the FCA’s asset management market study, including the wholescale review and amendment of fund ranges.
  • A number of houses (in relation to both regulated and unregulated fund ranges) on the impact of responsible investment strategies for both funds and investors.
  • Significant asset management houses on the reconstruction of their life company assets into their OEIC ranges.
  • Structuring and establishment of a large number of PAIFs, as well as ongoing governance and product advice.
  • Establishment and continuing advice on a number of ACSs (real estate and equity).
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Education

2004 – LPC, BPP Law School, London

2002 – LL.M – Georgetown University, Washington D.C

2001 – LL.B (Hons), University of Glasgow, Glasgow

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Feed

18/12/2023
ESAs propose amendments to the SFDR RTS
Continuing the theme of frequent changes to the application of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”), the European Supervisory Authorities (“the ESAs”) are introducing amendments...
07/12/2023
FCA’s Consultation Paper on Implementing the Overseas Funds Regime (“OFR”)
On 4 December, the FCA launched a consultation to implement the framework to enable non-UK domiciled funds to be marketed to UK retail investors under the OFR (“OFR recognised schemes”). We briefly...
07/12/2023
FCA’s Consultation Paper on Implementing the Overseas Funds Regime (“OFR”)
On 4 December, the FCA launched a consultation to implement the framework to enable non-UK domiciled funds to be marketed to UK retail investors under the OFR (“OFR recognised schemes”). We briefly...
29/11/2023
FCA’s Policy Statement 23/16: Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR)...
Further to the FCA’s CP22/20 the FCA has published, on 28 November, its final rules and guidance to help consumers navigate the market for sustainable investment products (“PS23/16”).There is a...
28/11/2023
FCA’s Policy Statement 23/16: Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR)...
Further to the FCA’s CP22/20 the FCA has published, on 28 November, its final rules and guidance to help consumers navigate the market for sustainable investment products (“PS23/16”).There is a...
21/11/2023
UK consults on sector-specific guidance for climate transition plans and...
In order to achieve the UK’s commitment of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, the UK government, in 2021, committed to move towards making the publication of climate transition plans mandatory...
17/11/2023
UK Call for Evidence on Scope 3 emissions reporting
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is inviting comment until 14 December 2023 on the costs, benefits, and practicalities of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting in the...
04/10/2023
Climate change
Businesses across all sectors are making strategic and operational changes to become more environmentally sustainable; setting net zero targets, reconfiguring products and services, changing production processes and reviewing the carbon footprint of premises…the list goes on. As part of any green agenda it is vital that organisations thoroughly consider the impact of these changes on their people. The ideal is for the workforce to be aligned to the organisation’s approach to climate change and to understand to rationale for any associated changes in workplace policy or practice. However there can be cultural and contractual impacts, which in turn can affect loyalty and job satisfaction and ultimately result in grievances or claims. Clashing priorities will inevitably arise and it is key that employers turn their minds to how they will navigate these workforce challenges to ensure they succeed in their quest of achieving a greener future. 
26/09/2023
The European Commission launches a consultation on the implementation of...
BackgroundThe European Union’s (the EU) Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) came into force in March 2021 and has kept the industry busy (and sometimes frustrated) since then with myriad...
24/07/2023
Future regulatory regime for ESG ratings providers: the wholesale markets...
On 30 June 2023, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA”) and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (“AFME”) (the “As­so­ci­ations”) published a Joint Associations...
21/07/2023
Future regulatory regime for ESG ratings providers: the wholesale markets...
On 30 June 2023, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA”) and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (“AFME”) (the “As­so­ci­ations”) published a Joint Associations...
13/07/2023
Nature Restoration Regulation survives European Parliament vote
The European Parliament has voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Regulation originally proposed by the Commission in June 2022. The measure proposes a restoration objective for the long-term recovery...