Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland is a global law firm that provides legal advice and solutions to an international client base which includes some of the world’s largest financial institutions.

We have a strong track record of supporting the wealth management and financial advice sector. We take an innovative and proactive approach to our work and are engaged at the highest levels across the sector, helping to shape regulation and associated industry responses.

Our multi-disciplinary financial services sector practice spans a wide range of areas, including:

• Product manufacturing, distribution and servicing: We advise wealth managers and advice firms on all aspects of regulation relating to product development, distribution and servicing. We support firms on the interpretation and implementation of regulatory developments, such as Consumer Duty, the Advice Guidance Boundary Review, the regulation of cryptoassets and SMCR. For asset managers and fund operators we cover the spectrum of UK and EU regulatory frameworks, including AIFMD, UCITS, the Overseas Funds Regime (OFR), MiFID and MiFID II, ESG and responsible investment standards, EMIR, firm governance, product governance, Consumer Composite Investments, Solvency II, CRR, IFPR (MIFIDPRU), as well as anti-money laundering compliance.

• Disputes: We have deep experience in financial services disputes in the sector. We advise on complaints from customers, challenges to the Financial Ombudsman Service and FCA consumer redress schemes. We have extensive experience of dealing with mass claims, and group action litigation in the courts and actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Examples of our work include disputes relating to customer categorisation, suitability and appropriateness, ongoing advice and fee structures as well as mis-selling. We also advise on disputes with other partes in the supply chain and introducers, appointed representatives and employees.

• Regulatory Investigations: We have a dedicated team of subject matter experts that focus on investigations in financial services, covering internal investigations, supervisory interventions, and enforcement investigations. Examples of our work include investigations pertaining to whistleblowers, non-financial misconduct and operational resilience failures. We are regularly appointed as skilled persons for section 166 skilled person reviews.

• Governance and Compliance: Our specialist financial services consulting business, Konexo, supports firms to meet the requirements of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime by helping to embed accountability, improve governance and culture and meet regulatory expectations.

• Financial Crime: Our corporate crime specialists have deep experience in civil and criminal matters relating to anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering and, international sanctions. Konexo is also a leading provider of anti-financial crime advisory services in the wealth management sector and hosts FinCAM (Financial Crime in Asset Management), a networking forum for MLROs.

Our financial services specialists are complemented by experience across a wide range of disciplines essential to wealth managers and financial advisors, including data protection, employment, IT and outsourcing, commercial contracts, and corporate acquisitions, disposals and restructuring.