Regulatory change and strategy

We advise fintech and financial services businesses on major regulatory reforms across the UK and Europe.

We provide strategic guidance on how new rules affect business models, product design, authorisation requirements and ongoing compliance obligations. Our work helps clients anticipate regulatory change early, assess its commercial impact, and plan effectively.

European Regulatory Developments

We advise clients on key EU initiatives shaping payments and digital finance regulation.

This includes strategic advice on PSD3 and the new Payment Services Regulation (PSR) package, helping firms understand the direction of travel on safeguarding, fraud prevention, open banking and supervisory expectations.

We also support firms in preparing for the EU AML Package, including the new AML Regulation and forthcoming Regulatory Technical Standards on customer due diligence. Our advice focuses on how these reforms will affect compliance frameworks, onboarding processes and governance arrangements.

For cryptoasset businesses, we advise on the implementation of MiCA, including the classification of cryptoassets, the regulatory treatment of stablecoins and service providers, and the authorisation and operational requirements that firms will need to meet to operate across the EU market.

We further advise on payments-related developments such as the European Digital Identity Wallet framework, Instant Payments and Verification of Payee requirements, and CESOP reporting obligations for payment service providers.

UK Regulatory Developments

We advise on significant UK regulatory reforms being introduced under FSMA and the UK’s post-Brexit approach to financial services regulation.

This includes the development of the future FSMA regime for cryptoassets, where we support firms in understanding how regulated activities may be defined and how the FCA authorisation gateway is expected to operate.

We also advise on the expansion of regulation to cover Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and deferred payment credit, including the implications for consumer credit permissions, financial promotions and conduct requirements.

Our work also covers new reporting frameworks, including the Common Reporting Standard and the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), as well as the incoming UK stablecoin regulation and the Bank of England’s proposed regime for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins.

Next steps

If your business would benefit from horizon scanning or strategic advice on upcoming regulatory reforms, please contact our team for a confidential discussion.