Financial services, pensions and regulation are inseparable and their ever-increasing governing regulations permeate all levels of a business from internal workings, products and sales techniques to after-sales support and complaint handling procedures.

With the current availability of Ombudsmen and Tribunals to assess consumer complaints, it is also a sector where the number of disputes is rising.

We have a specialist Financial Services team that comprises four senior leaders and six litigation lawyers, all with recognised industry experience and specialist knowledge.

We represent a broad spectrum of independent and tied firms of financial advisers, pension providers, insurance companies, banks, friendly societies, general insurance and mortgage brokers, and trustees and owners of SIPPs and SSASs. We also have ready access to specialist colleagues who work in areas such as employment, insolvency, debt collection, property and tax.

We can help with the folloiwng:

CORPORATE

• Merger acquisition and disposal of regulated firms including closed insurance companies together with the associated due diligence
• Warranty and indemnity issues arising out of business transfers
• Advice to trustees on their pension scheme responsibilities
• Acquisition and disposal of assets within pension schemes and the detailed rules applicable thereto
• Corporate finance and borrowing structures and advice.

REGULATORY

• Advising on FSA visits and investigations
• Implementation and interpretation of FSA rules and regulations
• Advising on whistleblowing, Chinese walls and conflicts of interest
• Drafting and interpretation of contracts both commercial and those required by regulation.

DISPUTES AND LITIGATION

• Defending mis-selling claims or regulatory and disciplinary action by regulators
• Professional negligence claims against advisors and managers relating to investment advice or performance
• Claims under internal dispute resolution procedures or to the Financial Ombudsman and/or the courts
• Rectification or variation of incorrect pension scheme documents
• Professional negligence claims against pension scheme advisors and trustees.