Simon Lafferty

My clients include banks, investment firms, commodity houses, fintechs, funds and asset managers as well as unregulated firms on the extent to which their activities may give rise to financial regulatory issues.

I’m listed in Legal 500 as a lawyer who has “excellent knowledge of financial products and structures” which enables me “to apply complex areas of financial regulatory law to the specific transaction in question.”

Our team at Fieldfisher is described as having “broad and in-depth knowledge of all areas of financial regulation” (Legal 500).

My recent work highlights include:

• PRA/FCA change of control:
  • the acquirer of a UK bank
  • an investment manager on its pre-authorisation funding round
  • fintech investors and investees, particularly payments firms, on equity financings
  • regulated firms restructuring their ownership into an employee-ownership trust model
  • debt-for-equity swap arrangements with respect to a UK regulated investment firm
• Financings and structured finance transactions, e.g.:
  • the establishment of a large structured note programme for an investment manager
  • financing of carbon credits (UK emission allowances, amongst others)
  • lending to regulated firms, particularly firms subject to safeguarding or client money requirements
  • establishment of trade finance platforms
• Prudential regulation, including advising:
  • on the consequences of the potential failure or resolution of a UK bank
  • on the restructuring of the regulatory capital of a European bank
  • on the eligibility of capital instruments for UK investment firms and banks
  • a number of UK investment firms on the implementation of the Investment Firms Prudential Regime (IFPR)
  • on various questions arising under UK CRR, e.g. large exposures, credit risk mitigation arrangements, etc
• The UK regulatory perimeter, authorisation and associated processes, including:
  • a European bank on its authorisation and exit from the UK Temporary Permissions Regime
  • a number of start-up banks on their authorisation and related matters
  • the establishment of a UK family office
  • a UK alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) on its authorisation
  • a UK listed firm on its joint venture with a US real estate private equity house
  • on the establishment of alternative lenders

Previously I worked in-house at large private equity firm, the London branch of an international commercial bank and a large global investment bank.