• Solicitor

Advising:

Markets regulation

• UK-based investment firm - on regulatory status of their arrangements for accessing trading venues based in the EU and provision of services to their clients, in particular in the light of the MiFID II provisions on direct electronic access.
• A major international agricultural products producer and merchandiser - on assessing their compliance with requirements of MiFID II, and in particular assessment of their eligibility to avail of the ancillary activity exemption and development of proposed hedging policy.
• A major international financial institution - on the application of select European securities and banking legislation, including MiFID II and MiFIR, and coordinated submissions to the European Commission regarding possible amendments to the legislation.
• A leading US brokerage and trading services provider - on the implementation of MiFID II requirements pertaining to payment for research in the UK and in France, and arranged for the client to provide direct technical submissions and present to senior regulators in the Financial Conduct Authority and French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers).
• The operator of a major international derivatives and securities market operator - on the application of General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) to agreements governing licensing of market data following expected UK departure from the EU.

Benchmarks

• A third-country financial benchmark administrator - in preparation of their application to the UK Financial Conduct Authority for recognition in accordance with the provisions of EU Benchmarks Regulation, including documenation review and drafting.
• A UK-based indices and benchmark provider - to prepare an application to the Financial Conduct Authority for authorization as benchmark administrator, including in-depth documentation review and proposing amendments to the organization's governance structure and documentation outlining systems, arrangements and procedures relevant for benchmark administration business.
• A leading technology and precious metals merchandiser - on regulatory compliance obligations applicable to the company in its role as contributor to price assessments processes, which included development of the required documentation on internal systems and processes.
• Drafted policies and benchmark-setting procedures in compliance with IOSCO principles for financial benchmarks for a newly established commodities benchmark administrator.
• A major international financial institution - in assessing its regulatory compliance requirements in respect of EU Benchmarks Regulation, including advice on exemptions available to benchmarks provided by central banks.
• An authorized benchmark administrator on the application of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure requirements stemming from the amended EU Benchmarks Regulation, helped to review and update the relevant documentation.

Fintech

• A major international operator of a trading platform - in crypto-assets to conduct pan-EU jurisdictional survey to assess regulatory status of the company's services provided in the Member States and identify any licence or registration requirements stemming from local law.
• Provided training sessions for major international financial institutions on the development of new European legislative framework for markets in crypto-assets.
• A non-EEA operator of trading platform in crypto-currencies and a provider of custody services - on the registration requirements in EU-27 jurisdictions stemming from national transposition of the 5^th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5MLD).

Commodities / Energy

• Belgium-based subsidiary of a major international oil and gas producer - on the transposition of MiFID II into Belgian law and in particular, procedure and required documentation for ancillary activity notification provided therein.
• Reviewed and advised the commodities financing arm of a large global bank on proposed requirements - to report physical commodity borrowing and lending transactions to authorised trade repositories.
• A brokerage business of a major international bank - on their post-Brexit trading arrangements in physical energy and energy derivative products, including compliance with the relevant regulatory reporting obligations.
• Co-authored a report for an industry association grouping energy exchanges on the application of European financial services legislation to physical gas and electricity trading.

Government relations

• Designed bespoke and comprehensive information, monitoring and reporting services for a number of financial institution clients, and covering select European and UK legislative, regulatory and policy issues.
• Led lobbying on the controversial Risk Reductions Measures package for the London-based industry association representing the precious metals markets and London-based clearing banks and successfully secured a clause obliging the European Commission and EBA to review the proposed liquidity requirements for precious metals.
• Assisted an industry group representing derivatives counterparties in developing a policy submission to EU policy makers and legislators supporting expanded regulatory forbearance powers for the European Commission and the European supervisory authorities.
• Worked with an industry group representing major European utilities and other wholesale energy market participants to devise and successfully promote a position on prudential requirements for commodities dealers in the European Commission's review of Singe Rulebook requirements for investment firms.
• Coordinated engagement campaign of a major international information technology company vis-à-vis European Commission and ESMA and focused on promoting transitional arrangements in Prospectus Regulation in the event of no-deal Brexit.

• English
• Polish
• French