The majority of FSLA members are practitioners in the financial services
sector. Here are some things we do that will be of interest to you:

FSLA Work and Social Events

Financial services law practitioners can find details of events directly relevant to their work on our events pages. Please also check these pages for information about social events such as our Christmas and Summer drinks.

FSLA Pro Bono

FSLA operates a pro bono scheme which provides legal representation (experienced solicitors and barristers from amongst our members) for individuals and firms due to appear before either the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA or the Upper Tribunal.

FSLA Social Mobility Scheme

In conjunction with the Social Mobility Fund (SMF), FSLA members host A-level students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are performing well academically and have an interest in law. The students spend time in the High Court, chambers and law firms.

FSLA Publications

FSLA contributes a quarterly article by a member or members in the Butterworth’s Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (JIBFL) called ‘FSLA View’. Members are encouraged to contribute articles and should contact the Executive Committee with proposed topics.

Mar 31
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Lord Eatwell: Visions for the Future of Financial Regulation – from the Practical to the Romantic

By | Events, Financial Services Practitioners, Junior Lawyers | No Comments

6:00pm on Wednesday, 7 May 2025 hosted by Reed Smith

On behalf of the Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA) and Reed Smith, we would like to invite you to attend this fireside chat and reception with Lord John Eatwell on Wednesday, 7 May 2025 at Reed Smith, 1 Blossom Yard E1 6RS.
 
Join us for this in-person event, where Lord Eatwell will share key insights from his vast expertise in financial services regulation, including his concerns for the present and visions for the future.
 
Lord Eatwell is a British economist, academic, and public policy expert with extensive experience in financial services regulation. Educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and later earning his PhD from Harvard University, Lord Eatwell has had a career spanning academia, politics, and public service. He has held key academic positions, including serving as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and as a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and Politics. From 1997 to 2020, he was President of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and he holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Financial Policy at the Cambridge Judge Business School.
 
Beyond academia, Lord Eatwell has played a significant role in shaping economic policy. From 1985 to 1992, he was economic advisor to Neil Kinnock, then Leader of the Labour Party, before being appointed a life peer in the House of Lords in 1992. He has since held key roles, including Principal Opposition Spokesman on Treasury and Economic Affairs and been a member of influential committees such as the Lords Industry and Regulators Committee. He currently sits on the Financial Services Regulation Committee.
 
Lord Eatwell has contributed significantly to financial regulation, previously sitting on the Board of the Securities and Futures Authority and the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority. He was also Chairman of the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
 
His influence extends beyond finance and policy. He has served as Chair of CRUSAID, an HIV/AIDS charity, and both the Royal Opera House and British Library Boards. With his experience in economics, regulation, and public service, Lord Eatwell is a highly esteemed voice in financial and policy discussions.
 
Registration will open at 6:00pm, with the discussion starting at 6:30pm, followed by Q&A and drinks.
 
Please note that attendance at this event is for FSLA Members only. If you wish to become a member of FSLA to attend, please contact fslalondon@gmail.com.
 
If you have any queries or special requirements, please contact events@fsla.org.uk.
 
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 7 May.

Feb 24
0

FSLA Response to FCA CP24/2 Part 2

By | Financial Services Practitioners | No Comments

FSLA’s response may be found here.

FSLA has submitted a response to the FCA’s Consultation Paper CP24/2 Part 2 titled “Greater transparency of our enforcement investigations”, following on from our response to the initial Consultation Paper, which may be found here.

Despite some of the proposed amendments detailed in CP24/2 Part 2, FSLA remains of the view that the Publication Policy goes further than what is necessary, legitimate and proportionate to achieve the FCA’s stated objectives of transparency, consumer protection and the delivery of a more streamlined and effective Enforcement process. We contend that the FCA’s objectives could be achieved through existing regulatory tools and a more balanced approach, including a cost-benefit analysis and further consultation before implementing such a fundamental policy change

Our response examines the aims and objectives of the FCA, the process and safeguards of the Publication Policy, the case studies detailed by the FCA in CP24/2 Part 2, the potential implications for individuals of the Publication Policy and the possible next steps.

FSLA was pleased to see our evidence referred to in the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee’s report into the FCA’s CP24/2 consultation, titled “Naming and shaming: how not to regulate”, a link to which may be found here.

Please note: The response is submitted on behalf of FSLA and is intended to capture the overall weight of contributions received from its membership, but the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this response belong to the individual authors of this paper (and not, for example, the author’s employer, chambers, organisation, committee, or other group or individual members of FSLA). For the avoidance of doubt, this paper does not contain the views of, or purport to make any representations on behalf of, any FSLA members who are employed by the FCA, the Bank of England (including the Prudential Regulation Authority) or any other regulatory bodies.

“On both the prudential and conduct side, we thought that simple rules and principles would suffice to deliver good results…We now know the limits of those assumptions and we need to design new approaches.”

(Adair Turner)