Financial Services Licensing & Regulatory Advisory
Specialist regulatory and authorisation support for payment institutions, electronic money institutions, investment firms and other regulated financial services businesses.
Specialist regulatory and authorisation support for payment institutions, electronic money institutions, investment firms and other regulated financial services businesses.
Payment services, electronic money and investment services can only be provided in the EU with an authorisation from the competent national authority. The application is the visible part. Behind it sits a business that must already meet the requirements it describes: capital, governance, qualified management, internal controls, safeguarding of client funds, and frameworks for anti-money laundering and operational risk.
What makes these projects complex is rarely a single requirement. It is the way the requirements interact: a business model that does not fit neatly into one licence category, owners and managers who must pass suitability checks, outsourcing within a group, and a timeline that depends on the authority's review. Getting the order of work right from the start avoids most delays.
Firms providing payment services such as money remittance, payment accounts, card acquiring, payment initiation and account information, under the Payment Services Directive.
Firms issuing electronic money, including prepaid and wallet-based products, together with related payment services, under the Electronic Money Directive.
Firms providing investment services such as reception and transmission of orders, execution, portfolio management and investment advice, under MiFID II.
Determining which activities require authorisation, under which regime, and whether an exemption or a narrower licence is available.
Choosing the right licence type and jurisdiction, and planning the project so that the business is ready when the application is filed.
Preparing the programme of operations, business plan, policies and supporting documents to the standard the authority expects.
Designing management structures, control functions and compliance, risk and AML frameworks that work in practice, not only on paper.
Managing the dialogue with the competent authority before and during its review, including questions and requests for further information.
Preparing the notifications needed to provide services in other Member States, under the freedom to provide services or through a branch.
We review the business model, ownership, people and existing arrangements, and set out what authorisation requires and in what order.
We prepare the application file and help put in place the governance, policies and controls it describes.
We support the filing and the review period, including the authority's questions and requests for further information.
After authorisation, we help embed the framework in day-to-day operations and prepare for ongoing supervision.
Tell us the type of institution, the jurisdiction you are considering and the activities you intend to carry out. Your enquiry goes directly to the principal.
Discuss your regulatory matter