Administrative & Regulatory Law · European Union
Operate With Confidence Under Financial Regulation
Licensing, conduct of business, anti-money-laundering and prudential rules shape every financial service — and a compliance gap can trigger fines, licence conditions or enforcement. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles financial regulation across Europe every day.
- Licensing, AML & conduct expertise
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
For fintechs, investment firms, payment providers and anyone offering regulated financial services
Financial regulation is the framework of rules that governs who may provide financial services and how they must conduct themselves — licensing and authorisation, conduct-of-business and consumer-protection duties, anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing, prudential capital requirements, and reporting to supervisors. In Europe the field is a patchwork: harmonised EU legislation sets the broad architecture, but each member state applies and supervises it through its own regulator, so the same business can face meaningfully different obligations depending on where it is authorised and where its customers live. The stakes are high, and enforcement is active. For a company seeking a licence, expanding across borders or responding to a supervisory query, getting the requirements right up front is far cheaper than unwinding a breach — and a specialist can translate the rules into a clear, practical plan.
Why firms get stuck
Financial compliance breaks down in the gaps between EU and national rules.
That is exactly where firms get caught.
Each country supervises the shared EU framework its own way, and obligations shift as rules and guidance evolve.
Unclear licensing triggers
Whether an activity requires a licence — and which one — depends on fine distinctions that vary by country. Launching a product that quietly crosses the line into regulated territory can expose a firm to enforcement from day one.
AML and onboarding obligations
Customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and suspicious-activity reporting are exacting and continuously updated. Gaps in onboarding or monitoring are among the most common — and most heavily fined — failures in the sector.
Conduct and consumer duties
Rules on how products are marketed, sold and advised are increasingly demanding, with explicit duties to act in customers’ interests. Mis-selling or a misleading promotion can draw regulatory action and private claims alike.
What you get
A financial regulation lawyer who speaks both EU and national
We only match you with regulatory lawyers who work with financial-services firms on a regular basis.
Licensing & passporting
Your lawyer confirms whether your planned activities need authorisation, which licence fits, and how EU passporting can let you serve other countries — so you launch on a lawful footing.
AML & compliance
A practical review of your customer due diligence, monitoring and reporting against current standards, with clear steps to close any gaps before a supervisor finds them first.
Conduct & consumer
Guidance on marketing, disclosure and advisory duties so your products are sold and serviced in line with conduct rules and consumer-protection requirements in each relevant country.
Supervisory engagement
If a regulator asks questions, seeks information or opens a review, you get a lawyer who knows how to respond carefully, correct issues and protect your licence and reputation.
Coverage
Financial regulation lawyers across Europe
The EU sets a common framework, but authorisation and supervision are national. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Financial regulation — common questions
What is financial regulation?
Financial regulation is the set of rules governing who may provide financial services and how, including licensing, conduct of business, consumer protection, anti-money-laundering and prudential capital requirements. In Europe it combines harmonised EU legislation with national supervision, so the practical obligations vary by country.
How do I know if my business needs a licence?
Whether an activity requires authorisation depends on precisely what you do, for whom, and where — and the definitions differ between member states. Because the line between regulated and unregulated activity is fine, a specialist should assess your specific business model before you launch.
What is EU passporting?
Passporting lets a firm authorised in one EU or EEA country provide certain services or establish in another, based on its home-country licence. The scope depends on the licence type and the activity, so a lawyer can confirm whether your model qualifies and how to use it.
What are the key anti-money-laundering duties?
AML duties typically include customer due diligence, ongoing transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious activity to the relevant authority. The precise requirements and thresholds vary by country, and they are updated regularly, so firms must keep their procedures current.
What happens if my firm breaches the rules?
Consequences vary by country and the seriousness of the breach, and can include fines, restrictions on your licence, remediation orders and, in serious cases, individual liability. A lawyer should assess the specific situation and the regulator involved before you respond.
Do conduct rules apply to non-bank fintechs?
Yes, in many cases. Conduct and consumer-protection rules increasingly apply to a broad range of firms beyond traditional banks, including payment providers, lenders and investment platforms. The exact scope depends on your authorisation and activities, so advice tailored to your model is important.
Free case review
Build your financial service on a lawful foundation
Tell us what you do and where you plan to operate, and we’ll connect you with a financial regulation lawyer who handles firms like yours — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.