Financial Services Regulation

At Cleveland & Co, we provide expert legal guidance on navigating the ever-evolving financial services regulation landscape. With years of specialised experience, our team ensures that your business is not only compliant but strategically positioned for success. Whether it’s staying ahead of regulatory changes or managing complex compliance projects, we offer clarity and peace of mind every step of the way.

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Are you grappling with the complexities of financial services regulation?

If your business is facing challenges like horizon scanning for upcoming regulations, managing compliance projects, or handling relationships with the FCA and other regulators, our team of experienced lawyers is here to help. We understand the strain regulatory demands can place on your resources, and we’re equipped to provide you with the expert guidance needed to streamline processes and mitigate risks.

How We Can Help

The regulatory environment is changing more rapidly than ever, making the burden of remaining compliant a significant undertaking for many firms. Doing this without specialist support is a real challenge for any legal team. By working with Cleveland & Co, your business gains a proactive partner who helps you stay ahead of regulatory changes. Our team provides a tailored approach, ensuring your business is compliant, prepared, and optimized to handle regulatory challenges. You’ll receive clear, practical advice that cuts through legal jargon and focuses on your commercial goals, ensuring that compliance is not just a checkbox but a strategic advantage.

Transform Regulatory Challenges into Growth.

New UK and EU regulations will impact your business. Waiting until these changes are upon you increases your investment risk. By acting now, you can ensure compliance and safeguard your operations. Many businesses have already partnered with us to stay ahead of regulatory changes and avoid costly missteps. Don’t wait until it’s too late—secure your compliance strategy with Cleveland & Co today.

A trusted partner in the investment management industry

The scope of our client relationships within the investment management industry reflects our ability to deliver high quality advice, and make it accessible to all industry participants. Our clients include leading funds, investment managers, and banks.

Global ACD/Trustee Services

Team Size: 201-500 employees globally.In-house legal team: 5

Client Requirement

Monthly horizon scanning for applicable regulatory updates.
Prepare comprehensive obligations tracker to enable the firm to assess compliance needs when adding FCA permission and adding new lines of business and launch new products.
Update and maintain all core compliance, governance and HR policies for annual updates.
Review and update UCIT, NURS and CAIF prospectuses ahead of FCA approval and review amendments to prospectuses.

Benefits Delivered

Provided capacity to in-house GC to focus on business strategy and new client initiatives whilst being supported by a team of lawyers to cover all BAU.
On tap support to cover team holidays and leave.
Delivered consistency across fund prospectuses prepared by different fund mangers.
Provided proactive support to identify regulatory change risks

UK Investments Industry Association

Team Size: 51-200 employees globallyIn-house legal team: 0

Client Requirement

Legal support across all departments, balancing interests of the association along with membership needs.
Complete integration with the broader team to participate in strategic and business initiatives and pre-empt legal requirements with respect to new programmes being launched e.g. start-up accelerators.
Supporting all policy and guidance regarding industry regulatory change.
Participating in committee meetings.
Monthly in-person meetings.
Oversee competition law and advice as necessary.

Benefits Delivered

Delivery of critical legal projects, managing all relevant stakeholders.
High quality preparation of significant numbers of reusable legal templates
Enhanced internal corporate and governance policies to manage legal risk across the board.
Provide “second to none” market intelligence given our on the ground access to the industry through our client base and our business model.

Mutual Life Insurance and Pensions Company

Team Size: 1,001-5,000 employees globally.In-house legal team: 15+

Client Requirement

Reduce external legal spend.
Implement regulatory projects; EMIR, variation margin and initial margin.
Project manage all ISDA & CSA reviews and negotiate with counterparties until execution for all of their legal entities
Review ancillary derivative documentation; GMRAs, GMSLAs, SLAAs, execution and clearing etc.

Benefits Delivered

Provided cost certainty through fixed costs for all outsourced work, enabling the team to track and manage annual legal budgets.
Provided high quality deliverables with minimal oversight across substantial areas of work.
Provided reusable assets, including position and negotiation trackers created for knowledge sharing and training of junior team members
Created consistency in positions negotiated across agreements.

200+ clients representing a combined £9 trillion of Assets Under Management

Cleveland & Co stands apart from traditional law firms

Our focus on the asset management industry allows us to provide specialized services tailored to your business. Our senior lawyers work directly with you, ensuring a personal, high-quality service that larger firms often cannot match. We combine industry expertise with a commercial mindset, offering legal solutions that go beyond compliance to drive real, lasting impact in your organization.

Emma Cleveland – CEO, Global General Counsel

Secure Your Regulatory Compliance Today.

Expert legal support tailored to your needs

Your Business

Cleveland & Co works closely with your team to understand your specific legal requirements. Alongside your initial legal requirements we aim to understand how your business works. This ensures we provide expert guidance tailored to your needs.

Specialist Skills

We assign a dedicated team of regulatory and compliance experts who will provide ongoing guidance, whether for day-to-day queries or major compliance projects. We provide full-service support that includes everything from policy reviews to drafting and negotiating compliance documents.

One Team

Our approach integrates seamlessly with your in-house teams. Expect meticulous attention to detail, fast execution, and expert advice tailored to your business.

Pricing

We offer flexible pricing models tailored to your specific needs. Whether it’s a one-time consultation or ongoing support, our pricing structure is transparent and aligned with the scope of services required. Our goal is to provide exceptional value without unforeseen costs.

Choose Your Plan

Fixed Fee Projects

Clear, one-time cost
Transparent and predictable budgeting
No ongoing commitment after project completion
Best suited for specific, well-defined projects

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Monthly Retainer

Access to a dedicated team of experts
Continuous, on-demand support
Flexible, tailored assistance as needs evolve
Builds a long-term relationship for strategic support

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A panel of specialists through one account

The Cleveland & Co business model offers you the hard to access combination of a team of specialists offering high quality advice in the format of a single lawyer hire available as a round the clock service.

Specialists typically perform: 15%; better than generalists

Compared to a single hire,: 7x; more PQE access

Across time zones: 100%; team availability

Your Regulatory Compliance Legal Team

The Regulatory team at Cleveland & Co are happy to answer any questions you may have and have a depth of experience to assist with implementing advice.

Fiona Richardson

Head of Regulation

Expertise: Investment Management, Financial Services Regulation, Funds, Alternative Funds, Securities, Trading & Investments, Securities Lending, Distribution, ESG and Corporate Governance

Experience: 30+ years

Get in touch with Fiona

Caroline Donald

Deputy General Counsel – Governance, Regulation and Trading

Expertise: Investment Management, Financial Services Regulation, Funds, Alternative Funds, Separately Managed Accounts, Corporate, Commercial, Privacy, IP, HR & Employment strategic

Experience: 25 years

Get in touch with Caroline

Trevor Goodman

Director

Expertise: Investment Management, Financial Services Regulation, Funds, Structuring and Restructuring, Corporate Governance, Commercial, Fintech

Experience: 30 years

Get in touch with Trevor

Access to 200+ years team PQE experience for less than the cost of a General Counsel.

Recent Awards

Our ability to provide value to clients in the financial services sector is winning awards across a range of categories.

2026 Modern Law Awards Winner, Law Firm – Small

2026 Women & Diversity in Law Awards Finalist, Law Firm of the Year

2026 Women & Diversity in Law Awards Highly Commended, Law Firm Leader of the Year (Boutique)

2026 Modern Law Awards Highly Commended, Best Use of Technology

2026 Modern Law Awards Shortlisted, Innovation Award

2023 Strategic Legal Operations Team of the Year

2022 Corporate Counsel Awards finalist, Financial Services Lawyer of the Year

2022 Modern Law Awards Diversity and Inclusion Award

2021 Women in Finance UK Legal Adviser of the Year

FAQ

Our FAQ section covers a range of topics about the institutional work we do.

: We are specialists within the asset management sector and are able to provide specialized advice that larger firms often cannot offer. We have clients on both sides of the negotiating table, and support industry associations, which allows us to provide pragmatic practical advice.

Top Tier Investment Management Testimonials

“Cleveland & Co played an instrumental role in our recent M&A operation, turning a complex process into a smooth transition. Their strategic expertise and professional approach gave us confidence, ensuring our success. We highly recommend their services for any business seeking a reliable partner for significant growth.”

“Cleveland & Co have been supporting us on our journey to a $1bn plus asset under management for a few years. They have filled a need for us – having on hand a general counsel with multiple skill sets without having to employ a whole general counsel team. It is hard to do – but they have made it work – and work very well.”

“We were introduced to Cleveland & Co a few years ago and the relationship has proven to be very beneficial to us. The combination of expertise within the field, accessibility, speed and flexibility has been just what we needed. We look forward to carrying on the relationship, and it’s refreshing to deal with a pragmatic, professional, down to earth group of people.”

Conveniently located in London Bridge

Chat with Cordelia, or leave a message.

Cordelia Hughes, Chief Growth Officer

chughes@cleveland-co.com +44 7983 800548 LinkedIn