Financial Services

The financial services sector continues to evolve and innovate in response to digital developments, regulatory shifts and consumer demands. Six key themes are likely to impact financial services in the next five to ten years, posing significant legal implications:

Global inflation and the interest rate outlook
AI and digital transformation
ESG including Sustainable Finance
New regulation and increased regulatory scrutiny post-2023 bank failures
Cyber risk and financial crime
M&A activity including ongoing consolidation in banking, insurance and asset management

Our global multidisciplinary team advises the entire range of financial services businesses including banks, insurance and asset management firms on their key strategic projects and transactions. We also offer extensive market, regulatory and legal insights to navigate complex disputes and regulatory issues effectively.

We leverage technical know-how and in-depth financial services insights to deliver innovative legal solutions across the full range of transactions. We have a strong track record in structuring and executing complex cross-border deals including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and financing arrangements.

How can we help you?

Comprehensive financial services legal expertise

We offer well-informed, joined-up strategic legal advice, grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory, economic, and market challenges within the sector.

Clients benefit from our extensive track record in delivering expert guidance on:

Asset and fund management
Capital solutions
Clearing and Custody services
Commercial and retail banking
Debt and equity capital markets
Digital assets and Fintech
Insurance, Reinsurance and Insurance distribution services
Payment services
Pensions
Prime brokerage
Structured products and derivatives
Wealth management/private banking

Market leading global team supporting financial services clients

Our team of transactional, regulatory, disputes and advisory legal professionals operate seamlessly across practice areas and geographies. Our clients include:

Traditional and alternative asset managers
Insurance companies and intermediaries
Commercial and investment banks
Sovereign wealth funds
Private Capital firms
Fintech firms
Payments organisations
Global corporates engaged in the provision of financial services

Delivering insights to proactively embrace challenges and seize opportunities

The breadth of services and markets we cover and our position at the heart of the financial services community means we can provide unrivalled insights into both regulatory and market developments across the globe, helping clients to identify risks, solve their biggest business challenges and maximise growth opportunities.

Current market, regulatory developments and contentious issues we are advising on include:

Private credit
Financial services digital transformation
Investment products
Risk management, including regulatory investigations

Explore our financial services capabilities

Banking

Fintech

Insurance

Asset management

Client highlights

Clifford Chance advises ST GROUP on world-first tokenised IPO

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised ST GROUP, a French group operating in the civil and military aerospace and space sectors, on its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and the admission of its shares to trading on the Lightning Stock Exchange (Lise). The transaction represents the world’s first fully tokenised IPO.

Clifford Chance Advises Nuveen, LLC on £9.9 Billion Recommended Offer for Schroders plc

Nuveen, a global asset manager, and its parent company TIAA, on Nuveen’s recommended cash offer for Schroders plc. The transaction values Schroders plc at £9.9 billion and is anticipated to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement.

Clifford Chance advises Blackstone on sale of NIBC Bank to ABN AMRO

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Blackstone on the sale of NIBC Bank to ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Having advised Blackstone on its public takeover of NIBC in 2020, Clifford Chance is delighted to have supported Blackstone on the next stage of the NIBC journey.

Clifford Chance advises Generali on €337 million sale of Irish and Northern Irish operations to Zurich Insurance Group

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Generali on its EUR337m agreement for the sale of its Irish and Northern Irish operations carried out through the Irish and UK (Northern Ireland) branches of Generali Spain under the RedClick brand, to Zurich Insurance Europe AG and Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, UK Branch, both part of the Zurich Insurance Group.

Clifford Chance advises Legal & General on US$2.3 billion sale of its US protection and pension risk transfer businesses to Meiji Yasuda

Global law firm Clifford Chance advised Legal & General, a British multinational financial services and asset management company headquartered in London, on the sale of its US protection and pension risk transfer businesses to Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company at an equity value of US$2.3 billion.

Clifford Chance advises HKMC on record-breaking HK$25.3 billion multi-currency bond issuance

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) on its issuance of multi-currency public benchmark bonds totalling HK$25.3 billion (approx. US$3.3 billion). This transaction marks HKMC's largest-ever public bond offering to date.

Financial regulation

The financial sector faces unprecedented challenges as the most far-reaching set of reforms in the history of the industry are implemented. Read our in-depth analysis of financial reforms.

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Insurance insights

Insights and opinions from our Global Insurance Group on the latest insurance trends, regulatory changes and developments, including the role of new technologies, shaping the global insurance market.