Financial Technology (FINTECH)

Fintech Lawyer

"In many ways, fintech is the new mainstream financial services as demarcation lines between traditional providers and tech-enabled businesses become increasingly blurred"- Mr. Ashley Freeman.

Some of our lawyers have been actively engaged in advising, counselling, and mentoring new start-ups in the financial sector for many years. In a few cases, they have even taken an ownership stake or management role. This is because many entrepreneurs recognize the enormous value an experienced lawyer can bring to the early day launch and growth stages of their business.

Our lawyer's work has covered a full range of activities normally associated with new ventures in this sector. At the initial stage, we would typically advise on operational structure and business plan. We can then establish the legal vehicle that will hold the business and prepare its documentation, such as commercial contracts and policies and procedures (many of which are mandated by law). Technological innovation in the financial sector often involves competitive risk and confidentiality concerns. Our firm frequently assists with intellectual property protection and non-disclosure agreements to give clients the peace of mind they require. Most (but not all) fin-techs require some form of regulatory approval before they can commence business and our lawyers are often engaged with the appropriate authorities for this purpose. Once the business is established, there is a multitude of counterparties to deal with, and having lawyers who are good negotiators (and good at resolving the occasional disputes) can be of a significant advantage. Our lawyers know the typical issues that can arise with new fin-tech ventures and are apt at resolving them. When the business starts to grow and expand it will require more capital and our firm is accustomed to advising on a range of debt and equity options (including Islamic, ethical, and other alternative forms of funding) and structuring and negotiating its provisions if and when it’s agreed.

Whilst most of our work in this area is confidential, our lawyers have assisted with fin-tech businesses offering consumer finance, SME funding, payment systems, investment opportunities (in various asset classes, including real estate), crypto assets, crowd funding, blockchain solutions, financial management and budgeting tools, and mobile apps, etc.

Our lawyers have also facilitated the desire of many fin-tech companies to scale-up their operations and either sell their businesses to larger financial providers or convert their regulatory status to undertake a wider range of activities (with many, but not all, aspiring to be challenger banks).