Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Business disputes, financial services, technology, media and telecommunications; financial services and funds.

William specialises in advising clients in the wholesale, trading and markets segment of the financial services sector. He leads the firm’s wholesale, trading and markets practice. William regularly assists clients throughout the UK authorisation process and has particular expertise in advising clients on a wide range of regulatory, trading and markets issues and perimeter issues. He has also advised on the structuring and establishment of numerous financial services businesses and investment funds. William has a diverse range of clients across multilateral trading facilities, broker crossing networks, investment banks, brokers, dealers, proprietary trading firms and investment managers in connection with multiple investment and product classes (including equities, fixed income, funds, commodities, derivatives, and commercial and wholesale FX). Extensive non-law industry experience enables him to provide legal expertise which is complemented by significant industry insight and an understanding of the practical and commercial realities of running a business involved in financial markets. Experience: advised investment banks and brokers in relation to providing direct electronic access to execution venues (DMA and sponsored access) and providing white-labelled services to third-party brokerages; assisted numerous clients setting up European execution venues and trading platforms (MTFs, crossing networks and other OTC platforms); assisted numerous international brokerages and proprietary trading firms to set up European operations or restructure existing operations; advising numerous regulated firms in connection with alleged FCA or exchange rule breaches.