Related services and key industries
Biography
Joe Smallshaw is a financial services regulation lawyer based in London. He focuses his practice on contentious matters, primarily investigations by financial regulators.
Joe advises on all aspects of contentious regulatory matters and has particular experience in FCA enforcement investigations in both the retail and wholesale markets. He has represented clients in FCA investigations into potential breaches of the FCA's Principles for Business including Principle 2 (skill, care and diligence), Principle 3 (management and control), Principle 6 (treating customers fairly) and Principle 7 (communications with clients), and in respect of different areas of the FCA's Handbook including SYSC, COBS, MCOB, ICOBS and CONC. Joe also has experience in conducting investigations in relation to market abuse.
Joe has extensive experience in Skilled Person reviews conducted under s166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act and has also represented clients in respect of hearings conducted by the FCA's Regulatory Decisions Committee. He has conducted a number of internal investigations for financial institutions and has experience in dealing with regulators in other jurisdictions.
Joe also has significant experience in general dispute resolution. He has represented clients in High Court litigation in financial, media and energy sectors and has also resolved disputes through mediation.
Joe has completed secondments at two international banks and his clients include financial institutions based in the UK and in other jurisdictions.
Professional experience
Collapse allAdvising:
- An international bank - in relation to an internal investigation into potential fraud against it by its employees and customers.
- A commodities broker - in respect of an FCA enforcement investigation into whether the firm conducted market abuse in the trading of derivatives.
- A multinational corporate - in relation to enquiries from the FCA and the FRC in respect of ESG-related disclosures in its annual reports.
- A UK subsidiary of a multinational financial services institution - in respect of an FCA investigation and enforcement proceedings concerning its anti-money laundering systems and controls.
- A financial institution - in an investigation by ICE into potential breaches of its Trading Regulations.
- An individual - in an investigation by Ofgem in respect of alleged market manipulation in the electricity market.
- A financial institution - in respect of potential breaches of a restraint order, including reporting to the FCA and the NCA.
- A UK listed company - in relation to a preliminary enquiry by the FCA as to whether the company had breached the Listing Rules and the UK Market Abuse Regulation in respect of a number of public announcements it had made regarding its trading performance.
- An individual - in respect of a review by the FCA as to whether that individual had engaged in market abuse in the trading of equities in a listed company.
- A UK group of companies - in connection with a review of its treatment of mortgage customers.
Insights
FCA investigation update highlights the importance of good governance
Publication | November 08, 2024
Forbearance: A changing and challenging landscape
Webinar | November 04, 2024
NFGS issues updated guide on climate-related disclosure for central banks
Blog | June 19, 2024