Rowena Wisniewska > 4-5 Gray's Inn Square > London, England > Barrister Profile

Rowena Wisniewska

rwisniewska@4-5.co.uk

Position

Rowena specialises in Financial Services Law and Regulation and has around 10 years experience in the Enforcement Legal Group at the (then) Financial Services Authority and its successor the Financial Conduct Authority. Rowena has been involved in a wide range of regulatory cases and litigation in the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court at the FSA, FCA, the Treasury Solicitor and Government Legal Department. Rowena originally qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and worked in private practice before joining the Treasury Solicitor. During her time in Central Government she was instructed in general private law litigation, immigration and other judicial review matters. Rowena has particular expertise in providing regulatory investigation support, interview planning, advice on regulatory breaches and contested authorisation and registration matters, included contentious fitness and propriety assessments.

Career

Rowena is able to provide a full complement of investigation support, including ongoing advice on limitation assessments, the scope of investigations, interview planning, drafting disciplinary notices, advice on evidence and advice on penalty and settlement. Rowena has a particular interest and expertise in Change in Control notifications, Cryptocurrency Registrations under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, contested applications for authorisation and approval and advising on fitness and propriety assessments under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime. She also has experience in Skilled Persons reviews, Bribery and Corruption Investigations and Systems and Controls regulatory matters.

Rowena is committed to mentoring and supporting younger members of the legal profession and welcomes the opportunity to supervise and support trainees and pupils. She currently holds the role of Senior In Hall at Gray’s Inn, through which she is able to contribute to training hosted by the Education Department and other events at the Inn.

She is deeply committed to maintaining Diversity and Inclusion both in the legal profession and in the commercial world and holds the role of Ambassador for the Diversity Project, which aims to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture in the investment and savings industry.

Memberships

• University of York: English Literature and modern German literature
• York College of Law: studied for the CPE and LPC, qualifying as a solicitor in 2001.
• Called to the Bar in 2007 and is a member of Gray’s Inn.
• In June 2012 I obtained a Masters Degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature, University of London.
• Senior in Hall at Gray’s Inn: appointed January 2020 for a term of 5 years.
• Pupil Supervisor: Inner Temple trained, April 2020.
• Ambassador for the Diversity Project: appointed May 2022.
• Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers