Praised by clients for providing ‘expert commercial and pragmatic regulatory advice’, Osborne Clarke LLP‘s fintech practice brings together expertise across financial services, technology, and regulation. The group advises clients ranging from multinational institutions to fast-growth fintechs, advising on payments, open banking, consumer lending, crypto, embedded finance, investment platforms, and digital banking. As head of the international payments practice, Paul Anning has recently taken the lead on the team’s support of UK Finance in response to the FCA’s safeguarding consultation, and continued to provide day-to-day advisory counsel to global tech company and financial services provider Block. Nikki Worden leads the consumer finance group, acting for clients across the lending and credit spectrum, including consumer lending and embedded finance platforms. The firm’s regulatory disputes team, led by investigations expert Rachel Couter, handles investigations by the FCA and the Financial Reporting Review Panel. The ’extremely responsive and knowledgeable’ Ben Player is also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Their expert regulatory advice is commercial and pragmatic and takes into consideration the current views of regulators.’
‘Paul Anning in particular is extremely knowledgeable. He is well known in the industry and referred to positively on a frequent basis. His ability to understand complex structures and matters quickly and advise at different levels of our organisation makes a huge difference. He doesn't feel like an external adviser but part business trying to solve the problem.’
‘The team has depth and strength across all levels of lawyers. Their advice is always on point, tailored to a business dependent on its risk appetite and size. Various lawyers are made available when required at the appropriate level. ’
‘Nikki Worden and Ben Player are both extremely responsive and knowledgeable. They both respond quickly to market changes.’
'Practical experience of acting for challenger and start-up financial services firms.'
'Engaged, creative, knowledgeable, and always flexible. They approach every problem like a entrepreneurial business partner. I couldn't think of higher praise to give a service provider than that.'
'In my view, Nikki is at the top of her game and knows the consumer credit legal landscape and market backwards. She has worked both in practice and in-house and this gives her the unique ability to understand the needs of her clients to deliver practical, to the point, and actionable advice, contracts and terms and conditions.'
'The team is well staffed with knowledgeable and experienced solicitors and other professional with combined deep knowledge of consumer credit. All advice given is practical, with the risks clearly highlighted.'
Key clients
- UK Finance
- Revolut
- Block
- Clearbank
- JP Morgan
- AirBnB
- Bunch Capital
- GoHenry
- Clearpay
- Fintern
Work highlights
Appointed to support UK Finance in responding to the FCA's safeguarding consultation (CP24/20).
Advising regulatory matters to JPMorgan's Payments Legal team for over 13 years, expanding its work in 2024 to new areas and teams, particularly the Chase business line: advising on the pan-European roll-out of Open Banking products, safeguarding arrangements for WePay, regulatory changes, direct debit disputes, and providing training to JPMorgan's Regulatory Reform Oversight Committee.
Assisted Clearpay with strategic regulatory, contentious, and consumer credit matters, including preparing for FCA regulation, successfully representing them in a £1.21m wrongful termination claim, and advising on various consumer credit and payment services issues.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Ben Player
Practice head
Paul Anning, Nikki Worden
Other key lawyers
Rachel Couter; Ben Player