FinTech Law

Specialist legal advisers to the financial technology industry

Clarke Willmott is a leading FinTech law firm at the forefront of the financial technology revolution. Our specialist team of corporate and commercial solicitors already has extensive experience in this fast-growing area of the financial services sector.

FinTech is a term used to describe a variety of innovative technologies using software or other information communication technologies (ICT), including so-called ‘crypto-currencies’, such as Bitcoin.

FinTech companies tend to be start-ups that “disrupt” existing financial services markets by increasing efficiency through innovation, investment, and the use of technology. They can also provide entirely new financial services products and innovations.

Our expertise in banking and finance law

We work closely with FinTech companies to help them negotiate the journey all the way from start-up through to eventual exit. We also work with the companies that serve the FinTech sector such as platform providers and advise on the regulatory implications of adopting specific disruptive technologies.

Our multidisciplinary legal services include:

Contracts

Innovation relies on the contracts that support it to be commercially effective. Our commercial and information technology solicitors can draft and advise on every type of contract including technology development and technology transfer, hosting contracts, and other Cloud services arrangements.

Data protection

Our FinTech experts advise government departments, universities, multi-nationals, owner-managed businesses and start-ups on a wide range of data protection and privacy matters including data protection breaches and complaints, subjects access requests, freedom of information law, and data protection policies and procedures.

Regulation

With the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), focussing on FinTech as an area of extreme growth, our Financial Services solicitors guide our FinTech clients through the regulatory maze to ensure they do not fall foul of the regulator.

Intellectual Property

Protecting FinTech inventions can be difficult, due to restrictions on patents for mathematical methods and discoveries, and methods of doing business. Our Intellectual Property specialists advise entrepreneurs on how best to protect their innovations from being copied and prevent them giving up on the chance of protection too soon.

Employment & HR

Recruiting, rewarding and retaining key employees are some of the principal drivers of business success, perhaps more so in this sector than in many others. Our employment solicitors and HR consultants design ways to help FinTech start-ups and companies do this effectively.

Investment and Mergers and Acquisition

Our corporate team advises companies, their owners and investors at all stages of a business’s life-cycle, often through several rounds of investment and growth, and eventually to a sale or flotation. We also act for acquisitive buyers, investors and management teams. You can see some examples in our latest corporate deal highlights.

Our financial services legal experience in action

Our Financial Services team are all either qualified or qualifying as financial advisers, and therefore have a deep understanding of regulatory issues. Philippa Hann regularly speaks to the financial services profession about risks and opportunities in the world of FinTech.

FinTech West

Clarke Willmott is a founding partner in the Bristol FinTech initiative, along with Barclays, Deepbridge Capital, Hargreaves Lansdown and PwC.

FinTech West organise events for both entrepreneurs and more established firms seeking to collaborate. The aim being to support those who are looking to revolutionise the way financial services are delivered and to ensure that Bristol, with its amazing tech and creative community is at the forefront of this change.

To find out more and to register for FinTech West events, please visit fintechwest.co.uk

Contact a FinTech solicitor today

Our team of solicitors and FinTech law specialists are ready to help your business. Please contact on 0800 652 8025 or get in touch online.

Clarke Willmott has offices in Taunton, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester and Southampton.