Financial Institutions

The financial sector is undergoing fast-paced technological advancements, increased regulation and is subject to ever-closer investor and regulatory scrutiny. Disputes are increasingly technical, nuanced and multi-jurisdictional in nature. Our international reach, technical excellence and in depth knowledge of the financial and insurance sectors means we can handle the most complex and technically-demanding financial claims and policy coverage disputes. Our approach is swift and effective to contain disputes, minimise reputational damage and achieve the best commercial outcome for our clients.

Overview

Our highly experienced team has handled some of the largest and most high profile claims brought against the financial services industry in recent years.

We advise and defend banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions, wealth managers, trustees and pension administrators and financial advisers against an array of financial claims including mis-selling, fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering and tax avoidance schemes.

We specialise in regulatory investigations, including liaising with the Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Conduct Authority, Serious Fraud Office, Prudential Regulation Authority, the Insolvency Service, and the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission in the US.

We also advise insurers and reinsurers on complex policy coverage issues including non-disclosures, policy exclusions, aggregation and policy response.

Our international reach means we can swiftly assemble experts in multiple jurisdictions to provide a coordinated response to international and cross-border disputes, and act as monitoring counsel in large international loss programmes.

We draft insurance policy wordings and advise on risk management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance as well as emerging risks such as artificial intelligence, ESG-related claims, cybercrime and data theft.

Featured experience

  • Advising insurers of a leading retail bank in connection with FCA and PRA investigations relating to failings arising from the transfer of the bank’s data from one IT platform to another.
  • Advising insurers of FTSE100 listed global investment manager in relation to underlying claim seeking £60m for alleged negligence in managing foreign exchange hedges.
  • Advising London Market Insurers, insurers of a large Mexican bank, on the application of the BBB section of its FI policy in relation to a $30m fraudulent transfer to an unidentified third party who had manipulated data in the electronic payment system.

What our clients say

  • They provide advice in a clear and precise way, laying out all the implications, without all the legal jargon. They are extremely professional but also friendly and approachable. They make you feel like you are their most important client!

    Legal 500 2022 edition, Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory, London

  • Able to concentrate enormous effort and resource to achieve the right result under a tight timescale.
    Calm, thoughtful and strategic.
    Very knowledgeable, supportive and understanding.

    Legal 500 2022 edition, Insurance: Professional Liability, London

  • The team is very thorough and responsive.

    Chambers & Partners 2022, Professional Negligence, London.

Financial Institutions key contacts

Who we are

Why choose DAC Beachcroft?

We’re a broad-based commercial firm serving a wide range of sectors with a strong heritage in insurance,
health and real estate. We combine excellent legal skills and cutting-edge delivery expertise to design
solutions that fit the needs of our clients – often involving clever uses of technology.