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Regulatory & Compliance Advice
Regulatory & Compliance Advice
AZJ Legal advises on financial services regulation, supporting clients in navigating the complexities of authorisation, supervision, and perimeter analysis. We act for investment firms, wealth managers, fintech businesses, and family offices, offering commercially focused guidance on whether their activities fall within the regulatory scope.
Key services include advising on the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the application of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), and financial promotions compliance. AZJ Legal also provides support with anti-money laundering obligations, change in control procedures, and fit and proper assessments.
AZJ Legal prepares and reviews essential regulatory documentation, including compliance manuals, internal policies, risk registers, and governance disclosures. AZJ Legal also assists with regulatory applications, variation of permission processes, and ongoing correspondence with regulators.
AZJ Legal’s regulatory advice is delivered with commercial clarity, ensuring that clients can operate within their regulatory boundaries while remaining agile and strategically aligned. We regularly advise both regulated firms and unregulated businesses seeking to evaluate, clarify, or restructure their regulatory position in response to new opportunities or risks.
If your activities involve arranging, advising on, or managing investments, or providing payment services, you may need authorisation. AZJ Legal carries out perimeter assessments to determine whether your business falls within the regulatory scope and, if so, what permissions are required.
The SMCR places responsibility on senior individuals within regulated firms to ensure good governance, culture, and accountability. We help firms assess their obligations, prepare Statements of Responsibilities, and implement fit and proper testing frameworks.
In the UK, most investment-related communications require compliance with the financial promotion regime. We advise on exemptions, approvals, and structuring marketing materials to ensure they do not breach restrictions or expose your firm to regulatory action.
While many family offices operate outside the regulatory perimeter, certain investment management or advisory activities may trigger FCA requirements. AZJ Legal assists family offices in structuring their activities to achieve clarity and avoid inadvertent regulatory breaches.
We manage the entire process, from preparing application packs, compliance manuals, and business plans to liaising with the FCA during the authorisation or variation of permission process. Our approach ensures submissions are strategically aligned and meet the regulator’s expectations.