Focuses her practice on financial regulatory matters relevant to the investment management and funds industry.
Advising a major technology investment fund on start-up issues, including internal controls and information handling protocols, and conducting market abuse and compliance training for staff. We also provided advice in relation to market abuse requirements and trade issues.
Advising a US VC investment manager on “appointed representative” arrangements.
Advising a large PE manager with establishing UK operations, including FCA authorisation application.
Advising the U.K. office of a global investment manager on the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) implementation process.
Ezra Zahabi leads Akin’s non-contentious financial regulatory team in London and advises some of the world’s largest investment managers on relevant developments and considerations regarding changes to the UK and EU financial regulatory framework, particularly with regard to:
The UK financial services regulatory framework, including the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, FCA Rules and Principles, HM Treasury’s new programme of secondary legislation to replace retained EU law in order to deliver a Smarter Regulatory Framework for financial services tailored to the UK, and interactions with regulatory authorities, including regulatory applications and notifications.
The EU legislative and regulatory framework, including the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the related Regulation (MiFID II); the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD); the Market Abuse Regulation; and the European Markets and Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).
Structuring and promotion of sustainable funds, and the application of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Taxonomy Regulation.
Ezra advises on a wide range of matters including:
Regulatory compliance (including SMCR, remuneration rules under AIFMD and MIFIDPRU).
Strategic advice in connection with new or forthcoming regulatory requirements.
Market abuse and market conduct.
Fund structuring, marketing and distribution.
Structuring of investment management and advisory platforms.
Ezra participates in industry associations including the Sustainable Investment and Investment Management Sub-Committees of the Financial Markets Law Committee (a committee of the Bank of England) and the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) working groups. She provides client training on regulatory and legal matters, including market abuse.
Representative Work
Advice on FCA authorization applications.
SMCR implementation for investment managers.
Advice to issuers and market participants on insider dealing concerns.
Advice on post-Brexit marketing considerations for UK and other non-EU investment managers/advisors.