DLA Piper provides advice to some of the largest companies and institutions in the financial services sector, both in their day-to-day operations and in matters relating to long-term strategic objectives
Financial Regulatory
The financial sector, including banking, payments, capital markets and insurance, is characterized by extensive and rapidly changing regulation at both EU and national level. For many actors, it is not only about complying with the rules, but also about understanding how the regulatory frameworks affect the business model, governance and control, documentation, customer communication and operational flows in practice.
We provide qualified advice at the intersection of law, supervisory expectations and business operations. The work includes both strategic analyses and concrete implementation, for example in establishments, structural changes, product launches and ongoing compliance. A large part of the value lies in translating requirements and supervisory practice into clear decision-making material, actionable processes and robust documentation that works both in day-to-day operations and in dialogue with supervisory authorities.
Our services
Advisory
We provide ongoing regulatory advice with a focus on how requirements actually impact the business. Assignments often include assessments of licensing requirements and regulatory classification of activities and services, as well as support in cross-border arrangements where home- and host-state perspectives, marketing, distribution, and practical travel and communication arrangements need to be assessed in light of applicable regulation and supervisory expectations. We also assist with establishments in Sweden, for example through a branch or subsidiary, with a particular focus on the practical boundary between permissible presence and activities requiring authorization.
The advisory work also includes internal governance documents, processes and controls, including matters relating to management and the board, key functions and reporting lines. Many assignments also include consumer protection and product governance, where requirements for information, marketing and contractual documentation need to be designed to be clear, accurate and commercially useful. We also work with market abuse and capital markets matters, including internal procedures and incident management, as well as sustainability-related requirements when they affect financial actors, products and external communication.
Cases with the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and other authorities
We represent and support clients in matters related to the Swedish supervisory environment and contacts with authorities. This includes licensing applications and change notifications, fit-and-proper assessments and governance-related documentation, as well as supervisory matters, injunctions and sanction processes. We also assist in dialogues on practical application and expectations, where international groups need to design and explain their Swedish arrangements in a way that is consistent with both regulation and supervisory practice.
Compliance and Internal Control
We assist financial institutions with advice on regulatory compliance and internal control, focusing on designing and strengthening frameworks, governance documents and working methods that are clear, traceable and practically useful. Assignments may include developing or further enhancing internal guidelines, supporting risk‑based planning and decision‑making materials for reporting to management and the board, as well as contributing to implementation through training initiatives and concrete action plans. We also provide support in reviews and improvement efforts when processes, allocation of responsibilities or documentation need to be reinforced, for example following observations from internal follow‑up or in connection with supervisory dialogue.
Governance and Control in Intra‑Group and External Arrangements
We have a particular focus on how governance and control should be organized when functions or processes are carried out by other entities within a group or by external providers. The work often includes identifying and defining essential functions and critical dependencies, designing clear mandates and escalation paths, and ensuring that monitoring and reporting are appropriate at both management and board level. We also assist in developing and adapting agreements, guidelines and processes so that they support effective governance, including requirements, follow‑up and preparation for dialogue with supervisory authorities.
AML, Sanctions and Financial Crime
We provide support on both frameworks and practical matters for banks, insurance companies, payment service providers and other entities subject to AML regulation. The work includes customer due diligence, simplified and enhanced measures, risk classification, and arrangements where one party performs customer due diligence on behalf of another, as well as handling deviations. We prepare and update governance documents, support training and internal governance, and assist in supervisory dialogue. We also handle specific questions relating to new business models, such as account information services, payment flows and platform arrangements, where the interplay between technology, business and regulatory requirements must be resolved in a practically sustainable way.
Capital Requirements, Solvency, Resolution and Group Governance
We work regularly on matters relating to capital and solvency regulation as well as group structures. This includes analyses of regulatory boundaries and developments, as well as issues concerning intragroup exposures and large exposures. We also provide support in financing and structural matters, including questions related to covered bonds, as well as governance matters at group level, such as governance models, committee structures and allocation of responsibilities between units and functions.
Digital Financial Services, Crypto and New Regulations
We support the development and launch of technology‑driven financial products and platforms. The work includes assessments related to the payment services regulatory framework and technical interfaces, as well as regulation of crypto‑assets and associated matters concerning governance, compliance and marketing. We also handle issues relating to tokenisation and other capital‑markets‑adjacent structures where regulatory frameworks intersect, and where structure, documentation and communication must be designed with high precision.
Knowledge Creates Success
We offer training sessions and workshops tailored to the target audience and their role, such as the board, management, compliance, product, technology and business teams. The programs are designed based on specific needs and with a focus on practical application, typical supervisory questions, and how regulatory requirements can be translated into procedures, responsibilities and documentation.
Our Clients
We work with both Swedish and international actors. Our assignments range from established financial institutions to rapidly growing fintech companies and groups with complex cross‑border structures.
Examples of Client Categories
- Credit institutions and credit market companies
- Investment firms and capital markets participants
- Fund management companies and AIF managers
- Payment institutions, e‑money institutions and other payment service providers
- Account information service providers and other data‑ and platform‑driven models
- Insurance companies and insurance distributors
- Other financial institutions and non‑financial entities subject to AML and consumer protection regulations
