Financial lawyers' group adds judge to ranks

The Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA) has bolstered its advisory board with the addition of chancery judge Mr Justice David Richards.

Richards J, who is chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, was asked to sit on the board because of his experience on a number of financial services-related cases, such as Real Estate Opportunities v Aberdeen Asset Managers Jersey Ltd & Ors (2006).

He joins a list of high-powered industry figures on the board, sitting alongside the likes of Financial Services Authority director of enforcement Margaret Cole, London School of Economics professor of law Ross Cranston QC and Stephen Parker, chief legal adviser to the Treasury.

The FSLA, which held its first conference two weeks ago, gives lawyers, students and industry figures a forum in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The topic at the first meeting, with panelists including joint head of Blackstone Chambers Thomas Beazley, Clifford Chance partner Carlos Conceicao and Citi general counsel Brad Gans, was 'Principles-based Regulation: Can it Work?'.

The next meeting, which takes place on 26 July, will focus on the similarities and differences between the US, UK and European financial services legal systems.