Simon Wright focuses his practice on UK and EU financial services regulatory matters. Mr. Wright principally advises a range of asset manager and investor clients on regulatory issues relating to investment management and fund formation, including on the structuring, establishment and operation of investment funds and investment management arrangements and on regulatory issues arising during acquisitions, mergers and disposal of financial services businesses. Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Wright worked at an international law firm. His experience also includes serving as a vice-president of a major private bank and wealth manager, and he was seconded to the Financial Services Authority (now the Financial Conduct Authority) to assist in MiFID implementation.
Mr Wright sits on various industry working groups in relation to AIFMD and ESG matters affecting asset managers.
Mr. Wright is listed in The Legal 500 UK publication for financial services non-contentious regulatory work: “Simon Wright ably helped us navigate challenging regulatory processes and has been available whenever needed”.
- Advising on the establishment and regulatory authorisation of various asset managers, under the AIFMD and MIFID II.
- Advising fund managers and distributors on cross-border distribution and marketing of funds under the AIFMD in the UK and EU.
- Advising various asset managers on UK and EU regulatory issues in relation to the establishment and structuring of funds, separate accounts and other investment products and services.
- Advising various asset managers on regulatory approval for “change in control”, on a conditional and unconditional basis, and negotiating with the PRA and FCA in this regard.
- Advising on and implementing regulatory implementation projects for asset managers (MIFID II, AIFMD), with a focus on markets and trading issues.
- Advising various US investment managers on various regulatory and structural matters to continue to access EU and UK investors following Brexit.
- Advising various asset managers on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") regulatory driven changes, including the UK SDR regime.
- Advising various asset managers and service providers on issues relating to cryptocurrency and DLT, and on registration with the FCA.
- Advising sponsors and issuers on the impact of the EU Securitisation Regulation.
- Advising a major UK bank and its US subsidiaries on regulatory and contractual changes arising from revisions to the FCA’s client asset rules.
- Acting as a “skilled person” under the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 with regard to an FCA investigation into client money and custody issues at a major UK private bank.
Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.
- London – Corporate & Commercial: Financial Services: Non-Contentious Regulatory – The Legal 500 UK (2022 & 2024)
- Dechert on Reg: Episode 6 – IAF - Podcast (December 2023)
- Dechert on Reg: Episode 1 – UK Mansion House Reforms and ELTIF 2.0 Updates - Podcast (July 2023)
- fintechNEXT Webinar Series: Operating a Crypto Firm in the United Kingdom - Webinar (July 2023)
- What's Happening in Financial Services Regulation: A UK-Focused Talk for Asset Managers - Webinar (January 2022)
- The EU’s Directive and Regulation on the Cross-Border Distribution of Investment Funds - What Asset Managers Need to Know for 2 August - Webinar (July 2021)
- US and UK Perspectives on MiFID II Product Governance Regulation - Association of Foreign Banks Virtual Roundtable (June 2021)
- EU ESG Regulatory Developments - SFDR Phase 2: Implementation of the RTS - Webinar (May 2021)
- What’s Happening in Financial Services Regulation: A UK-Focused Talk for Asset Managers - Webinar (April 2021)
- The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation – Practical Considerations - Webinar (November 2020)
- Updating Your Compliance Calendar for 2019: U.S. Regulatory Priorities for 2019 - London (January 2019)
- Updating Your Compliance Calendar for 2019: Key Corporate and Regulatory Requirements Affecting UK Fund Managers for 2019 - London (January 2019)
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- Downing College, Cambridge, M.A. in History, 1997, First class honours
- Downing College, Cambridge, M. Phil. European Studies, 1998, Commendation
- College of Law, London, CPE, 1999
- College of Law, London, LPC, 2000
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- England and Wales
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- Financial Services Lawyers Association
- Various Financial Markets Law Committee working groups