Colin Sharpsmith

Colin Sharpsmith, a partner in Dechert’s financial services practice based in Dubai, specializes in financial services regulation, with a focus on investment funds (including private credit, private equity, hedge and real estate strategies) and international asset managers managing and marketing products on a cross-border basis. Mr. Sharpsmith advises in relation to both closed-ended and open-ended structures and on retail as well as professional-only target markets across the UAE, wider GCC region, as well as the UK and EU.

Mr. Sharpsmith advises on setting up and obtaining regulatory consent for new firms and funds in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the UK and liaises with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in the DIFC, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in ADGM as well as the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Mr. Sharpsmith also regularly advises managers of that are looking to market into the UAE and throughout the wider GCC region.

Mr. Sharpsmith advises on the scope and impact of UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) regulations, including but not limited to in relation to marketing funds in the UAE, and Central Bank of UAE regulations, including in relation to managers seeking to raise capital or leverage from UAE banks and wish to ensure that the terms will satisfy the banks’ regulatory capital requirements and those conducting payment services activities in the UAE.

Mr. Sharpsmith also advises in relation to regulatory change in control analysis and applications across a number of sectors (including banking, insurance, payment services, wealth advisory and asset management) across multiple jurisdictions (including ADGM, DIFC, onshore UAE, the UK and EU).

Mr. Sharpsmith also advises in relation to virtual assets regulations in the UAE, UK and EU and has provided advice to clients seeking authorization with respect to dealing in crypto assets with the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) as well as in the ADGM and DIFC.