Financial Technology (Fintech)

The growing impact of digital technology in the financial services sector (fintech) is on the agenda for regulators and supervisory bodies across the globe. Many are creating ‘regulatory sandboxes’ as controlled environments within which innovation can occur. The regulation of fintech presents both opportunities and challenges for regulators, fintech companies and more traditional financial institutions alike.

We help our clients to understand and navigate the rules governing not only their participation in the financial services environment, but also the financial products they create and sell in the market. Our fintech team comprises lawyers with expertise in various specialist areas of law from banking financial services regulatory and technology, media and telecommunications to competition, data protection, governance, compliance and investigations, M&A and tax. Our comprehensive service offering ranges from forming financial service businesses and licensing financial products; to engaging with regulators and ensuring regulatory and investment compliance; to corporate activity involving regulated entities (e.g. due diligence, de-risking, acquisitions, public offerings); and dispute resolution.

“Even though Fintech remains a small market in Africa, investments are expected to rise significantly from USD 200 million in 2014 to USD 3 billion by 2020.” – Africa’s Banking Industry Focuses on Client Centricity in the Wake of Technological Advances and New Entrants, a report published by PWC