Barristers launch service advising on financial services law and regulation

Categories: FSA, FOS

Two barristers have joined forces to offer a special legal advice service to IFAs, individuals and businesses in the financial services industry.  Peter Hamilton and Alison Potter, both with Chambers at 4 Pump Court in the Temple, are barristers who have specialised in the law and regulation of financial services.  The service includes legal advice and representation; drafting letters and regulatory materials; and dealing with the FSA.   

Clients are able to get help and advice direct from Peter and Alison, and so keeping costs to a minimum.  Peter and Alison say, “We offer an initial discussion to establish what the problem is and whether we can help. This is free of charge.  Once we have established that we are able to provide legal advice and you wish to proceed, we charge a fixed fee of £250 plus VAT for the first hour’s work.  After this, we will agree a fixed fee in advance or an hourly rate depending on the nature of the task and the work to be done.”

Peter has been involved in the retail end of the financial services market for more than 30 years.  For 14 years he was the company secretary and head of the legal department of Hambro Life Assurance, which later became Allied Dunbar. During that time he held a number of industry appointments with the Association of British Insurers; and was a member of the Lautro Disciplinary panel until the formation of the PIA.   He returned to practice at the Bar in 1991 and has continued to specialise in financial services.

Alison has been a commercial barrister since 1987.  Her interest in financial services was launched by spending nearly a year on secondment from Chambers as an in-house lawyer at the FSA. The hands on experience of working as an FSA lawyer equips her to provide advice and practical assistance to individuals and businesses working in the Financial Services market about how to navigate through the complex regulatory regime of the FSA, and how to respond if a business or an individual finds that the FSA is taking action.

They can be contacted through their new web-site at www.moneymatterslegal.co.uk.

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Article last updated: Feb 10, 2012

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In February 2007 Derek Bradley founded PanaceaIFA as he saw a widening gap between the quality of retail distribution service and resource support offered to directly regulated IFA firms when compared to Networks and larger advisory firms.

He launched the free portal later that year with support from eight financial services providers, which has since increased more than fourfold. The industry support list for what we do is an endorsement in itself for the quality of the project.

PanaceaIFA aims to empower IFA’s by providing free online access to the very latest resources, tools, research, educational support, ideas, views and technical intelligence from product providers and support services all in one place.

In a post RDR world, what we offer will become vital due to FSA restrictions on support given to networks and national IFA firms being subject to severe fiscal scrutiny and regulatory restraint

We have established a thriving web based community, and communicate twice a week with our free twice weekly email “Bento” bulletin to almost 10,000 individuals where members are kept updated with the latest news, comment and industry trends. 

We also ensure directly regulated IFA firms are given all the support they need via carefully planned strategic communication activities and ideas, implemented via the website www.panaceaifa.com.

PanaceaIFA are active within social media, winning an online 2011 poll as the Top IFA related Tweeter with some 2,000 Twitter followers and LinkedIn group members. PanaceaIFA is a place where IFAs and Providers and support services alike engage in discussions and exchange views on issues affecting their businesses.

PanaceaIFA's industry profile is one of an authoritative and well-respected voice within the financial services industry with IFAs, sponsors, media, providers, financial services organisations/bodies and government representatives alike.

In 2010 PanaceaIFA was shortlisted for Best Website for IFAs in the Professional Adviser Awards and again in 2011 for Best Network/Support Services Award, cementing its position as a website of choice for directly regulated firms.

PanaceaIFA is knowledge-driven, linking the loose connections between the directly regulated Independent Financial Advisers and product providers. It is an independent industry-supported portal which corrects the service imbalance with providers in a way that is RDR friendly and free to use.

Derek BradleyDerek Bradley, CEO
Derek Bradley is the founder and ceo of PanaceaIFA.

After an early career at Lloyd’s of London, he went on to learn about the importance of customer service, working for BOAC, the forerunner of British Airways, something further reinforced during his time as a broker consultant at Scottish Equitable.

Derek went on to set up his own successful IFA business which he ran for 18 years before selling it in late 2006.

Derek spotted an altruistic opportunity to provide a better service to directly authorised IFAs and in 2007 PanaceaIFA was born.

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She joined PanaceaIFA from MetLife where she was Marketing Manager. During her 13 years’ within the financial services industry, she has also held marketing and eBusiness roles at Hartford Life Limited, RBS Insurance and Merrill Lynch.

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James is responsible for managing the day to day relationships with our partner firms as well as working on updating partner site content and bulletin publishing.

He joined PanaceaIFA from Microsoft where he was a European Financial Analyst.  Prior to that he has held similar positions with Hewlett Packard, Sony, and Mercedes Benz. His experience gained in the IT industry is being put to good use as PanaceaIFA grows.

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PanaceaIFA is also always working to get great deals and special offers available especially for PanaceaIFA Members.  These include:

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PanaceaIFA have teamed up with The Shopping Club, to bring you great savings and offers at many high street stores, online retailers and more.  With over 200 high street retailers, 1,200 online retailers and 4,500 local merchants offering discounts and savings up to 50% both in store and online, membership will make a real diference to your back pocket!

PanaceaIFA is designed by IFAs for IFAs.  It offers advisers throughout the country the chance to share ideas, discuss industry issues and develop a dialogue with the UK’s leading financial service providers as part of a unique online community.

So please do use Panacea to the full, tell your industry friends and colleagues about us, and help build a unique community that serves your needs.

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Going forward, the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) will impact greatly upon providers who rely on the network and national IFA model to distribute their products. The remuneration model will change as will the support model. All of a sudden the directly regulated IFA has become attractive again as they currently are best equipped to deal with the changes proposed for 2012, but how do providers engage with their world again?

If you are a life assurance, investment, pension and retirement product provider and want to find a realistic and cost effective way to reconnect with the valuable distribution channel of directly regulated IFA firms, then look no further than PanaceaIFA.

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We offer a range of solutions from full partnership status to stand-alone promotional opportunities. 

If you would like to join our prestigious panel of partners or find out more about our advertising opportunities, please call Derek Bradley on 07595 892930 or email derekbradley@panaceaifa.com for a media pack.  Don’t forget to read our Media coverage page for further information about PanaceaIFA in the press.

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