Max Savoie

Partner

London

+44 20 7859 1102 | +44 782 3341 170

Max.Savoie@ashurstperkins.com

Overview
Experience

Introduction

Max co-leads our global payments practice, helping clients across the banking, payments and fintech sectors navigate complex legal requirements and cross-border commercial structures.

Max Savoie is a Chambers and Legal 500 ranked payments and fintech partner. His key client relationships include international payment systems, card issuers, merchant acquirers, payment processors, money transmitters, online marketplaces, and providers of digital fiat and stablecoin wallets, open banking services, and other alternative payment methods. He has advised on numerous cross-border transactions, strategic partnerships, and regulatory implementation projects for many of the world's largest providers. As a trusted adviser to some of the most innovative firms in the market, Max has been at the forefront of the global fintech revolution in payments through his work for the sector over the last 15 years.

Max also advises on contentious and regulatory engagement matters and has guided numerous firms through internal and external investigations. He has also supported several international firms and trade associations in discussions with policymakers and regulators around the globe on regulatory change and supervisory practices.

Max is an active member of the Payment Association’s regulatory working group and co-editor of one of the leading practitioner’s texts in his field, Payment Services: Law and Practice (Elgar, 2022, 2025).

Professional Experience

A leading international payment network | Advised on its acquisition of a major cross-border payments business and on the design and launch of several innovative global products, including tokenised and stablecoin payments, open banking and instant payments solutions.
Several international banks and payment service providers. Led on implementation of the second and leading on implementation of the third EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2 and 3) and the EU Payment Services Regulation.
Advised Mollie on its acquisition of GoCardless.
Advised Centerbridge on its investment in Ebury.
An international mobile and online payment platform | Advised on strategic cross-border regulatory matters and major commercial partnerships, including in relation to scheme-to-scheme arrangements, digital wallet acceptance and open banking.
A leading open banking provider. Advising on and negotiating the governance structure for the entity operating the UK's new payment system for open banking variable recurring payments.
A digital token issuer | Advised on the application of UK and EU regulatory requirements to its business.
Several international payments firms | Advised on regulatory issues relating to crypto asset services, including stablecoin wallets, acceptance and settlement.
WEX | Advised on its buyout of a joint venture partner in a European fuel cards business and on its acquisitions of: eNett, a leading provider of B2B payments solutions; Optal, a company that specializes in optimizing B2B transactions; and EG Group Limited’s GO Fuel Card business.
Travelex | Advised on its global financial and operational restructuring.