Nathan Willmott
Nathan Willmott

Nathan Willmott

Partner

London | Dublin

+44 20 7859 2036 | +44 7720 561 220
Nathan.Willmott@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

Nathan is a partner in our dispute resolution practice and is an experienced financial services partner who advises financial institutions and other clients on investigations, disputes, and complex regulatory and legal issues.

Nathan Willmott focuses on representing financial institutions, listed companies, trade associations, regulatory bodies and individual members of senior management on investigations, litigation, and other complex regulatory and legal issues.

He supports regulated firms and individuals in relation to FCA, PRA, Takeover Panel, AIM, LME, FRC, ESMA and multi-jurisdictional enforcement investigations and proceedings concerning suspected regulatory breaches and criminal offences, skilled person reviews, SMCR and governance issues, thematic reviews, periodic risk assessments, whistleblower investigations, conducting internal investigations and handling related litigation.

Nathan is a member of the Advisory Board of the Financial Services Lawyers Association and is a Solicitor Advocate holding full Higher Rights of Audience in the Civil Courts. He is dual-qualified in England & Wales and in the EU (Republic of Ireland).

Nathan is named a 'Tier One' lawyer for Contentious Financial Regulation by Chambers & Partners, and as a 'Leading Individual' for both Contentious and Non-Contentious Financial Regulation in The Legal 500.  

Nathan is described by Chambers as having an "outstanding reputation in the market for his astute counsel to clients faced with regulatory enforcement actions" and by The Legal 500 as having "a stellar reputation for regulatory enforcement investigations initiated by UK and US regulators".

  • Confidential client | Advised a global bank on an FCA enforcement investigation and related litigation concerning systems and controls to identify suspected money laundering through business banking accounts. 
  • Confidential client | Advised a global financial services group on an FCA enforcement investigation regarding implementation and governance oversight of automated trade surveillance processes under the Market Abuse Regulation.
  • Confidential client | Advised a global financial services group on preparing for and responding to an FCA-commissioned Skilled Person review (s166 FSMA) into whistleblowing and grievance procedures, including managing document requests, stakeholder engagement, and implementing recommendations to enhance internal controls.
  • Confidential clients | Advised numerous financial services firms on managing regulatory relationships with the PRA and FCA following the discovery of material issues within the business, including advice on FCA Principle 11 / PRA Fundamental Rule 7 / SMCR 4 reporting obligations, conducting internal investigations and presenting findings and recommended enhancements of systems and controls to the Board and to regulatory authorities.
  • Confidential client | Advised a UK bank in conducting a whistleblowing investigation into alleged misconduct by a Board Director, including guidance on handling regulatory reporting issues and managing the bank's regulatory relationship.  
  • Confidential client | Advised a US-headquartered bank on FCA regulatory concerns relating to the investigation and determination of whistleblowing and other allegations of suspected non-financial misconduct by senior management within the UK business.
  • Confidential clients | Advised numerous listed companies on responding to FCA preliminary enquiries and formal enforcement investigations concerning alleged breaches of the UK Listing Rules (including the Listing Principles), the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, AIM Rules, the maintenance of insider lists, and the corporate governance aspects of responding to suspected criminal conduct by senior management within the group. 
  • Confidential clients | Represented a wide range of senior management of banks and other financial services firms in PRA and FCA enforcement investigations into their individual accountability and suspected Conduct Rule breaches, including CEOs, Heads of Compliance, CROs, MLROs, Heads of Financial Crime, Board Directors, General Counsel and Heads of Division.
  • Confidential clients | Advised numerous listed companies and financial services firms and their senior management on issues relating to the management and misuse of inside information, including listed company announcement obligations under MAR and AIM Rules, delayed announcement of inside information, FCA enforcement investigations into the operation of inside information barriers, identification of suspicious activity and submission of STORs, and FCA criminal and civil investigations into suspected insider trading and/or improper disclosure of inside information.

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