Financial Services Law and Distributed Ledger Technology – Book Launch

University of Bristol Law School, Lady Hale Moot Court, 8-10 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HH, Bristol and online

4 June 2024, 5pm to 7.30pm inclusive of social reception

At a time where the challenges of adapting existing regulatory frameworks to the exponential adoption of digital technologies keep accelerating, and with financial services regulation making enormous strides to continue protecting investors and users of financial services in this rapidly-changing scenario, the Centre for Private and Commercial Law and the Centre for Global Law and Innovation of the University of Bristol Law School are delighted to host a book launch of the very timely McGurk & Reichenbach, Financial Services Law and Distributed Ledger Technology. Regulating Cryptoassets and Decentralised Finance (Edward Elgar 2024). 

This will be followed by a Q&A.

About the book

This incisive book examines the extent to which existing UK financial service regulations can be applied to digital assets and decentralised financial services provided by distributed networks. Brendan McGurk KC and Stefan Reichenbach consider the wider legal issues beyond regulatory enforcement, attributable to the use of distributed ledger technology based financial services.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive examination of the nature and application of distributed ledgers in the context of financial services

• Analyses the proprietary nature of cryptoassets and their amenability to financial services regulation as a form of property

• Detailed consideration of the extent to which existing financial services law governs cryptoassets and forms of decentralised finance

• Sector specific analysis of the use of digital assets as securities, within the distributed payment systems, and in supporting lending and insurance services

• Consideration of the complexities in identifying the appropriate jurisdiction and applicable laws governing crypto disputes

• In-depth exploration of the remedies and dispute resolution methods available to holders of digital assets

Discussing the benefits and risks associated with the application of distributed ledger technology, this informative book will be fundamental for financial services practitioners, including solicitors, barristers, and in-house counsel, as well as industry specialists operating within the decentralised finance sphere. It will also be beneficial for academics and researchers in finance and banking law, and technology, media, and telecommunications law.

About the authors

Brendan McGurk KC is at Monckton Chambers, London, UK. Brendan is a recently appointed Silk with a wealth of experience in Commercial, Public law and Regulatory disputes. He has appeared and made submissions at every level, including before the Supreme Court and the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union. He offers expertise across Chambers’ core areas and he is in equal demand amongst public and private clients in Judicial Review, EU, Competition, Procurement, and Tax litigation.

Stefan Reichenbach Global Head of Pricing & Commercial Strategy, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Stefan Reichenbach has over 20 years’ experience in financial services and data markets. He has been at the forefront of market and regulatory developments through much of those 20 years. In the 2000s he built online communities, data products and co-developed executive education courses for the evolving carbon markets and sustainable finance sectors. Later, he was chair of a pricing benchmark provider as European regulators introduced benchmark regulation following the LIBOR scandals. Most recently, Stefan has run commercial strategy and pricing for LSEG’s Data & Analytics business, and, in that capacity, he has turned his attention to distributed ledger technologies and their transformative potential for financial services and the information industries.

 About the discussant and panellists

Dr Eleanore Hickman is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol Law School and Co-Director of its Centre for Private and Commercial Law. Eleanore is a co-investigator for Future Finance, an Innovate UK and ESRC funded project to accelerate innovation adoption in small to mid-tier financial services firms.

Professor James Davey is a Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School. James's research and teaching interests lie in insurance and commercial law generally.

Mr Ilias Ioannou is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol Law School. Ilias has an interest in the regulation of distributed ledger technology.

Dr Holly Powley is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol Law School. Holly has a long-standing interest in the regulation of financial markets.

To attend online, please sign up here to obtain a free online ticket. A Teams meeting ID and passcode will be disseminated to online atendees on the day.