Financial Institutions Regulatory Sidley Updates

FinCEN, Office of Foreign Assets Control Propose Anti-Money-Laundering Program and Sanctions Requirements for Stablecoin Issuers

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 Z

UK EU Investment Management Update (April 2026)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (March 2026)

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 Z

U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Proposes Comprehensive Supervisory Framework for Payment Stablecoins Under GENIUS Act

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 Z

New York LLC Transparency Act Took Effect January 1, 2026; U.S.-Formed LLCs Exempt from Reporting Obligations

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (February 2026)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update, we cover, on the UK side, the first edition of the Enforcement Watch from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), an enforcement action on insider trading, FCA updates on the Berne Financial Services Agreement and the new Firm Checker tool, a private markets report from a House of Lords Committee, FCA webpage updates on cryptoasset and T+1 settlement, and FCA consultation papers on cryptoasset regulation and UK Sustainability Reporting standards. We also cover a Bank of England speech on the UK’s digital financial future, the Treasury Committee’s report on artificial intelligence risks in the financial services, and the UK-EU cooperation on supervising third-party service providers.

On the EU side, we review the thematic note on sustainability-related claims from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the Taxonomy Simplification Delegated Act, and the European Commission’s consultation on venture and growth capital funds reform. We also cover ESMA’s 2027–29 programme and principles on risk-based supervision, and the Financial Stability Board work programme for 2026.

What's on the Horizon in the UK and EU?

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:00 Z

UK Cryptoasset Regulation — Action Points for 2026–27

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:00:00 Z

The State of Play in Banking and Digital Assets: Welcome Developments from the Banking Agencies

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (January 2026)

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 06:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update, we cover, on the UK side, proposals by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to reform client categorisation rules alongside final rules for the new consumer composite investments (CCI) regime, updates to the Regulatory Initiatives Grid (RIG), and FCA consultations on fund liquidity management, market risk capital requirements, and cryptoasset regulation. We also cover enforcement action for financial crime control failures, HM Treasury (HMT) proposals for a provisional authorisation regime and benchmarks reform, and legislative and regulatory steps shaping the UK’s emerging cryptoasset and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulatory frameworks.

On the EU side, we review major legislative and supervisory developments including European Commission proposals to deepen capital markets integration and expand the supervisory role of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), transparency initiatives under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, and the reaching of a political agreement by EU institutions on key elements of the Retail Investment Strategy (RIS). We also address proposed reforms to the EU securitisation and capital requirements frameworks, ESG developments including simplification of corporate sustainability reporting legislation, and ongoing regulatory focus on cryptoassets.

U.S. FDIC Proposes Rule Governing Bank Subsidiary Issuance of Payment Stablecoins Under GENIUS Act

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:00:00 Z

Asia Funds & Financial Services Newsletter

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 Z

SFDR 2.0: Five Key Takeaways From the European Commission’s Proposal for Revising the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (November 2025)

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on the new UK Short Selling Regulations, updates on the UK Investment Firms Prudential Regime (IFPR), FCA thematic reviews on client categorisation and financial crime controls, recent FCA enforcement actions, and new regulatory initiatives on artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger technology (DLT), and quantum computing.

On the EU side, we cover the European Banking Authority’s (EBA) final report on the review of the Investment Firms Regulation and Directive (IFR/IFD) and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) guidance on the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) and the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

UK ESG Ratings Providers – Near Final Legislation (November 2025)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update, we analyse and discuss the UK government’s updated draft legislation on the regulation ESG ratings providers. We explore the key regulatory definitions relating to the provision of ESG ratings, the territorial scope of the draft legislation, and a number of notable proposed exclusions. We also compare the draft legislation with the equivalent EU ESG Ratings Regulation.

UK/EU Investment Management Update (October 2025)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, a discussion of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultations proposing amendments to the FCA Handbook and querying the application of the FCA Handbook’s rules to regulated cryptoasset activities as well as the publication of FCA guidance on authorisation and registration applications, FCA observations on market conduct and transaction reporting, and an enforcement action on investment fraud.

On the EU side, we cover the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) report on Principle Adverse Impact (PAI) disclosures under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), European Commission guidance on the application of the EU sustainable finance framework to the defense sector, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) response to the open consultation on the revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the ESAs report on risks and vulnerabilities in the EU financial system, and the publication of compliance tables regarding ESMA guidances on the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA).

SEC Staff Issues No-Action Relief Permitting Use of State-Chartered Trust Companies as Qualified Custodians of Digital Assets

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:00:00 Z

SEC Changes Its Policy on Mandatory Arbitration Clauses: Considerations for Issuers and Others

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 Z

SEC Grants No-Action Relief for Retail Voting Program

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (September 2025)

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) enforcement actions for insider dealing and investment fraud, the FCA’s latest Investment Firms Prudential Regime (IFPR) newsletter, FCA multi-firm reviews covering conflicts of interest, market abuse, and off-channel communications, and HM Treasury’s proposed reforms to the Appointed Representatives (AR) regime.

On the EU side, we cover the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) summary of EU national provisions on fund marketing, final regulatory technical standards on market abuse under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) non-bank financial intermediation (NBFI) risk monitor report.

California Air Resources Board Releases Checklist for Climate Related Financial Risk Reporting

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 Z

SEC Brings Enforcement Action Against Private Fund Adviser for Fee Offset Related Conduct

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

Asia Funds & Financial Services Newsletter

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

Beyond the Jury Box: How the Hayes and Palombo Decision Potentially Reshapes Market Manipulation Law

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

President Trump Signs “Fair Banking” Executive Order Directing Financial Regulators to Remedy Past and Present Debanking Practices

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (August 2025)

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, a discussion of the Leeds Reforms and related UK government plans for the financial services sector, consultation papers from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), the Systematic Internaliser (SI) regime for bonds and derivatives and the transparency regime for equities, and significant enforcement actions relating to financial crime, lack of integrity, and crypto.

On the EU side, we cover a European Commission (Commission) proposal to amend the Solvency II Directive (Solvency II), updates on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy Regulation and related instruments, and a statement from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) regarding unregulated crypto products. We also discuss the latest report from the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on leverage in nonbank financial intermediation (NBFI).

Hong Kong Implements New Regulatory Framework for Stablecoins

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 Z

The GENIUS Act: A Framework for U.S. Stablecoin Issuance

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 Z

U.S. FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule Struck Down

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 Z

Pennsylvania Leads Consumer Financial Protection in the New Era of Federalism

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (July 2025)

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, new rules and guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on non-financial misconduct, significant enforcement actions including an Upper Tribunal decision upholding FCA ban of a former bank CEO, the final rules for the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System, UK tax updates related to carried interest, and government consultations aimed at strengthening the UK’s sustainable finance framework.

On the EU side, we cover European Commission (Commission) proposal to reform the EU Securitisation Regulation, updates on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) (i) report on the integration of sustainability risks and (ii) call for evidence on streamlining transaction reporting.

Singapore Investment Management Regulatory Update (July 2025)

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 Z

Having reached the end of the first half of 2025, we highlight in this Update several key Singapore regulatory developments affecting fund managers since January 2025.

Proposed Reform of EU Securitization Regulation — Implications for U.S. Securitizations

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 Z

Consumer Financial Protection in Texas: Navigating State and Federal Enforcement

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 Z

U.S. Senate Draft Retains Section 899 “Revenge Tax” in One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 Z

The Freeze Has Thawed: DOJ Issues New Directive to Pursue FCPA Cases that Vindicate U.S. National Interests

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (June 2025)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) final policy statement on its “name and shame” proposals, enforcement actions against various firms and individuals for improper or criminal conduct, the FCA review into small asset management firms, publication of final rules on investment research payments optionality for fund managers, consultation papers on improving the complaints reporting process for regulated firms and the UK cryptoassets regime, details on the UK’s new private stock market, and a consultation from His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on the reform of UK international tax rules.

On the EU side, we cover a notable conviction in Luxembourg for money laundering offences, a Call for Evidence from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) regarding the EU retail investor journey, a Call for Evidence from the European Commission (Commission) regarding the future of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), simplification of the regulatory regime for small- and medium-size companies under the Omnibus IV legislative package, and the entry into force of amendments to the EU Benchmarks Regulation.

Asia Funds & Financial Services Newsletter

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 Z

AAA Revises Consumer and Employment/Workplace Arbitration Rules

Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 Z

UK/EU Investment Management Update (May 2025)

Wed, 07 May 2025 05:00:00 Z

In this Sidley Update we cover, on the UK side, the UK proposals for the future regulation of alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on the definition of capital for investment firms, the FCA’s new presence in the United States and Asia-Pacific, the publication of legislation to regulate UK crypto activity, and FCA speeches on its enforcement priorities and market abuse agenda.

On the EU side, we cover the European Supervisory Authorities (ESA) report on the functioning of the EU Securitisation Regulation, the European Commission (Commission) targeted consultation on the Integration of EU Capital Markets, and the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) consultation on the revised clearing threshold methodology under European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) 3.