Simon Morris

Practice Areas

Simon Morris has been a partner in the firm’s Financial Markets team since 1988, having joined the firm in 1980 and qualified as a solicitor in 1982.

He advises a wide range of UK and overseas financial institutions on regulatory matters including in relation to market conduct, systems and controls, governance, and responding to regulatory concerns.

Simon has represented firms in over 500 regulatory and enforcement proceedings brought by the UK PRA and FCA, their predecessors and overseas regulators.

He has extensive experience in the establishment and operation of international financial centres, was a Commissioner of the Jersey Financial Services Commission for two terms of office and has also been a Director of the Ras al Khaimah (UAE) International Corporate Centre.

Professional Memberships

Simon is a member of the City of London Law Society Regulatory Committee and author of Financial Services Regulation in Practice (Oxford UP 2016), second edition underway. He is Chair of the Society of Antiquaries Ethical Conduct Body, was named as the Best Regulatory Lawyer of 2008 at Complinet’s Fourth Annual Compliance Awards and was a finalist in the 2016 Legal Business Client Partner of the Year awards.

Industry Sector Expertise

Financial Institutions Sector

Work Highlights

- Governance – advising firms on a wide range of governance issues, including the constitution and composition of boards and committees; reviewing governance and preparing reports for submission to the PRA and the FCA; working with firms to enable them to regain the regulator’s confidence in their governance arrangements. Advising on the practical application of the SMCR regime regarding governance, allocation of responsibilities, conduct rule breaches and regulatory notifications.

-Regulatory interaction – helping firms to manage regulatory interactions such as the requirement to appoint a skilled person; preparation for PRA and FCA interviews and for appearing before independent enquiries; managing the regulator’s response to adverse information; assisting firms to respond to regulatory challenge on systems, controls, capital, conduct, perimeter breaches and other requirements. Also handling contested firm authorisations, changes in control, and refusals to approve individuals as fit and proper.

-Enforcement investigations – handling over 500 investigations and similar actions commenced by the PRA, the FCA, their predecessors and overseas regulators on conduct, governance and financial crime. Also acting for regulators, including prosecuting a conduct case for an overseas regulator, and enforcement actions for a major stock exchange .

-Financial crime – representing firms in UK and overseas insider dealing and market manipulation investigations and financial crime reviews; advising on market conduct queries and on trading positions; conducting investigations on behalf of clients into potential financial crime.

Languages Spoken

English and Spanish

Education