Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has announced the appointment of partner Martin Cook as the new head of the firm’s significant and fast growing Financial Services sector. In his new role, Martin will play an instrumental part in continuing to grow the firm’s presence in the sector and enhancing its innovative solutions to continue to support clients with every day legal needs, business critical projects and every touchpoint in between.
Martin brings to the role his wealth of expertise across the technology, fintech and financial services sectors and his significant in-house experience with positions he held as Global Head of Legal & Regulatory at Funding Circle and General Counsel at leading international payments business Zepz (then WorldRemit). Martin’s unique understanding of fintech also led to his appointment by the UK Government to become a founding member of the FinTech Delivery Panel, a body established to enhance the UK’s position as a global leader in the future of financial services.
Leveraging cross-disciplinary expertise and a genuine understanding of the sector, Burges Salmon works with a range of sophisticated and innovative UK and international clients to advise on all aspects of financial services law and market including funds, asset and wealth management, pensions, payments, private capital, regulated and unregulated lending, technology projects and regulated outsourcing, M&A, governance and risk management and specialist advice on financial services regulation, product development, insurance and employment. Recent highlights include advising FundRock Partners on its successful adoption of the Sustainability Impact label under the FCA’s new SDR regime, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership on the launch of its £1.2 billion UK real estate fund and The Openwork Partnership on a transformational investment by global private investment firm Bain Capital.
As head of sector, which he takes over from long-standing head Richard Leeming, Martin will retain his position as head of Fintech, leading Burges Salmon’s UK-wide team and working with a broad range of clients on M&A and fundraisings transactions as well as issues pertaining to financial regulation and products, technology and data, banking, employment, and IP. The firm’s growing client base in this area includes major financial institutions, household names, regulatory bodies, start-ups and high growth scale-ups with the firm’s cross-disciplinary capabilities supporting companies throughout the whole lifecycle of their business from cradle to exit.
Reflecting on his new role, Martin Cook comments: "Operating within a dynamic sector, there are a wealth of opportunities for our firm to support our financial services clients’ growth ambitions, enabling them to respond quickly to regulatory change whilst helping them leverage the opportunities there to be capitalised. With the support from our talented team, we look forward to strengthening our market position and delivering exceptional services to our clients."
Roger Bull, Managing Partner at Burges Salmon, adds: "Martin's appointment marks an exciting new chapter for our Financial Services sector group. His extensive background and innovative approach will undoubtedly drive growth for our clients and the sector and expand our capabilities. I wish Martin all the very best in his new role and would like to thank Richard Leeming for all of his dedication and leadership over the years.”
In his new role, Martin will work closely with the Board, across the partnership and in particular with the support of dispute resolution partner Matt Kaltsas-Walker who is heavily involved in the sector advising on commercial and financial disputes, FCA enforcement actions, internal investigations, consumer redress and Financial Ombudsman claims.