Annual Gathering of Financial and Legal Experts at AFME's European Compliance and Law Conference in 2025
The Annual European Compliance and Legal Conference 2025, sponsored by an unspecified entity, took place in London on 22-23 September. This year's conference focused on key legal and regulatory challenges facing banks in the EU and UK, with an aim to enhance compliance standards, promote ethical practices, and ensure legal compliance in the European business landscape.
The conference highlighted several critical areas, including navigating differing legal and regulatory frameworks between the EU and UK, coordination and collaboration challenges across internal business functions and external legal counsel, evolving priorities for 2025 and beyond, and the transformation of the legal function within banks.
One of the main challenges discussed was managing EU-UK regulatory divergence, particularly in securitisation, where incremental reforms in the UK contrast with more rigid EU approaches. This creates complexity, including dual compliance burdens where banks must meet the most stringent requirements of both jurisdictions.
Another point of focus was the need for banks to adapt to new regulations, supervisory expectations, and market developments, emphasising the need for enhanced skills, risk management capabilities, and leveraging technology to meet compliance demands efficiently.
The conference aimed to strengthen collaboration among compliance officers, legal teams, regulators, and industry experts to promote higher compliance standards and ethical business practices across Europe. Sarah Thompson, a Partner and Head of the Financial Regulation Group, moderated the General Counsels Discussion on the second day of the conference.
The General Counsels Discussion, scheduled for Tuesday, 23 September, explored unspecified topics related to the conference theme. The event brought together professionals from compliance and legal affairs across Europe, emphasising the importance of coordination and collaboration across businesses, as well as with external law firms.
While the conference did not provide information about any changes in the location, date, or sponsorship of the event, it underscored the challenges faced by institutions operating across both jurisdictions, particularly in navigating the bumpy regulatory journey ahead.
At the Annual European Compliance and Legal Conference 2025, the need for banks to adapt to new regulations, leverage technology, and manage EU-UK regulatory divergence, particularly in the field of finance and securitization, was emphasized. This involves meeting the most stringent requirements of both jurisdictions, fostering collaboration between compliance officers, legal teams, regulators, and industry experts, and promoting higher compliance standards and ethical business practices in the technology-driven business landscape of Europe.
