Public Policy and Law: European Regulatory
Obligations imposed by regulators touch on almost every aspect of commercial life. In addition to reporting requirements and penalties for failure to meet regulatory requirements, companies must be aware of the frequent revisions to the regulatory framework as well as newly published guidance.
No business can operate effectively without a full understanding of its regulatory obligations, how to ensure compliance, how to avoid regulatory incidents, and how to respond if an issue arises. In addition, many businesses look for a competitive edge through exemplary compliance and wider corporate social responsibility standards.
Our European Regulatory team is accustomed to handling organizational crises or interventions for urgent attendance at police or regulator interviews, and for critical advice on regulatory issues as they emerge. For companies without a solid grasp on regulatory issues, failure to fulfill requirements can result in serious penalties. In the most serious circumstances, company directors and the company itself can face criminal sanctions, the results of which can be devastating for businesses and threaten the livelihoods of individuals.
As a response to the growing importance of regulation for our clients' businesses, we have dedicated one of our core practice areas to policy and regulatory work. Our European lawyers have a wealth of experience in dealing with regulatory issues and work closely with lawyers in our offices in the United States, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia to provide a global service. We put the right team together with the right people in the right fields from across the firm, responding quickly and effectively to protect our clients' interests.
Our European Regulatory practice reflects the fact that many laws and regulations in European Union member states nowadays derive directly from EU law. Our European Regulatory group combines the knowledge, skills, and resources of our firm's European offices and, in many areas, mirrors and combines with the firm's U.S. and Asia-based practices and experience.
We advise Asian, European, and U.S. clients on regulatory compliance which includes monitoring and training; regulatory and internal investigations; regulatory and government enforcement; public policy; and interaction with regulators. The substantive areas of law and industry sectors covered by our European regulatory practice also reflect the strengths and focal points of the firm as a whole, including legal areas such as:
- Antitrust, competition, and trade regulation
- Employment, pensions, and health and safety
- Environmental law (including climate change and emissions trading, planning, and land use)
- Anti-money laundering and corruption
- Privacy and data protection
