Jonny is a financial services regulatory lawyer who advises financial institutions, corporates, PE/VC firms, funds/alternative funds and fintechs on a broad range of regulatory issues covering their commercial and retail activities.
Having gained significant experience in-house at Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays on complex restructurings as well as FCA and FOS matters, Jonny is well placed to drive key strategic projects and manage portfolios of complex and reputationally significant cases in the UK and internationally.
Real in-depth banking law and regulatory expert with in-house in his DNA so he thinks like us as a banking client and understands our risk appetite and triggers.
The Legal 500 2022 testimonial
A joy to work with and his pragmatic legal advice coupled with impressive industry and regulatory insight is invaluable.
The Legal 500 2022 testimonial
Very efficient and professional
The Legal 500 2022 testimonial
Jonny Williams is brilliant, very commercial and gives us concise advice on just what we are asking.
The Legal 500 2021 testimonial
Top of my call list when I need to consider a regulatory matter.
The Legal 500 2021 testimonial
Plain speaking and likeable
Lord Justice Vos, Ibrahim v Barclays Bank PLC (2012)
Expertise
- Products and lending
- Authorisation and conduct
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate restructuring
- Disposals
- Regulatory perimeter issues
- Payments
- Financial crime prevention
- Regulatory investigations / enforcements
- Commercial issues
- Disputes and complaints handling
Experience
Financial Services
- Acted for a client acquiring a wealth management business including undertaking regulatory due diligence, authorisations and approvals.
- Advised a financial institution on a platform agreement for white labelling pension and investment products.
- Advised a corporate client in a complex fraud investigation and successfully obtained a Defence Against Money Laundering from the NCA.
- Advised several corporate clients on investigations by the FCA in relation to product transfers and potential breaches of regulations.
- Advised a financial institution on its Tier 1 capital holding requirements and provided regulatory opinions to the PRA.
- Obtained a variation of permission from the FCA for a financial institution to undertake consumer lending.
- Advised a PE-backed startup looking to enter the buy now pay later market.
- Advised a payment services provider on sanctions compliance.
- Acted for multiple international clients on regulatory perimeter issues and their proposed partnerships with UK firms.
- Acted for a large retail client in the negotiation of its contractual arrangements with a financial institution to provide credit to its customers.
- Advised a financial institution of the rollout of its business current account and lending products.
- Advised several corporate clients on investigations by the FCA in relation to product transfers and potential breaches of regulations.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Career
Jonny qualified as a solicitor in 1999. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2024, he worked at the following firms:
- Womble Bond Dickinson
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Barclays