Since leaving the regulator, Ian has worked as a Partner and headed the Financial Services Regulatory teams at various UK City of London firms. Ian has advised on the full life-cycle of regulatory issues facing firms and individuals, including authorisation applications, supervision issues, regulatory investigations and enforcement.

Ian has advised a broad range of clients, including asset managers and hedge funds, brokers, banks, insurers, corporates, FinTechs, senior management, CEOs and Compliance Officers/MLROs at regulated firms.

Ian has advised in the UK on a broad range of regulatory issues, including insider dealing, AML, FinTech and crypto –assets, perimeter issues (whether authorisation by the regulator is required), AIFMD, MiFID II, consumer credit, mortgage regulation

Admitted in:

Cayman Islands

England and Wales

Qualifications:

MA (First Class Honours, Law) University of Cambridge

Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors, UK

2023 Legal 500 - Named Individual - UK Financial Services, Non-Contentious Regulatory: "Ian Mason, a specialist in FCA/PRA authorisation and the regulatory aspects of fintech, cryptocurrency and blockchain issues."

2023 Legal 500 - Named Individual - UK FinTech, Named Individual: "Ian Mason... advising on the regulatory aspects of fintech, including ICOs, cryptocurrencies and blockchain developments."

2022 Legal 500 client testimonials:

'Ian Mason is a standout star of the London financial services scene, and a tremendous asset..."

'Ian Mason is technically excellent with an eye for detail. Having worked at the regulator, he has a great sense of strategy and tactics. A pleasure to work with'

'Ian Mason is a former senior ex-regulator and is astute and pragmatic'

Practical Law Financial Services Consultation Board

Ian has also previously served on a number of industry working groups and committees, including the AIMA Market Conduct Working Group, the Society of Pension Practitioners Financial Services Regulation Committee

Ian has also written a Market Conduct column for Practical Law Financial Services.

Ian is author of a number of books and articles on financial services, including hedge fund regulation and money laundering. Previous media appearances and as a commentator include the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, BBC Breakfast News, Practical Law, Thomson Reuters Accelus.

Ian is one of the contributors and managing editor of the UK Chapter of the Fintech 2021 book (Global Legal Insights).

Ian is a frequent speaker at conferences, seminars and webinars on financial services topics, including FCA Enforcement, market abuse, financial crime and FinTech.

ADVISORY

• Updated Guidance Notes on the Prevention and Detection of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing in the Cayman Islands -   Download Advisory   Introduction Following industry consultation, on 30 August 2023 ...
  
• Proposed changes to the beneficial ownership regime in the Cayman Islands - Download Advisory Since 2017 the Cayman Islands has had a beneficial ownership regime which require...
  
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ARTICLES

• Global Legal Insights Fintech 2023: Cayman Islands - Partners Lucy Frew and Ian Mason, along with associate, Charlie Griffiths pen the Cayman Islands cha...
  
• What can we learn from recent enforcement actions in the Cayman Islands? - Walkers' regulatory partners Lucy Frew and Ian Mason consider the learning points for financial serv...
  
• Country update - Cayman Islands: AML - Partner, Ian Mason and associate, Beth Waterfall provide an overview of AML landscape in the Cayman ...
  
• Country update - Cayman Islands: crypto-asset regulation -   Partner, Ian Mason provides an overview of crypto-asset regulation in the Cayman I...
  
• Fintech and crypto in the Cayman Islands: an offshore alternative - The Cayman Islands Government has introduced a bespoke legislative regime to attract crypto-asset an...
  
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NEWS

• Walkers bolsters Global Regulatory & Risk Advisory practice with appointment of Ian Mason - Walkers, the international law and professional services firm, has hired former financial services r...
  
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