Administrative and Public LawBanking and Financial Markets LitigationCivil Fraud, Asset Tracing and RecoveryCommercial LitigationCompetition LawConstruction and Engineering DisputesContentious Trusts, Estates and Private Wealth DisputesGroup Action LitigationInsolvency LitigationInsurance and Reinsurance LitigationInternational ArbitrationInvestigations and White Collar CrimeProduct LiabilityProfessional Negligence LitigationToxic Tort and ESG
Founded in 2012, Signature Litigation has grown into one of London’s pre-eminent specialist dispute resolution practices. From the outset, we set out to do things differently: a conflict-free, disputes-only platform designed to give clients the undivided focus and strategic agility that complex, high-stakes matters demand.
FIND OUT MORE
Established in 2017, Signature Litigation's Gibraltar office was founded to address growing demand for specialist expertise in commercial litigation and private wealth disputes on the Rock.
FIND OUT MORE
Signature Litigation AARPI houses one of France’s most enviable product liability practices, with the team also handling commercial and corporate litigation, insurance and reinsurance, toxic tort and ESG, civil fraud and asset tracing, international arbitration, administrative and public law.
FIND OUT MORE
Frankfurt has emerged as one of Europe's foremost financial and commercial centres and, increasingly, as a bridge between European and Asian markets. With that growth comes an increasing demand for sophisticated dispute resolution. Signature Litigation established its Frankfurt office to meet this need, bringing our conflict-free, disputes-only platform to the German market.
FIND OUT MOREPartner Kate Gee comments on the news of the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) significant milestone regarding its new cryptoasset regime, which will take effect from 25 October 2027. Kate's comments were published in Law360, 2 July 2026, and can be read here.
Partner Kate Gee commented:
"This defined window gives firms the opportunity to ensure that their application is properly considered ahead of the regime coming into force. Firms should review existing arrangements and implement any necessary changes (governance, operational matters, systems and controls) ahead of preparing their application, mindful of the guidance set out in the FCA's regime policy statements and taking into account other regulated activities beyond crypto.
"The new regime does not remove the risk that consumers can lose substantial money fast on crypto-assets or that businesses with crypto exposure can collapse. The FCA's package of regulations aims to bring the crypto industry broadly in line with the principles already at the heart of financial services regulation, but these are new rules for the crypto sector, and it remains to be seen if they are sufficiently tailored to manage the levels of risk.
"One of these measures is the introduction of a capital requirement. In this respect, the FCA have cut the proposed K-factor from 2% (which the industry felt risked stifling growth) to 1% - rendering the prudential framework more proportionate, and seeking to ensure robust risk management without creating an unduly high capital burden for larger issuers. In parallel, firms will be required to conduct and report annual stress tests based on their internal risk assessments. In short, not a complete answer to the risks posed to investors – but a positive step towards greater transparency and regulatory supervision, balanced against the flexibility required for company and industry growth and innovation in the crypto space.
"Crypto firms must obtain FCA authorisation to operate in the UK – this includes stablecoin issuers, custodians, trading platforms and intermediaries. The guidance gives firms certainty as to what is required: they should now seek authorisation (or variation of their permissions) from the FCA, so that they secure the necessary regulatory clearance ahead of the regime coming into force in October next year. In addition, looking ahead to future compliance with crypto regulations and other financial services regulations, firms should review and update their systems, controls, governance and operational policies – this will include a review of the group structure and relationships with third party providers."
