Financial regulatory lawyers support the business with authorisations, supervision and compliance
Financial regulation comprises the laws, regulations and supervisory requirements — including new obligations under CCD2 — that govern how financial services businesses may operate. The objective is a stable, secure and trustworthy financial system that protects both individuals and society from risks and misconduct. For firms in banking, payments and fintech, these frameworks are critical to understand and apply from day one. The intention is to ensure a stable and transparent system in which customer rights are protected and systemic risks are contained. Regulation also helps to deter economic crime such as money laundering and terrorist financing.
The regulatory frameworks cover a broad spectrum of actors, from traditional banks to new fintech companies. Common to all is that they handle client assets or provide financial services that require trust and clear accountability. As a result, regulation is often detailed and strict, with requirements for licensing, reporting and internal governance.
To operate under the supervision of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FI), a firm must meet a range of conditions, typically including fit and proper management, capital adequacy and risk management. The regulatory landscape is continuously evolving to address new risks in a fast-changing market, particularly driven by technological innovation and digitalisation. We support clients across Europe in navigating these developments.
We delineate which parts of your operations are subject to authorisation or notification requirements and what that means in practice for products, customer journeys and revenue models. You receive a clear scope that reduces the risk of early missteps.
We create a clear line from regulatory requirements to what you must be able to evidence in an inspection—such as decisions, controls, logs and follow-up. This makes compliance traceable and easier to defend when questions come from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FI).
We set out requirements for roles, mandates and reporting lines so that compliance, risk and internal control have real traction in daily decisions. The focus is on aligning executive accountability with operational delivery without friction.
We embed anti-money laundering (AML) and customer protection where they actually arise, in onboarding, transaction monitoring, product information and incident management. You get procedures that work under pressure and can be followed up through internal testing.
We produce a prioritised list of actions, owners and control points that can be run as an implementation programme. At the same time, we establish a simple model for handling new requirements, new partners and new products without rebuilding everything each time.
Nils Starborg, Axstar ABBuilding a scalable service in a regulated sector requires the right compliance support – and Felix Morling has delivered from day one. He has helped us structure processes, policies and risk assessments with both efficiency and quality.
Financial supervision means that FI oversees whether financial undertakings comply with applicable rules. Supervision covers everything from customer protection to compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Act and reporting obligations. A supervisory case may be opened through periodic review or due to specific indications of non-compliance. It includes both preventive controls and responses to identified deficiencies. Examples include:
FI is the financial supervisory authority in Sweden and has far-reaching powers to request information, conduct on-site inspections and impose sanctions for breaches. One example is supervision under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, where obliged entities may be reviewed on how they handle suspicious transactions, including reporting to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Authorities also cooperate internationally to ensure compliance in cross-border operations, and we advise clients across Europe accordingly.
Regulation & Risk
Compliance with financial regulation is not only a legal duty — it is central to building trust with customers, supervisors and partners. Whether you run an established credit institution or a new fintech company, your compliance work must be systematic, documented and current. Deficiencies can quickly lead to sanctions, loss of permissions or reputational damage. Whether you represent a bank, a payment institution, a currency exchange, a crowdfunding platform or a fintech business, regulatory compliance must be embedded in day-to-day operations.
A core responsibility is to maintain an effective compliance programme covering risk analyses, internal policies and follow-up. Many regimes, such as the Anti-Money Laundering Act, require obliged entities to identify and report suspicious transactions to the FIU. This demands strong staff competence, appropriate technology and clear procedures. To meet these requirements, firms need a deeply rooted compliance culture, with leadership actively supporting the function. Procedures must adapt to new risks — for example when launching new payment services or partnering with third-party providers. An effective programme also includes ongoing training and internal testing to ensure policies are applied in practice; structured financial regulation courses can play a practical role here.
To comply, firms also need internal controls that trace and mitigate risks, particularly when dealing with high-risk customers or launching new products. Failures can lead to significant measures — from remediation orders to administrative fines or withdrawal of authorisations.
Compliance in the financial sector is now strategic. It is not only about avoiding error but about building a sustainable, resilient and adaptable business. This is increasingly important as both regulation and supervision become more proactive and data-driven. By working preventively and investing in the right legal capability — whether in-house or through a financial regulation law firm — companies can minimise risk and create long-term commercial advantage. Where appropriate, targeted financial regulation courses help teams sustain competence at scale.
Financial regulation and supervision are complex and fast-moving, often driven by new risks, technological innovation and EU law initiatives. Success requires not only command of the rules but also the ability to adapt organisation, documentation and processes as change occurs. It is about building compliance into everyday business.
This frequently means integrating regulation into business development, product and platform design. It requires strategic understanding and practical insight into how supervisory authorities interpret and apply financial services regulation in concrete cases. A proactive approach to compliance can be a competitive differentiator — especially in markets where customer and partner trust is decisive. With clear structures and a systematic approach, firms can meet requirements without losing momentum.
At Morling Consulting, our lawyers help financial actors get it right from the start. We support the entire journey — from licence applications to governance, internal control and handling of supervisory matters — for clients across Europe. If you require a financial regulation lawyer, our team provides pragmatic, implementation-focused advice.
Firms providing financial services must comply with extensive rules, often including authorisation or registration, internal control and reporting. The objectives are financial stability and customer protection. The rules apply to, among others, banks, payment service providers, fintech companies and other financial institutions.
FI is the supervisory authority for financial firms in Sweden. Supervision is conducted through periodic reporting and targeted reviews. Other actors also play an important role in ensuring safe financial services, for example the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Swedish Tax Agency. Their roles include investigating or supporting the investigation of money laundering, terrorist financing and economic crime. Our practice supports clients throughout Europe in engagements with competent authorities.
Morling Consulting helps companies implement and update these procedures in practice.
Such firms often process large volumes of personal data — for example for KYC and transaction monitoring. GDPR therefore applies alongside other regimes. Balancing requirements can be challenging, as the GDPR requires that all processing has a lawful basis, special category data receives enhanced safeguards, and the organisation can demonstrate privacy by design and by default. Our lawyers provide advice that aligns GDPR with financial services regulation.
Yes. Our lawyers have extensive experience with fintech and technology-driven financial services. We provide legal advice across the regulatory lifecycle for fintech — from authorisations and compliance to data protection and commercial contracts — to clients across Europe. Our financial regulation lawyers combine technical understanding with regulatory expertise.
Businesses that provide financial services or handle client funds, including:
We assess whether your business requires authorisation and what that entails, including organisational requirements, compliance with specific rulebooks and capital requirements.
Supervision is external: authorities review whether the firm complies with laws and regulations. Compliance is the internal function ensuring that it does. An effective compliance function reduces the risk of fines, reputational harm and business interruption.
Frequency depends on risk profile, size and history. Some actors receive regular checks; others may be subject to targeted reviews where deficiencies are suspected. Non-compliance can lead to remediation orders, administrative fines or, in severe cases, loss of permissions.
A risk-based approach means firms must calibrate their procedures and controls to the level of exposure, particularly for money laundering, product development and customer management. The higher the risk, the more robust the safeguards.
Morling Consulting supports both strategy and legal review in product development.
Operating as a mortgage credit institution requires FI authorisation. They are subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and must submit internal governance documents already at the application stage. Morling Consulting assists with authorisations, internal governance and alignment with new regulatory requirements.
Morling Consulting supports firms subject to supervision or sanction proceedings.
What documentation is required to evidence compliance?
Authorities expect traceable and up-to-date documentation, including:
Morling Consulting drafts and reviews documentation so that it meets expectations from FI and other competent authorities across Europe.
Do you need support with authorisations, supervision or compliance? Contact us to discuss
"*" indicates required fields
