Regulatory and Compliance

In recent years the Central Bank of Ireland has become a more intrusive supervisor of the financial services sector. This has led to an increased number of Central Bank inspections, investigations and enforcement actions, and in-turn has given a demand for increased legal and regulatory support to firms operating in the sector.

Meet the team
Practice Regulatory Compliance resized

Our Financial Services Regulatory team is a trusted advisor to firms on their interactions with the Central Bank of Ireland, as well as financial services authorities in other jurisdictions. We provide specialist advice to financial services clients on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, including:

  • Regulatory strategy & regulatory engagement
  • Licensing and establishment
  • Regulatory inspections (on-site inspections, targeted risk assessments, financial risk reviews, thematic inspections)
  • Implementation of regulatory remediation actions
  • Advice on Central Bank Codes/Rules (PRISM, Corporate Governance, Fitness and Probity etc.)
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Self-disclosure
  • Dawn raids
  • Skilled person reports.
  • Advice on administrative sanctions procedures adopted by the Central Bank of Ireland

Key Contacts

‘Finola McCarthy, dealing with both contentious and non-contentious matters, and Donal Twomey on the contentious side are stars. Both are highly intelligent with calm, rational and very pleasant personalities, unafraid of complex legal and factual scenarios, and always focused on the client's best interests.’
– The Legal 500 (2025)
‘The team brings a deep and longstanding expertise in both non-contentious and contentious matters combined with sound judgment that keeps clients between the ditches.’
– The Legal 500 (2025)
‘Eoin Tobin, John Cuddigan and Mark Barrett - each excel in their field and are a great source of knowledge to assist in moving client engagements ahead.’
– The Legal 500 (2025)
‘Mark Barrett is very easy to deal with, responsive and knowledgeable.’
– The Legal 500 (2025)
‘John would be an outstanding lawyer in any firm he worked for. He is the most pragmatic and commercial tax lawyer I have come across in my career.’
– The Legal 500 (2025)