Nell Perks represents leading financial institutions in a wide range of disputes and contentious regulatory investigations, frequently with an international element.

Ms. Perks leverages her comprehensive understanding of the challenges that financial institutions face and extensive experience across the spectrum of financial services litigation — including complex and structured products disputes — to:

  • Manage investigations and disputes, from their earliest stages through to settlement
  • Advise clients on regulatory enforcement and risk management in relation to disputes
  • Identify and craft solutions that take account of regulatory implications and potential follow-on litigation
  • Advise on global regulatory compliance, including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery obligations

She helps financial services clients navigate complex regulatory and criminal investigations, including in some of the most significant US and UK investigations in recent years, involving the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), US Department of Justice (DOJ), and US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as well as regulators in other jurisdictions.

Ms. Perks forges trusted relationships across the UK financial services industry to advise banks on how to improve their culture within the context of global regulatory frameworks and in related investigations.

She has spent time seconded to the commercial and retail litigation team and the compliance team of a major bank client. She has also spent three months on secondment as a judicial assistant at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Ms. Perks maintains an active pro bono practice, including coordinating the firm’s participation in the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance, an organization that represents London-based individuals who are not eligible for legal aid but cannot afford to pay for private representation to seek orders of protection in domestic violence cases. She also serves as a global leader of Latham’s Parent Lawyers Group.

Ms. Perks has higher rights of audience in the courts of England and Wales.

Ms. Perks’ experience includes:

Investigations

  • Acting for one of the banks involved in the international investigations into the alleged manipulation of LIBOR submissions, culminating in simultaneous settlements with the FCA, DOJ, and CFTC*
  • Investigating potential breaches of EU and US sanctions obligations in the context of a syndicated loan and advising and assisting an asset manager in handling the position*
  • Assisting in a “skilled person” review (pursuant to s.166 FSMA 2000) relating to the governance of a major institutional asset manager
  • Advising a large financial institution on a wide-ranging culture review and assessment

Litigation

  • Acting for a major investment bank in both the High Court and Competition Appeals Tribunal in relation to alleged FX manipulation
  • Acting for a major international bank in relation to a multi-party group action by hundreds of mortgage customers
  • Acting for a bank in proceedings relating to the sale of a credit card portfolio – CCUK Finance Limited and another vs. Barclays Bank PLC*
  • Acting for a financial institution in proceedings arising out of the sale of one of the world’s leading global broking businesses
  • Acting for a leading retail bank in test case proceedings relating to the Consumer Credit Act – Carey & Ors vs. HSBC & Ors*
  • Acting for a bank in proceedings including allegations of mortgage fraud in which the proceedings included applications for freezing orders and Norwich Pharmacal disclosure orders*
  • Assisting a financial institution in securing the return of funds transferred from a customer’s account as a result of an authorised push payment fraud

Regulatory Advice

  • Advising on Consumer Duty implementation for a major financial institution
  • Advising a global bank on implementing policies and procedures following the introduction of the UK Bribery Act 2010*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • LPC (Distinction), Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, 2003
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law, University of West England, Bristol, 2002
    with distinction
  • BA, English, University of Bristol, 2001