Financial Services

KEY SECTOR TRENDS

• Global shift towards transparency continues to dictate sector evolution
• Influx of Fintech companies and the increased sophistication of analytics are reshaping the service solutions provided and the method by which they are delivered
• Low interest rate environment continues to hold economy in flux, thus, forcing financial institutions to be vigilant and create innovative solutions to combat slim margins from lending revenue

LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS

• Increased demand for advice with respect to debt financing and local legal considerations on a global stage
• Required legal expertise to support the structuring and regulatory requirements of newly created financial/security products & instruments
• Need for legal risk review as new technologies and multi-channel distribution platforms emerge to replace or complement existing financial sector participants

WHAT WE KNOW

Despite nearly a decade of cautious market optimism, which has seen a general restoration and modest growth following the 2008 market meltdown, we, as a collective economy, remain in complete state of trepidation. Continued political unrest and even the introduction of negative interest rates in one of our largest market influencing nations have belaboured optimism and the rebuilding of trust in the financial sector. Despite this, evidently, dreary forecast for the financial services sector, there is certainly a glowing silver lining surrounding the proverbial sector cloud. As is often the case, negative experiences force much needed change. In an industry with a rich history of institutional domination, the post-collapse world (and its heightened demand for transparency) has led to the evolution of Fintech, consumer power shift and innovations, which, may prove to be the welcomed change in the financial sector.

ADVANCING THE LEGAL INDUSTRY

At McInnes Cooper, we believe in playing an active role in the advancement of our clients and the industries in which they progressively participate. As such, our responsibility extends beyond providing basic, legal advice—we are your true advocates and we fulfill this role in the most literal sense. Our team of lawyers have a comprehensive and authoritative understanding of the importance and delicate nature of your transactions and financing procedures. We specialize in the legal facilitation of financial services affecting a broad range of stakeholders and are in continuous communication with borrowers, guarantors and financial sector governing parties.

OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE

• Syndicated loans
• Asset structuring & compliance
• Acquisition & project lending
• Secured & unsecured credit transactions
• Debt financings
• Canada/US cross-border financings
• Corporate reorganizations
• Banking, finance & tax
• Pensions & benefits
• Restructuring & insolvency
• Risk assessment
• Transaction structuring & negotiations