Winston & Strawn has made a notable addition to its financial innovation and regulation practice with the hiring of Yulia Makarova as a partner in its London office. The firm officially announced this development recently, marking a significant step in strengthening their expertise in the evolving landscape of financial regulation.
Makarova is no stranger to the complexities of the distributed ledger, blockchain, and digital assets sectors. Her practice primarily involves navigating the domestic and cross-border financial services regulations, a crucial area for businesses operating within these emerging technologies. In addition to regulatory licensing across the UK and EU, Makarova’s role involves implementing regulatory changes pertinent to emerging technologies.
One of the distinctive aspects of her work includes engaging with regulatory sandboxes, an innovative approach allowing businesses to test products in a controlled environment before a full launch. Her experience is not limited to startups; she also advises larger financial institutions on strategic regulatory matters, including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisations and variation of permissions. This expertise extends to complex regulatory approvals often required in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and private equity transactions.
The addition of Makarova to the team reflects Winston & Strawn’s strategic intent to expand their service offerings at a time when regulation of financial technologies is becoming increasingly pivotal. For more details, you can read the full announcement on Bloomberg Law.