Bates Wells Braithwaite (BWB) is delighted to announce the appointment of new partner Gillian Roche-Saunders. Gillian will lead the firm’s new financial regulation consultancy service, BWB Compliance, an expansion under the firm’s alternative business structure (ABS).

Gillian has a track record in providing award-winning support to financial services firms. She joins BWB from Bovill where, after a number of years providing advice and support across the financial services sector, she established and grew a compliance consulting team dedicated to the venture finance industry. Gillian has an established reputation in the alternative finance, venture capital and FinTech industries. Prior to that, Gillian spent 7 years leading compliance investigations at The Law Society.

Managing partner Martin Bunch said: “We are delighted to welcome Gillian to BWB to lead our compliance consulting work. We became the first City law firm to be granted an ABS specifically so we could provide a more unified service to our clients. It has allowed us to expand our practice further into impact investing and social value with the addition of our Impact and Advisory teams. The compliance consultancy will enhance our offering further.”

Head of Social Finance Luke Fletcher said: “In addition to a common interest in Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), crowdfunding and social impact investing, Bates Wells Braithwaite and Gillian came together because of a shared set of values and a vision of how professional services should be offered to clients. BWB Compliance offers our clients the security of working within a well-established professional services firm but also flexibility – Gillian will work both with external law firms as well as with colleagues at BWB.”

Gillian Roche-Saunders said: ““Establishing a regulatory consultancy within Bates Wells Braithwaite is a truly exciting opportunity.  BWB Compliance will be focusing on a new area for the firm – a financial services regulation consultancy – but will offer the same practical, client-centric approach. 

Financial services is a fast moving industry where technology, trends and regulations are constantly evolving. First class compliance support should help clients to stay ahead of that curve.  For us, that means getting to know clients’ businesses just as well as the regulatory environment.”

Gillian is a director of the EIS Association and chairs its regulatory committee. She also provides support to other trade associations including the UK Business Angels Association and the UK Crowdfunding Association.