London – LAWFUEL – Legal Announcements – DLA Piper has expanded its non contentious financial services team within the Litigation and Regulatory practice, with the appointment of Michael McKee, the former Executive Director of the British Banking Association (BBA). Michael joined DLA Piper today as a partner and will work closely with financial services specialists, John Ahern, Elisabeth Bremner and Daren Allen.
Michael is a leading figure within the financial services sector having worked for the BBA since 2000 and served as Executive Director since 2003. Whilst there he was responsible for the wholesale banking and regulatory team and managed the association’s relationship within key personnel at a range of UK and international banking and financial institutions and regulators, including the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the European Commission, the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) and the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS).
Michael joined the BBA from Citigroup, where he was responsible for providing regulatory legal advice to the trading floor across Europe. Prior to this he was a litigation lawyer at Clifford Chance. He is a regular press commentator and public speaker on banking and financial services matters, both nationally and internationally and has been a member of several advisory committees, including the HM Treasury/FSA/Financial Services Industry Steering Committee for the implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MIFID). In addition, Michael led the BBA team which received a 2007 Complinet Award for the Most Influential Trade Association, in recognition of work related to MIFID implementation. Over the years Michael has also published several papers and articles on the banking and financial services.
Daren Allen, head of the financial services team across the UK, said: “Over the past two years we have seen considerable growth in our financial services practice and I am delighted that Michael is joining the team. Michael has a wealth of experience in the financial services arena and we look forward to him contributing to the continued success of the group.”
Michael, said: “I am glad to be joining DLA Piper at a time when regulatory issues are becoming extremely important for financial institutions. DLA Piper has impressed me with the strength of its overall vision and the quality of its regulatory lawyers and I look forward to working with them to help our clients in the financial markets.”
