Major FinReg partner hire reinforces Ashursts status as global leader in financial services

Etay joins from Allen & Overy where he has been a partner for over 10 years. Etay is a leading practitioner in the market, advising on both national and international regulatory regimes as well as on strategic corporate transactions in the regulated financial services sector.

"Etay is a great addition to our team," Jake Green, global co-head of financial regulatory said. "Ashurst is one of the few firms with a truly global financial regulatory practice, with specialist regulatory teams in the world's key financial centres in the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia."

"Our financial regulatory practice is exceptionally well positioned to advise clients on the increasingly complex regulatory landscape as we move beyond Brexit and as the pace of digital transformation continues to accelerate. Etay will play a critical role in that and we are delighted that he is joining the firm." 

Jake Green noted that Etay brings a wealth of experience in prudential and bank regulation, as well as on FinTech transformation of payments, banking and financial markets. "This will add significant strength to our existing offering. Financial regulatory is an area of key strategic focus for the firm and we have a continued commitment to invest in the growth of our practice and expand the firm's financial services offering. Our global financial institution clients demand top tier and innovative regulatory advice, and that is what we deliver both here in the UK and globally," he said. 

"I am thrilled to be joining Ashurst," Etay Katz said. "The financial regulatory team, and firm more broadly, relishes change, innovative practice ideas and achieving excellence in client service delivery. Establishing a risk advisory practice and developing market-first digital tools for clients demonstrates that well. The opportunity to be part of this and to contribute to Ashurst's growth at this important time of transformation in the financial markets is a very exciting prospect."

Etay's appointment builds on the continuing growth of Ashurst's global financial regulatory practice, which in 2020 saw Evan Lam appointed partner in Singapore, and Bradley Rice and Silvana Wood promoted in London and Sydney respectively. Ashurst has also in the last 12 months launched Ashurst Consulting, its legal-led consulting service, with five new risk advisory partners joining the firm in early March. Ashurst Consulting works very closely with the firm's legal experts to deliver end-to-end solutions to its financial institution clients.