DWF launches new Connected Services offering, with two senior hires

With over 19 years' experience and in-depth knowledge of the UK and European regulatory market, Andrew joins DWF from being a partner at BDO and formerly Moore Stephens, where he built the regulatory advice function. Andrew has acted as an FCA Skilled Person in a number of areas, specialises in providing cross-sector regulatory advice, financial crime expertise, regulatory projects, applications, and retained compliance support. Darren joins the business from Grant Thornton and has over 26 years' regulatory experience across retail banking, insurance and consumer lending, having also developed the regulatory consulting business at Huntswood.

The newly formed Connected Services offering, DWF Regulatory Consulting, has been set up to help businesses to be resilient and prosper in an increasingly challenging and evolving regulatory climate. The team, led by Andrew, will provide regulatory advice to help clients meet their regulatory and compliance needs. As a part of the regulatory offering, the team will provide a full range of regulatory services across a number of sub-sectors; from complex projects and regulatory change management to ad-hoc support and ongoing services. The purpose of the service is to help firms and individuals navigate both domestic and international regulatory frameworks. DWF regulatory lawyers, Robbie Constance and Richard Burger, who have already developed a strong regulatory legal practise since joining DWF last year, will provide legal expertise. 

Andrew Jacobs said: "Alongside our legal colleagues, Darren and I are delighted to be launching an integrated and global advisory offering, through which we can provide even greater expertise to help clients with their volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous regulatory and business issues. This will be done through DWF's global office network and using our unique platform of Connected Services."

Jason Ford, partner and head of Connected Services added: "Both Andrew and Darren have deep experience of helping clients to meet regulatory requirements and build stronger businesses as a result of regulatory change, while differentiating themselves through customer-centric cultures."

"Our Connected Services division contains a range of businesses that work alongside our legal teams and clients to support and deliver products and services. The addition of Regulatory Consulting not only compliments what we have to offer, but also bolsters the services we can provide to help clients manage risk, reputational matters, cost and resources."