Rabya is a leading specialist in the financial services, commodities (particularly energy and metals) and technology industries advising on all areas of regulation.
Rabya is particularly well respected for her expertise in market abuse and insider dealing, market manipulation scandals, trading practices and complex financial products such as derivatives.
Rabya also has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, new product and platform launches, jurisdictional expansion, cross-border issues, fintech and blockchain-based products and other complex areas.
In addition to advising boards of major global institutions and C-suite executives on legal, regulation, risk and strategic matters, Rabya is also an Attorney and Advocate with higher rights of audience. This allows her to represent her clients in contentious matters in the highest courts both domestically and internationally.
Rabya is qualified to practise law in multiple jurisdictions and has been officially recognised as ‘a leader in her field of law’. She is widely regarded as a subject matter specialist and is frequently called upon by clients, industry media and regulatory bodies.
Rabya is widely regarded as one of the best digital assets, crypto and NFT specialist lawyers in the world. She is highly sought after and her reputation is well deserved.
Felix Oram
Head of Operations at Alphabit Fund, MD of Alphabit Consultancy LtdShe is trustworthy, highly responsive and clearly an expert in her field – overall, a first class service delivered by one of the leading fintech and financial services regulation lawyers in the city.
Jeremy Baber
CEO at LanistarI would not hesitate to recommend Rabya and her team. In the 35 years’ experience I have in using a large number of corporate lawyers, she is by far the best. She has become a very valuable asset and key part of our team.
Ellie Puddle
Chief Operating Officer of the London Derivatives ExchangeShe is widely regarded as one of the best fintech, NFT, crypto and wider financial services regulation lawyers in the world and is highly sought after by clients in major financial centres such as Paris, London New York and further afield.
Mr Abdullah Omar Qandeel
Chief Executive Officer of APAD and Famous International ArtistShe is eye-wateringly talented and bright… unrivalled technical expertise… impressively comfortable switching gears and jumping back and forth between areas of law, different jurisdictions and also different sectors including traditional financial services, equities derivatives trading, digital assets, DeFi, high tech platforms, exchanges and much more.
Mr Vj Angelo
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspira Digital WealthShe exhibits an excellent understanding of the industry…extremely skilled at interpreting and applying regulatory rules to our business. She articulates her advice, both verbally and in writing, superbly. Her significant and wider ranging technical expertise in financial services regulation, and for me, particularly FCA rules relating to equity investment and financial promotions, payments services, E-Money and credit cards were invaluable.
Lanistar (Fintech, Payments, E-Money)
Rabya helps to represent us in international meetings and presentations with major industry figures, political leaders and national institutes. She is a highly impressive ambassador – eloquent, credible and able to answer even the trickiest of legal questions. Advice is delivered articulately with formidable technical expertise and impressive precision.
Mr Abdullah Omar Qandeel
Chief Executive Officer of APAD and Famous International ArtistRabya Anwar is our lawyer… We would highly recommend her. A truly rare breed… She is able to deliver highly technical advice and a very professional service whilst remaining approachable and friendly. An exceedingly rare and winning combination of formidable intellect and genuine warmth.
A major digital asset management business
Rabya builds brilliant client relationships and is, justifiably, a trusted confidante to many. Despite clearly juggling many clients, some of whom we know, Rabya somehow makes us feel as though we are her top priority. Highly talented, hard-working and wholly dedicated to her clients, she is one of the most highly sought after technical specialist lawyers in the city and, as a bonus, she is approachable and entirely trustworthy.
Ozzie Ahmet
Director at Still Safe LTDShe was first class – highly effective and articulate with a natural linguistic prowess and laser like focus. Boundless energy, relentless stamina and a sincere dedication to helping us achieve our goals.
COO of a conglomerate of international businesses including exchanges, digital trading platforms and an asset management firm
Our business has a presence and staff across the UK, France, Japan, Canada, the USA, the UAE and beyond. Being qualified to practice law in multiple jurisdictions (including the UK and the US) and leading a talented multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary team, Rabya was perfectly positioned to lead all legal, regulatory and related strategy matters. Overall, a superb lawyer.
Mr Abdullah Omar Qandeel
Chief Executive Officer of APAD and Famous International ArtistShe seemed to instantly understand the nuances of our business and she is demonstrably dedicated to helping us achieve our goals. She takes on her clients’ challenges as though they are her own and she exhibits extraordinary foresight.
Chief Executive Officer of an International Wealth Management Business
(UK, US, Indonesia, Singapore, Luxembourg)She provided brilliant client service, including offering to go above and beyond…deliver an extremely detailed and high quality output in a very tight timeframe which exceeded our expectations. I would recommend her wholeheartedly for the outstanding service.
Jeremy Baber
CEO at LanistarShe is entirely trustworthy and is always acting in her clients’ best interests. She has excellent judgement and her advice can be relied upon from not only a legal perspective but also from a commercial and strategic perspective.
Mr Abdullah Omar Qandeel
Chief Executive Officer of APAD and Famous International ArtistShe excels amongst her peers and is easily distinguished by her in depth product knowledge and business focus, having spent time in leadership roles in industry and handling boardrooms rather than solely advising from afar as most lawyers do. She is extremely trustworthy and, whilst she is our external counsel, we consider her to be part of the family!
Mr Vj Angelo
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspira Digital WealthHer reputation as one of the best financial services regulation lawyers in the world is well deserved and she demonstrates excellent technical expertise across the full range of financial services products including more complex innovative assets such as crypto and NFTs. What makes her unique is her deeply engrained business knowledge and first-hand industry experience, as she has spent time working in industry and holding her own in boardrooms! This makes her a truly rare breed amongst her peers and clearly differentiates her from other city law firm partners.
Director
Digital Assets CompanyShe has a phenomenal, multi-jurisdictional specialist team under her. They are talented, hard-working and reliable. She has excellent judgement and her advice can be relied upon from not only a legal perspective but also from a commercial and strategic perspective. She articulates highly complex technical information meticulously yet concisely and with masterful eloquence.
Ozzie Ahmet
Director at Still Safe LTDWhilst clearly juggling so many clients across major cities and timezones, Rabya and her team manage to make us feel like we are her top priority and favourite client. I imagine that she instils such deep confidence, builds such strong relationships and delivers such excellent client service across the board and this makes her a rarity amongst her peers.
Chief Executive Officer of an International Wealth Management Business
(UK, US, Indonesia, Singapore, Luxembourg)Rabya was the ideal choice of lawyer to assist us on a range of matters including a contentious issue involving complex cross border issues. She is qualified to practice law in multiple jurisdictions and has built a talented multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary team. Excellent legal research and an impressive ability to methodically dissect and cleverly re-position complex cross border legal issues. Great foresight and brilliant strategic manoeuvres.
COO of an International Derivatives Exchange
I have noted how well-connected and highly regarded she is by c-suites members of major financial services institutions across the city including global investment banks – she has the ability to build genuine warm relationships at the very highest levels of our industry and is clearly trusted by many.
COO of a conglomerate of international businesses including exchanges, digital trading platforms and an asset management firm
Great technical expertise in areas of law considered extremely niche including those relating to innovative digital assets such as crypto and NFTs. Being qualified to practice law in multiple jurisdictions, Rabya provided us with advice spanning multiple jurisdictions… As a leading partner in the city, she is building a strong multi-disciplinary team which is truly international.
Felix Oram
Head of Operations at Alphabit Fund, MD of Alphabit Consultancy LtdOne of the leading financial services regulation lawyers in the world…highly sought after by clients in major financial centres such as London, Paris, New York and beyond. Being qualified to practice law in multiple jurisdictions (including the UK and the US) and leading a talented multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary team, Rabya is perfectly positioned to lead work for us on a range of matters.
Mr Vj Angelo
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspira Digital WealthHer reputation as one of the most talented lawyers in the city can easily be justified. Rabya delivers her advice and services with formidable skill, exceptional quality and unparalleled client care.
Ellie Puddle
Chief Operating Officer of the London Derivatives ExchangeTechnical advice is always exemplary and 100% relied upon… had great ideas and solutions for the business to adopt.
Client
Major global financial services institutionPrecise knowledge of current regulations… keen interest in and understanding of our business and its peculiarities… a very nice job.
Client
Global investment bank headquartered in Tokyo, JapanAn astute tactician who can significantly lift a claim and maximise prospects of success. She is demonstrably skilled at anticipating challenges from opponents and preparing strategically in advance.
Client
Leading financial services institutionRabya articulates complex financial services industry specific information meticulously with masterful eloquence.
Client
Large banking groupShe drilled down into the detail relentlessly and methodically until complex and seemingly unsurmountable issues had been mastered and positioned persuasively.
Client
Leading financial services institutionRabya’s knowledge in the regulatory space is beyond doubt exemplary…I had the privilege of seeking her advice on several matters whilst [I was in leadership positions at two global banks] and until today within [C-suite of global commodities firm]. I recommend her wholeheartedly.
Client
C-suite executiveExcellent knowledge of regulations and how they affected our organisation.
Client
One of the world’s largest global brokerage firms headquartered in NY, USAStrong technical knowledge…clear and methodical approach…extremely knowledgeable.
Client
Leading financial services institutionDeep subject matter specialist in a number of areas of regulation…thorough understanding of the specificities unique to our business… trustworthy.
Client
Domestic trading firmShe stands out a mile from her peers and is easily distinguished by how deeply engrained she has been in the financial services industry – she is truly a rare breed in this regard.
Client
Leading financial services institutionExtraordinary stamina and boundless energy…Extremely talented with razor sharp focus.
Client
Large banking groupHer great expertise and her knowledge of regulations were very helpful for our mission and I enjoyed working with her.
Client
Major global energy commodities supply and trading institution headquartered in Paris, FranceShe was first class and highly responsive… high calibre in her field…demonstrated an impressive linguistic prowess which she can wield like a weapon.
Client
Leading financial services institutionNot only was Rabya’s knowledge of the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) exceptional, her presenting skills were extremely impressive, as were her responses to the many questions being asked…
Client
World’s largest financial tech, data and media institution
Expertise
- Regulation: all areas of regulation across financial services, energy and technology industries
- Financial services across investment banking, fund management, investment management, brokerages, exchanges and others
- Trading across a wide range of complex financial products and asset classes including equities, fixed income, Shariah-compliant products such as sukuks, derivatives both OTC and exchange-traded
- Payments services and payments platforms, card schemes
- Fintechs, crypto-assets and other blockchain-based products, services and wider financial automation
- Energy including renewables, metals and other commodities
- Technology and data protection
- Launches – new products, new businesses, new platforms
- Jurisdictional expansion and complex cross-border issues
- Market abuse, insider dealing, market manipulation scandals, securities price manipulation, fraud
- Benchmark interest rate manipulation and IBOR transition
- Breaches of all wholesale Conduct of Business regulatory regimes, including mis-selling
- Financial crime, AML, bribery, corruption
- Regulatory bodies, both domestic and international: advice, investigations and enforcement cases, supervisory frameworks
- Regulatory investigations and response, particularly section 166 FSMA skilled person investigations
- Mergers and acquisitions, corporate entity restructuring
- Strategy, organisational transformation, scandal response, crisis management, macro-event response (e.g. BREXIT response strategy)
- Expert witness preparation, legal and forensic
- Governance, C-suite executive / senior manager accountabilities and culture, SMCR
Experience
Financial Services
- Legal advisor on launch of many new financial products and platforms (e.g. launch of derivative trading products recognised in international press as first of their kind to ever be traded on exchange i.e. the Russian Internal Order Book (IOB) Stock Dividend Futures)
- Significant multi-jurisdictional technical advisory work relating to section 118 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993
- Appointed to lead technical reviews and provide advice on complex issues to a major banking and commodities group headquartered in Paris, France.
- Advised one of the world’s largest global brokerage firms headquartered in NY, USA, on a wide range of regulatory matters including response to scrutiny from various regulatory bodies. Led large-scale regulatory reviews and risk assessments in preparation for investigation
- Assisted one of the UK’s largest banking groups to prepare for regulatory scrutiny ahead of investigations
- Worked on high-profile international mergers at the London Stock Exchange (LSEG)
- Technical specialist work on ground-breaking s.166 FSMA (regulatory) investigations on behalf of the Financial Conduct Authority, leading to successful enforcement cases hitting the headlines
- Advised banks on benchmark interest rate manipulation (e.g. LIBOR scandal). Advisory engagements and also appointment by regulatory bodies to interview key figures at banks under investigations and to draft reports
- Advised payments services providers, fintechs, crypto-asset providers and block-chain based service providers on launch of new products and platforms
- Appointed to lead regulatory risk assessments and advise the board of the second largest bank in Ireland
- Reviewed and drafted legal documentation for geometric basket options and other complex derivatives, both OTC and exchange-traded
- Advised major global banking group headquartered in Tokyo, Japan on complex regulatory matters and wider risk and strategic issues
- Advised on Brexit regulatory frameworks and appointed to lobby and help to shape our industry’s response to Brexit regulatory frameworks proposed by domestic and international regulators. Involved meetings with European Ministers of finance, BoE and other high-profile stakeholders
- Advised on C-suite executive responsibilities, senior manager accountabilities and culture, SMCR and wider governance issues
- Led contentious regulatory matter involving SMCR, s.166 regulatory investigation and PRA regulatory attestation at a leading bank
Energy & Natural Resources
- Significant advisory work for many energy market clients on REMIT and energy market specific regulatory frameworks including RIIO
- Advised boards of major energy institutions and energy trading firms providing assistance including interpretation of complex regulations, assurance, assessments technical advice and recommendations
- Advised the oil arm of a multinational commodity trading and mining company by providing regulatory advice in response to a review by the Intercontinental Exchange (‘ICE’) which had identified significant market abuse rule breaches
- Appointed by energy market regulator OFGEM as technical specialist and commissioned to review and advise on their supervision strategy in relation to complex new regulatory frameworks prior to launch
- Negotiated and drafted provisions for complex energy derivatives trades and supply of wholesale energy in unusual jurisdictions. Advised on applicability and interpretation of various master services agreements (ISDA, EFET, etc.)
Technology & Telecoms
- Appointed to advise on the launch of new technology solutions such as trading software, trade surveillance and monitoring solutions
- Advised on technology and data-related regulations including GDPR
- Legal and regulatory advisory work on creation of high-tech trading platforms (e.g. a market-leading equity derivatives focussed multilateral trading facility (MTF) at leading exchange)
- Regulatory advice on creation of a market-leading multilateral trading facility, (i.e. MTF platform)
- Advising on rules around trading on high-tech, automated, innovative new platforms and innovative new tech-enabled trading processes
- Advising on blockchain-based automation capabilities
- Appointed by a major international tech giant to review and advise on regulatory capabilities and sufficiency of newly developed tech solutions.
Licensing & Gambling
- Advised brokerage firms on regulatory requirements for providers and brokers of CFDs including financial spread-betting and restrictions for sale of CFDs in the UK
- Advised on CFTC (US) and SEC (US) restrictions relating to CFDs
- Led regulatory risk assessments and provided recommendations on controls required for CFD trading desks and provision of financial spread-betting
Capital Markets
- Legal advisor on launch of many new financial products and platforms (including the launch of derivative trading products recognised in international press as first of their kind to ever be traded on exchange, i.e. the Russian Internal Order Book (IOB) Stock Dividend Futures)
- Worked on high-profile international mergers at the London Stock Exchange (LSEG)
- Legal and regulatory advisory work on the creation of high-tech trading platforms (e.g. a market-leading equity derivatives focussed multilateral trading facility (MTF) at leading exchange)
- Regulatory advice on the creation of a market-leading multilateral trading facility (i.e. MTF platform)
- Advised a derivatives exchange on the provision of brokerage services to internationally based companies
- Advised on applicability of US securities laws to various art NFT design proposals and crypto projects
- Advised many creators on the rules and laws applicable to NFTs and securities
- Reviewed and drafted legal documentation for geometric basket options and other complex derivatives, both OTC and exchange-traded
- Regulatory advice on the marketing and sale of OTC and spot crypto derivatives by a foreign company in England and Wales
- Reviewed and converted legal agreements, including converting subscription to swap agreements with option to unwind
- Legal advisor on a number of high-profile market manipulation cases
- Regulatory advice on the application of financial promotions rules to social media
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in The Legal 500 2023 for Oil and Gas
Published as a leading specialist in the mainstream media e.g. in Investment Week
Appointed to lead market abuse advisory services at one of the largest firms in the world and recognised for deep technical specialism: KPMG – The Market Abuse Regulation
Frequently commissioned by clients, professional bodies, RegTech companies and others to act as keynote speaker and specialist at conferences domestically and internationally. A few examples include (i) recurring speaking engagements at Capital Markets 101 annual events (ii) the RegTech Summit; (iii) keynote speaker at international conference for global leaders of world’s largest oil and gas trading firms; (iv) keynote speaker at C-suite banking event in Dublin; (v) commissioned by Reuters to be keynote regulatory speaker at financial services conferences in financial centres across Europe, including jurisdictions with interesting regulatory regimes such as Istanbul; and (vi) Recognised specialist speaker on Brexit regulatory frameworks
Board-level appointment: two-year term as a Non-Executive Director
Designated as ‘leader in her field of law’, as officially recognised by professional regulator
Career
Rabya is qualified as a Solicitor and an Advocate with higher rights of audience in England & Wales. She was also admitted as an Attorney in New York in 2020. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2021, she worked at the following firms:
- Deloitte LLP
- KPMG LLP