Image of Rhiannon Jones

Rhiannon Jones

Associate

Email

rhiannon.jones@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 1678

Offices

London

V-CARD

Rhiannon advises UK and international clients on a variety of UK regulatory matters.

Rhiannon has experience advising clients across the financial services sector including financial institutions, payments providers and systems, crypto players, e-commerce, tech platforms and central banks. Her experience includes advising on licensing application projects, the regulatory characterisation, structuring and launch of new products and services including cutting-edge technology innovations, variations of permission, regulatory compliance initiatives and engagement with regulators.

Rhiannon also provides specialist support on significant corporate projects, including multi-jurisdictional banking, payment and crypto surveys and M&A deals involving fintech and payment products. She assists clients with ‘change in control’ submissions associated with the acquisition of regulated firms.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Numerous financial institutions, electronic money institutions and payment institutions on all aspects of regulatory structuring and compliance for provision of a broad range of payment services, including AML, governance, safeguarding, customer T&Cs, financial promotions and emerging regimes such as the Consumer Duty and the APP Fraud reimbursement requirements.
  • A number of clients on their applications to become UK-authorised electronic money or payment institutions. We continue to provide ongoing regulatory support to these clients as their businesses grow.
  • Prosus on the sale of PayU’s Global Payments Organisation for a total cash consideration of USD610 million to Rapyd, a leading Fintech-as-a-Service provider.In particular, advising and assisting on the regulatory approvals process in various jurisdictions.
  • A UK payment system operator on the structuring and drafting of a new Authorised Push Payment Fraud Reimbursement Scheme within its rulebook, as directed by the Payment Systems Regulator.
  • A global card scheme on the regulatory and contractual structuring and rulebook for a novel open-banking based payment arrangement, covering UK and EU payment systems and services, and consumer protection.
  • A global technology company on the regulatory scope of holding and trading NFT in various jurisdictions.
  • An international bank on its direct participation in the UK payment system and drafting a feasibility assessment and legal opinion in respect of issues arising from applicable laws.  
  • A Middle Eastern central bank on the establishment of a new legal regime within its territory.
  • A number of traditional financial institutions and cryptoasset firms on all aspects of the application of financial services, AML / financial crime, sanctions, data protection regulations to novel cryptoasset products and services.

Pro bono

  • Secondment to European Lawyers in Lesvos in Athens to assist Greek lawyers in providing legal assistance to asylum seekers through in-depth asylum preparation.
  • Providing pro bono legal advice to Afghan refugees and assisting on an asylum case as part of the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative.
  • Advising the Center for Reproductive Rights in relation to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and related legislation and policies on adolescent pregnancy and sex education in Sierra Leone.
  • Reading Partner for primary school children at Christ Church Primary School.

Qualifications

Admissions

Solicitor, England & Wales, 2022

Academic

LPC, BPP University, 2020 GDL, BPP University, 2019

MA (Cantab), Human, Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge University, (BA: 2017, MA: 2021)

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.