Regulatory / Legal Lobbying

The role of the FOA in the area of regulation is to address international, European and domestic regulatory policy, rules and procedures to the extent that they affect the wholesale markets/derivatives business carried on by its members. It involves the development of position papers, active lobbying and individual briefings. In carrying out this function, the FOA enjoys the support of a number of practitioner-based standing committees and working groups (covering particularly compliance, financial regulation, clearing and settlement, commodities and energy markets and HR) and ad hoc working parties formed on an "as needed" basis.

The core of the FOA's work is currently focussed on the European Commission's plan for completing the single market in financial services and ongoing changes to the UK regulatory structure and rules. The FOA is a founder member of a European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF) and is represented on its Advisory Committee. The EPFSF meets regularly and is designed to raise awareness amongst MEPs of issues relating to financial services in Europe and provide a forum for discussion at a senior level with participants from the financial community.

A complete overview of recent regulatory (and other) work of the FOA is contained in the FOA Report on Activities 2005 - 2006.

• FOA Position Papers on European/International Regulation
• FOA Position Papers on Reform of UK Regulation

Complimentary Forum meetings

The FOA holds complimentary "forum" meetings on a regular basis for particular market sectors / specialist staff. Each forum meeting includes regular updates and specialist presentations and typically attracts an attendance of between 70 and 90 specialist staff. There are approximately 25 such meetings per year and, as indicated above, these are free of charge to members. Current Forum are:

• Clearing & Settlement
• Compliance
• Energy
• Prudential Regulation & Risk
• Power

Helplines

The FOA offers a confidential "helpline" service whereby it will provide assistance on regulatory matters including:

• acting as a go-between on sensitive issues on a "no name" basis where a member needs information or opinions from exchanges or regulators
• seeking specific information about regulatory/commercial constraints in dealing in or into other jurisdictions.

For further information please call the FOA on +44 (0)207 929 0081

The Croner Consulting Business Support Helpline has been set up by the FOA to offer its Ordinary members complimentary telephone advice and guidance across a broad range of issues including employment and personnel, health & safety, tax and PAYE, VAT, Payroll and commercial legal matters.

Seminars/Workshops

The FOA offers a number of specialist seminars and workshops at cost-effective prices that address a range of different regulatory, legal and tax issues. In addition, the FOA negotiates a number of discounts on behalf of its members with other training providers

FOA Publications

In order to provide members with information on matters affecting their business, the FOA publishes a number of specialist, technical and general interest publications. The FOA also develops guidelines to help firms navigate their way through their regulatory obligations successfully. For full details of FOA publications click here

Pooled-cost member services

The FOA helps reduce members' costs through initiatives that involve the pooling of resources inn order to meet regulatory requirements and/or common commercial objectives such as facilitating commercial dealings or addressing areas of risk. These services include:

• The FOA Master Netting Agreement
• The FOA Documentation Libraries
• Legal Costs Insurance

Events

The FOA holds a number of high profile events which are suitable for corporate entertaining or promotional activities. These include:

• International Derivatives Week
• The Mansion House City Debate
• Power Trading Dinner

We also hold high level "round tables" at which key figures are invited to lunch to provide an overview of a topical issue and interested member firms have an opportunity to address their concerns with the guest speaker.