Buckworths advises FinTech start-ups and scale-ups across the UK, including payment businesses, lending platforms, crypto businesses, RegTech companies, and businesses using technology to deliver financial services. We understand the regulatory environment and the commercial realities that FinTech businesses face.
We advise on technology development and licensing agreements, cloud hosting, API integration, and data sharing arrangements. On IP, we advise on trademark protection, copyright ownership in financial software, and licensing of proprietary technology.
We handle employment and IR35 matters for FinTech businesses, design EMI share schemes, and draft employment contracts for technical and commercial teams. On data protection, we advise on GDPR compliance, DPAs, privacy policies, and data breach response.
For investment and growth, we advise on SEIS and EIS, VC and angel funding rounds, shareholder agreements, and M&A activity from initial acquisition through to exit.
Book a free consultation to discuss your FinTech business.
Our Services
- Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Corporate
- Data Protection
- Dispute Resolution
- Employee Incentivisation
- Employment
- Franchising
- Funding
- General Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
- Regulatory Services
- Secretarial Services
- Strategy and Business Support
FAQs
In most cases, yes. Many FinTech businesses require FCA authorisation or registration, including those involved in payment services, e-money issuance, consumer credit, insurance distribution, and investment activities. Operating without the required authorisation is a criminal offence. We advise FinTech businesses on whether FCA authorisation is required and assist with the application process.
The financial promotions regime restricts who can communicate an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity. FinTech businesses raising investment from retail investors or promoting financial products must comply with these rules. We advise on financial promotions compliance and manage the process of qualifying investors as high net worth or sophisticated investors.
FinTech businesses typically process large volumes of sensitive financial data, which attracts heightened scrutiny under GDPR. Key issues include open banking data sharing under PSD2, the use of AI in credit decisioning, data retention policies for financial records, and international data transfers. We advise FinTech businesses on the full range of data protection obligations specific to their sector.