+44(0) 20 8154 6031 info@merlys.uk

Merlys is a funds sector focused consultancy advising on & implementing regulatory, business & cultural change for banks and fund managers… We also help law firms & accountants to support their clients.

 

We specialise in:
Governance
Regulation
ESG
Inclusion Diversity & Culture (ID&C)

Our Mission

Merlys is a funds industry regulatory consultancy geared specifically to the needs of smaller companies in the sector.

We specialise in:
Governance
Regulation
ESG
Inclusion Diversity & Culture (ID&C)

Our Mission

GET NOW: Click below to download 2 useful articles

5 steps to (successfully) engaging a Consultant… A Consultant who delivers what you need rather than telling you what you already know.

Avoid GREENWASHING: download your 6-Point checklist

GET NOW: Click below to download 2 useful articles

5 steps to (successfully) engaging a Consultant… A Consultant who delivers what you need rather than telling you what you already know.

Avoid GREENWASHING: download your 6-Point checklist

Our mission is to assist all sectors of the funds and asset management industry to implement regulatory, business and cultural change efficiently and effectively.

We bring extensive, in-depth commercial experience gained from decades of working in private practice and in-house, both on the legal and business sides of banks and asset managers.

 

Our mission is to assist smaller firms in the funds and asset management sectors to implement regulatory, business and cultural change efficiently and effectively.

We bring extensive, in-depth commercial experience gained from decades of working in private practice and in-house, both on the legal and business sides of banks and asset managers.

Phone

+44 (0) 20 7821 0191​

Social

News and Views

Fund Managers Are The New Punching Bag

There’s a mismatch in timeline focus of politicians, fund managers and climate responsible proponents… Interlaced cycles of political promises and lawmakers’ actions, scientific facts and generations of activists have been mismatched over the last 50 years. And it’s not looking likely to improve any time soon.

State of Play – UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements [SDRs]

The UK has done much more than merely be the first EU country to enact mandatory ESG disclosure laws; it has set the scene for mandatory ESG regulation in the Western world whilst driving a London double decker bus toward repairing the world.

Turning The Challenge On Its Head

If you are like others in the funds and asset management sectors, your regulatory projects are lagging behind schedule because your team is already over-stretched and/or you can’t find (hire) the appropriately experienced people.

ESG Technical Workshops for Legal resources

Making sure Funds-businesses can get their ESG products and solutions right first time. Technical knowledge-building workshop training sessions for time-poor legal teams… Bespoke to the company’s needs or a seat at the table of public courses.

ESG Product Workshops for Product and Legal resources

It is not an option to ignore ESG or to Greenwash financial products. Doing so can be financially and reputationally disastrous. ESG product workshops for product and legal resources.

ESG – everything your funds business needs

Most funds-sector businesses are either under-resourced or their legal and product teams are over stretched but it is not an option to ignore ESG or to Greenwash financial products. Doing so can be financially and reputationally disastrous which is why, with an eye on such firms’ purse-strings, Merlys devised this range of ESG-focused solutions.

Diving into the challenges… 3 ways to help your ESG funds products become winners

ESG Funds | Verena Charvet looks at the importance of, and tips for finding out what your target market wants from your investment products.

3 decades of ESG: Joining the dots… to today’s challenges

“If anyone had said to me then that this rather peculiar thing that I was doing with clients – to help them invest in a sustainable way – was going to be very normal and actually legislated for 30 years down the line, I would have been extremely surprised”

February 2022 in the chair with CHARVET | Verena Charvet & Brandon Horwitz talk Assessment of Value (AoVs) for AFMs

The FCA has long been looking to reduce the cost of investments to retail customers and to make sure that there is a link between customer charges and the actual costs to the Authorised Fund Managers (AFM). Assessment of Value (AoV) is part of this long-running initiative.

Product Governance and Consumer Duty 2022

How is this not regulation? The FCA has said that the cost of implementation for firms will be “large”. How can this be reduced and the likelihood of a firm successfully meeting the requirements at an early date – thus avoiding regulatory sanctions and reputational risk – be increased?

News and Views

Fund Managers Are The New Punching Bag

There’s a mismatch in timeline focus of politicians, fund managers and climate responsible proponents… Interlaced cycles of political promises and lawmakers’ actions, scientific facts and generations of activists have been mismatched over the last 50 years. And it’s not looking likely to improve any time soon.

State of Play – UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements [SDRs]

The UK has done much more than merely be the first EU country to enact mandatory ESG disclosure laws; it has set the scene for mandatory ESG regulation in the Western world whilst driving a London double decker bus toward repairing the world.

Turning The Challenge On Its Head

If you are like others in the funds and asset management sectors, your regulatory projects are lagging behind schedule because your team is already over-stretched and/or you can’t find (hire) the appropriately experienced people.

ESG Technical Workshops for Legal resources

Making sure Funds-businesses can get their ESG products and solutions right first time. Technical knowledge-building workshop training sessions for time-poor legal teams… Bespoke to the company’s needs or a seat at the table of public courses.

ESG Product Workshops for Product and Legal resources

It is not an option to ignore ESG or to Greenwash financial products. Doing so can be financially and reputationally disastrous. ESG product workshops for product and legal resources.

ESG – everything your funds business needs

Most funds-sector businesses are either under-resourced or their legal and product teams are over stretched but it is not an option to ignore ESG or to Greenwash financial products. Doing so can be financially and reputationally disastrous which is why, with an eye on such firms’ purse-strings, Merlys devised this range of ESG-focused solutions.

Diving into the challenges… 3 ways to help your ESG funds products become winners

ESG Funds | Verena Charvet looks at the importance of, and tips for finding out what your target market wants from your investment products.

3 decades of ESG: Joining the dots… to today’s challenges

“If anyone had said to me then that this rather peculiar thing that I was doing with clients – to help them invest in a sustainable way – was going to be very normal and actually legislated for 30 years down the line, I would have been extremely surprised”

February 2022 in the chair with CHARVET | Verena Charvet & Brandon Horwitz talk Assessment of Value (AoVs) for AFMs

The FCA has long been looking to reduce the cost of investments to retail customers and to make sure that there is a link between customer charges and the actual costs to the Authorised Fund Managers (AFM). Assessment of Value (AoV) is part of this long-running initiative.

Product Governance and Consumer Duty 2022

How is this not regulation? The FCA has said that the cost of implementation for firms will be “large”. How can this be reduced and the likelihood of a firm successfully meeting the requirements at an early date – thus avoiding regulatory sanctions and reputational risk – be increased?

What Our Clients Say

Verena understands the law but what sets her apart is her in-depth understanding of the business and products.

– General Counsel and Company Secretary, UK asset manager

Verena has a no-nonsense approach and always looks for the practical solution to problems.

CEO, EMEA, asset management group

It is refreshing to work with someone who sees things from the business point of view as well as having just the legal issues in mind.

Head of Regulated Products, US bank and custodian

“Verena is insightful, has great poise, is always pleasant and implemented our regulatory change programme with great efficiency.”

– Director of Compliance and Legal Services, EMEA, global custody bank

“We always appreciate Verena’s advice on how to position our negotiations with Regulators.  She has great industry knowledge.”

– Head of Product Development, global fund provider

“We were delighted, as part of our programme to enhance the visibility and leverage the functionality of our in-house legal team, to see an increase in the volume of legal work now directed to the team.  

The increase was not just because people became aware that Verena was there to assist but more because they greatly valued the quality of the legal advice Verena gave to them.

Her contribution to all aspects of the work of our in-house team was exceptional; she helped to inspire the team to take on new challenges and this resulted in business colleagues seeking out internal advice rather than directly calling external lawyers.”

– General Counsel, EEA private bank

What Our Clients Say

Verena understands the law but what sets her apart is her in-depth understanding of the business and products.

– General Counsel and Company Secretary, UK asset manager

Verena has a no-nonsense approach and always looks for the practical solution to problems.

CEO, EMEA, asset management group

It is refreshing to work with someone who sees things from the business point of view as well as having just the legal issues in mind.

Head of Regulated Products, US bank and custodian

“Verena is insightful, has great poise, is always pleasant and implemented our regulatory change programme with great efficiency.”

– Director of Compliance and Legal Services, EMEA, global custody bank

“We always appreciate Verena’s advice on how to position our negotiations with Regulators.  She has great industry knowledge.”

– Head of Product Development, global fund provider

“We were delighted, as part of our programme to enhance the visibility and leverage the functionality of our in-house legal team, to see an increase in the volume of legal work now directed to the team.  

The increase was not just because people became aware that Verena was there to assist but more because they greatly valued the quality of the legal advice Verena gave to them.

Her contribution to all aspects of the work of our in-house team was exceptional; she helped to inspire the team to take on new challenges and this resulted in business colleagues seeking out internal advice rather than directly calling external lawyers.”

– General Counsel, EEA private bank

Phone

+44 (0)20 7821 0191

Email

charles@merlys.uk

Social

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