Eversheds Sutherland Bolsters Fintech and Regulatory Bench with Double Partner Hire

Eversheds Sutherland has strengthened its London-based financial services practice with the appointment of two partners, Paul Harris and Anahita Patwardhan. The move signals a strategic push into the high-growth areas of fintech, digital assets, and wealth management as financial institutions face an increasingly complex global regulatory landscape and cross-border operational challenges.

What was announced

Paul Harris joins from Osborne Clarke, while Anahita Patwardhan arrives from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. Both are based in the firm's London office. Harris specializes in payments, e-money, and fintech. He is a former regulator at the Financial Services Authority (FSA) with nearly two decades of experience in financial services regulation. His work involves advising on regulatory strategy, product development, and market entry, with specific expertise in cryptoassets and digital assets. He is currently ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ for Financial Services: Payments Law in Chambers UK 2026 and previously co-chaired the Legal and Regulatory Working Group at the Payments Innovation Forum.

Patwardhan’s practice focuses on regulatory change, governance, and conduct within retail investments, wealth management, and private banking. She advises a broad spectrum of clients including banks, insurers, investment firms, asset managers, and market infrastructure providers. Her background includes secondments at the wealth management and private banking divisions of three major international banking groups, where she worked on product launches and customer propositions.

The appointments are led by Michaela Arter, European Head Financial Services Sector at Eversheds Sutherland. The expansion aims to deepen the firm's capabilities in digital assets and retail investment products, providing a joined-up service for clients navigating international regulatory shifts and the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions.

"Anahita brings complementary experience across retail investments, wealth management and private banking, alongside broad regulatory expertise. Bringing them both into the team is a real statement of intent. We have big plans for financial services globally, and Paul and Anahita bring the talent and experience to help us realise them."

Michaela Arter, European Head Financial Services Sector, Eversheds Sutherland

The companies involved

Eversheds Sutherland is a global law firm that operates with a significant international reach, providing legal services to a diverse client base including financial institutions and high-growth fintech businesses. The firm’s financial services practice is a core component of its offering, focusing on areas such as payments, digital assets, and retail investments. By maintaining a presence in major financial hubs like London, the firm supports clients navigating regulatory strategy and market expansion across borders.

The practice is currently overseen by Michaela Arter in her role as European Head Financial Services Sector. The firm’s structure allows it to provide advice on regulatory compliance, product launches, and the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions. With a foundation in fintech and digital assets, the firm positions itself as a joined-up service provider for regulated entities. The firm operates through its primary digital presence at eversheds-sutherland.com and continues to develop its sector-specific expertise through strategic partner-level appointments in key regulatory markets.

What this means

These appointments reflect a broader trend where global law firms are aggressively recruiting specialists who bridge the gap between legacy regulation and emerging technologies. By securing a former regulator and a specialist with deep wealth management secondment experience, Eversheds Sutherland is positioning itself to capture high-value advisory work as the UK and EU finalize new frameworks for crypto and retail investment. This move puts pressure on boutique fintech law firms that lack the global infrastructure to support cross-border expansion. It raises the question of whether large-scale legal practices can provide the agility required by high-growth fintechs while maintaining the rigorous compliance standards demanded by traditional banking clients.