Kelesi Blundell
Kelesi is a partner in the HSF Kramer advisory Financial Services Regulatory practice and regularly advises some of the largest investment banks, retail banks, broker-dealers and financial market infrastructure (including central counterparties and clearing houses) on financial services regulation.
Kelesi has advised across a range of regulation and regulatory change in the financial services industry including Digital Assets, Payments, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements, Brexit, MiFID II, Market Infrastructure Regulation and Conduct of Business requirements. Kelesi also often provides regulatory support in corporate transactions.
Kelesi has been recognised as a "Next Generation Partner" in Legal 500 since 2024 and as "Up & Coming" in Chambers since 2025. She was also listed as a "Rising Star" in Legal 500 in 2022 and 2023 and by Law.com as one of 25 female "Rising Stars" across all practice areas in the City in 2022.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2013
Experience
- A&O Shearman (2011 - 2022)
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (2022 - Present)
Membership
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
Qualifications
- LPC (2010)
- LLB (2009)
Education
- College of Law (2009 - 2010)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (2006 - 2009)
1 Contributions by Kelesi Blundell
PRACTICE NOTES
UK CCP Special Resolution Regime under FSMA 2023: Stabilisation Options, Statutory Tear-up, Safeguards, Bank of England Powers and Instruments
Background to Financial Services and Markets Act 2023
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023) delivers significant reforms to the UK’s regulatory architecture for financial services. It cancels retained/assimilated EU-derived rules in this field and empowers HM Treasury, alongside the financial services regulators, to substitute them with measures tailored for UK markets, building on the UK’s established regulatory model (see Practice Note: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023—essentials). The accompanying Explanatory Notes explain that FSMA 2023 preserves the UK’s status as a competitive marketplace with strong regulatory standards by, among other steps, giving the Bank of England (BoE) new instruments to lessen risks arising from the failure of critical financial institutions. FSMA 2023 obtained Royal Assent on 2 June 2023, yet different provisions commence on varying dates, as indicated in section 86 and in subsequent commencement statutory instruments (SIs). Parts of the special resolution regime (SRR) for central counterparties (CCPs) began to apply from 29 August 2023, although a commencement SI is still awaited for the remaining provisions (see FSMA 2023, s 86 and Financial Services and Markets Act). These changes are intended to be bespoke to UK markets and closely align with the existing regulatory approach...
Restructuring & Insolvency
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