House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) – SOLM306 (LIFI) students visit.
CCLS student discusses his experience studying Banking and Finance LLM
José Enrique Cordero Sánchez reflects on his experience and opportunities provided to him as a current Banking and Finance LLM student at CCLS. On Wednesday, 11 March 2026, a group of students enrolled in SOLM306 – Law of International Financial Institutions were invited by Professor Rosa M. Lastra to attend a public oral evidence session at the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC), where she serves as Specialist Adviser. This session was part of the Committee’s ongoing inquiry into the growth and proposed regulation of stablecoins in the UK.
The Committee heard evidence from Sarah Breeden (Deputy Governor at the Bank of England) and Sasha Mills (Executive Director of Financial Market Infrastructure at the Bank of England). The session explored how stablecoins could potentially disrupt traditional financial services, such as banking and payments. It also covered the opportunities and risks that stablecoins might bring to the UK’s financial sector, and whether the Bank of England's and the FCA’s proposed regulations offer appropriate responses.
The Committee also received evidence from Matthias Bauer-Langgartner (Head of Policy, Europe at Chainalysis). Since students could not attend this part in person, they followed it remotely via the link: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/0d830354-be0c-42f5-ade7-77281dfe67fe
For students, it was a valuable opportunity to see policymakers and financial authorities analyse these issues as they happen.
EBRD visit:
On Tuesday, 10 March, students enrolled in the Law of International Financial Institutions module (taught by Professor Rosa M. Lastra, Sir John Lubbock Chair in Banking Law) visited the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a morning session at its headquarters. The cohort was welcomed and guided to the Boardroom, setting the tone for a structured and engaging programme.
The visit began with an introduction by the General Counsel, who outlined the EBRD’s origins, geographic expansion, and current strategic directions. This institutional overview offered a clear framework for understanding how the EBRD’s mandate is implemented through investment activities and policy engagement across its regions of operation.
Building on this foundation, Senior Counsel provided a detailed overview of the Legal Department, outlining the various lawyer profiles within the institution and offering further insight into the role of banking lawyers in supporting EBRD operations. The discussion highlighted how legal teams assist in transaction execution, risk allocation, and governance standards, while ensuring alignment with the Bank’s objectives and operating principles.
The session ended with a presentation by the Director of the Legal Transition Programme, who introduced the Programme and emphasised its focus on strengthening legal and institutional frameworks to complement development finance. The Assistant General Counsel also shared valuable insights into the bank’s operations and legal foundations. The following Q&A session allowed students to engage directly with the speakers on the practical and legal aspects of the EBRD’s work, before the visit concluded with informal discussions over refreshments.
Students appreciate Professor Lastra for facilitating the visit and thank the EBRD team for hosting and sharing their expertise.
Freshfields visit
On Friday, 6 March, students from the Banking & Finance LLM cohort participated in a session at Freshfields with the firm’s Financial Services team. The session was led by Michael Raffan, Noah Schmidt, and Janice Wing Chun, who provided an overview of Freshfields’ history, global platform, and the breadth of its practice.
The discussion offered valuable insight into the firm’s work at the intersection of financial regulation, corporate governance, compliance, and transactional matters, highlighting how specialist teams collaborate to support clients in the financial services sector. The speakers also shared reflections on career development within a leading global firm.
This provided a useful bridge between the legal frameworks explored on the LLM and their operation in real-world, cross-border scenarios.
The cohort is grateful to Professor Rosa M. Lastra for arranging the visit and to Freshfields for hosting and sharing their expertise.