Shaanil Senarath-Dassanayake

Shaanil is an Associate (New Zealand Qualified) in the Financial Services Regulatory Group, advising both financial services institutions and non-financial institutions across a broad range of financial services regulatory matters.

Shaanil specialises in advising FinTechs including online platforms and cryptoasset-related businesses such as token issuers, DeFi protocol developers, cryptoasset wallet providers, cryptoasset exchanges on financial services regulatory issues arising from inception to maturity. 

She also assists clients on regulatory perimeter issues (eg, advising on FSMA regulated activities, payment services, and e-money issuance), applications to the FCA (eg, for change in control, authorisation, AML registration and the FCA's regulatory sandbox), day-to-day advice on broad financial services regulatory matters (eg, conduct obligations, financial promotions, prudential requirements), and reviewing/drafting documents (eg, term and conditions, policies).

During her career, Shaanil has also published articles, presented at many conferences and delivered trainings to organisations on the topic of climate-related disclosures (particularly in relation to New Zealand's mandatory regime) and greenwashing issues.