NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION - WHERE DO WE STAND? - DECEMBER 2020
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NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND? Three new decisions from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show renewed focus on “non-financial misconduct,” a term covering issues such as sexual misconduct and bullying, but a recent High Court finding against another regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), potentially undermines the FCA approach. This briefing explores, amongst other issues: when non-financial misconduct may amount to a breach of the Conduct Rules; how non-financial misconduct should be assessed; what the regulatory expectations on firms are to conduct investigations and notify the regulator; how the FCA views culture and psychological safety and links these with its objectives; and will there be a shift in stance as the High Court has recently cautioned regulators against being “dogmatic.” What is the FCA’s stance? More recently, in November 2020, Jonathan Davidson, Executive Director of In September 2018, the Women and Supervision (Retail and Authorisations) The FCA expects high Equalities Committee published its report reiterated that the FCA has increased its standards of character, on sexual harassment in the workplace. focus on non-financial misconduct, In response, Megan Butler, then the FCA’s probity and fitness and drawing attention to the prohibition of Executive Director of Supervision properness from those who (Investment, Wholesale and Specialists three individuals following convictions for sexual offences. In announcing those operate in the financial Division) wrote a well-publicised letter prohibitions Mark Steward, Executive services industry, and will explaining the three main bases on which Director of Enforcement and Market the FCA sees sexual misconduct as take action to ensure these Oversight, said: falling within the scope of the financial standards are maintained. services regulatory framework: through “The FCA expects high standards of supervision of workplace culture; through character, probity and fitness and fitness and propriety assessments; and, properness from those who operate in potentially, through enforcement of the the financial services industry, and will Conduct Rules themselves. The letter take action to ensure these standards suggested how the FCA draws a link —MARK STEWARD, are maintained.” between non-financial misconduct, Executive Director, culture, psychological safety and the Enforcement and Market Oversight At the same time, however, in SRA v FCA’s statutory objectives. Beckwith [2020] EWHC 3231 (Admin) the High Court has sounded a note of In a speech shortly afterwards, in caution to all professional services December 2018, Christopher Woolard, regulators against being “dogmatic” and then Executive Director of Strategy and treating popular outcry as “proof that a Competition, reiterated that message to particular set of events gives rise to any firms with the aphorism “non-financial matter falling within a regulator’s remit.” misconduct is misconduct, plain and simple”. 2 CLIFFORD CHANCE NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Conduct Rules examples of dishonest or misleading conduct in the course Firms investigating allegations of non- of providing financial services, financial misconduct will typically including misleading clients, need to consider whether the misleading the regulators and allegations may give rise to a breach misleading others in the firm. But of the Individual Conduct Rules. This there are no examples of non- may be to determine whether there is financial misconduct. a requirement to notify the regulator immediately or following a disciplinary • Given these parameters, the investigation for the purposes of the circumstances in which non- annual report to the FCA pursuant to financial misconduct will be within section 64C FSMA. scope of the Conduct Rules may be limited. Even for banks, where The Conduct Rules include the the Conduct Rules apply to any of obligation to act with integrity (Rule the firm’s activities whether 1). As Megan Butler indicated in her regulated or not, the rules apply 2018 letter to the Women and only in relation to the performance Equalities Committee, non-financial of functions relating to the misconduct could, in principle, give firm’s activities. rise to a breach of this Rule. • Whilst there is some uncertainty When might non-financial about the nature of the connection misconduct be a breach? required by the words “in relation • The Conduct Rules are capable of to” in this context, it is clear that applying to both regulated and there would need to be a unregulated activities. sufficiently close connection between the non-financial • For Conduct Rule staff in banks misconduct, the functions of the the Conduct Rules apply to the individual concerned and the performance of any functions activities of the firm for the relating to the carrying on of Conduct Rules to be engaged. activities by the firm (whether regulated or not). For Conduct • Firms need to consider whether Rule staff in firms other than such a sufficiently close banks, the Conduct Rules are, connection exists on a case-by- broadly speaking, limited to case basis, and it will be sensible regulated activities. to seek external advice, but conduct involving a colleague • The COCON section of the FCA occurring in a social context Handbook includes includes a outside work hours, even if at a non-exhaustive list of examples of work-related event, might not have conduct that would be in breach sufficient connection to fall of the requirement to act with within scope. integrity. The list includes various CLIFFORD CHANCE 3 NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Fit and Proper criminal offence, the firm should consider the seriousness of and Assessment circumstances surrounding the Firms will also need to consider offence, the explanation offered by whether allegations of non-financial that person, the relevance of the misconduct have implications for the offence to the proposed role, the relevant employee’s fit and proper passage of time since the offence assessment, both for the purposes of was committed, and evidence of annual certification and for the the individual’s rehabilitation.1 purposes of being satisfied on an ongoing basis that the person is fit to • FIT contains a list of factors to continue to perform their role. which the FCA and firms should have regard in assessing integrity. When might non-financial These focus on financial misconduct be relevant? misconduct: for example, whether • Fit and properness is assessed by the person has been the subject of reference to honesty, integrity and any adverse finding in civil reputation; competence and proceedings, particularly in capability; and financial connection with investment or soundness. Non-financial other financial business, misconduct is typically seen as misconduct or fraud; there is no potentially relevant to integrity and express reference to non-financial reputation (although cases may misconduct. also involve dishonesty too) is more likely than under the Conduct • With regards to individuals holding Rules to be taken into account in senior management functions, the fit and proper assessment fitness and properness might be even where it does not occur in assessed by reference to the steps relation to the firm’s activities. they have taken against, or to prevent, non-financial misconduct • The FCA Handbook provides by staff operating within their area guidance as to how firms should of responsibility. As the FCA set assess honesty, integrity and out in a “Dear CEO” letter to reputation, as well as a non- insurance firms on 6 January exhaustive list of factors to be 2020: “a senior manager’s failure taken into account. The guidance to take steps to address non- provides that an SMCR firm financial misconduct could lead us determining the honesty, integrity to determine that they are not fit and reputation of staff being and proper”. assessed under FIT should consider all relevant matters, • In principle, this would not including those set out in FIT, necessarily require or depend on whether arising in the UK or action in respect of specific abroad. Firms should inform underlying misconduct, but instead themselves of relevant matters, could be based on evidence of including checking for convictions broader cultural failings. In other for criminal offences (where words, the FCA may consider a possible) and contacting previous senior manager’s failure to take employers who have employed action to embed a healthy culture that candidate or person. If any to be evidence itself of a lack of staff member being assessed competence or, in certain under FIT has a conviction for a circumstances, integrity. 1. As regards competence and capability, the guidance in the FCA Handbook provides that the FCA would expect an SMCR firm determining individual’s competence and capability to consider convictions, dismissals and suspensions from employment for drug or alcohol abuse, or other abusive acts only in relation to a person’s continuing ability to perform their role. 4 CLIFFORD CHANCE NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Understanding “integrity” Horsey was the sole director and shareholder of an authorised financial and “reputation” [advisory] firm with permission to conduct The list of examples of conduct that designated investment business and would be in breach of the requirement to insurance distribution. In September act with integrity in COCON do not 2018, Horsey was convicted of include non-financial misconduct, and the voyeurism, contrary to the Sexual factors listed in FIT for assessing integrity Offences Act 2003. He was sentenced to focus only on financial misconduct. These nine months’ imprisonment suspended are not exhaustive, and so do not exclude for 18 months, required to complete 100 the possibility of non-financial misconduct hours of unpaid work and 25 days of constituting a lack of integrity or rehabilitation activity, and required to sign reputation, but there is no guidance in the sex offenders register. the Handbook on when that may be the case. Cochran was a director and shareholder of an authorised financial advisory firm In the well-known case of Hoodless and with permission to advise on pensions, Blackwell v FSA, the Financial Services mortgages and investments. In April and Markets Tribunal offered a definition 2018, Cochran was convicted of sexual of integrity which has been cited with assault, engaging in controlling and approval in a variety of contexts coercive behaviour, and an offence subsequently: contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. He was sentenced In our view ‘integrity’ connotes moral to seven years’ imprisonment and soundness, rectitude and steady required to sign the sex offenders register. adherence to an ethical code. In issuing the prohibitions, the FCA made However, that case concerned Hoodless specific reference to comments made by and Blackwell’s performance of their work the sentencing judges, including that as brokers and their lack of co-operation Jameson had committed an “outrageous with the regulator’s investigation. abuse of trust”: because he had superimposed the faces of individuals There are few cases addressing the known to him onto pornographic material; meaning of integrity in relation to non- that Horsey’s offences involved financial misconduct. “substantial and significant planning” in order to commit this offence, including On 5 November 2020, the FCA the careful positioning of mirrors and a announced that it had prohibited Russell ladder; and that Cochran’s offending Jameson, Mark Horsey and Frank involved a “breach of trust” and an Cochran from working in financial services “abuse of power”. on the basis of convictions for sexual offences (the three cases are unrelated) in These specific references provide further each case on the basis of a lack of clarity as to the behaviours that the FCA integrity and reputation. will consider relevant in assessing whether cases fall within their remit (and Jameson was a financial adviser at an which will therefore assist firms grappling authorised firm and was approved by the with how to deal with borderline cases in FCA to hold various significant influence the workplace): trust and abuse of power and customer-facing functions at the firm. are critical themes for the FCA. In July 2018, Jameson was convicted of criminal offences involving the making, Evidently these were cases involving possession and distribution of indecent criminal convictions for serious sexual images of children. He was sentenced offences and have been regarded by to five years’ imprisonment, ordered to commentators as straightforward. sign the sex offenders register indefinitely, and included in the list of individuals However, it is clear that the regulator barred from working with children or takes the view that there will also be less vulnerable adults. clear-cut cases in which an individual could lack the necessary integrity and/or CLIFFORD CHANCE 5 NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
reputation, even without a criminal dishonesty”. Instead, the standard of conviction, where there is other evidence conduct required by the obligation to act of non-financial misconduct. with integrity “must be drawn from and informed by appropriate construction of What sort of conduct would fall within the contents of the relevant rules”, so as scope and what sort of evidence would to facilitate a “principled approach to the be required? There are no financial important point raised by the services cases or guidance to address circumstances of this appeal: the extent this question beyond the guidance given to which it is legitimate for professional by the regulators in the speeches and regulation to reach into personal lives of letters described above and the limited those who are regulated.” guidance set out in FIT and the Enforcement Guide, neither of which The Court applied the same principle in refers expressly to sexual misconduct. relation to the obligation on solicitors to behave in a way that maintains the trust That leaves firms facing difficulties in how the public places in solicitors and in the to treat a wide range of conduct, from provision of legal services. The content of alleged non-consensual sexual behaviour the obligation had to be derived from and towards colleagues which does not result informed by appropriate construction of in a criminal conviction, through to the relevant rules. There was a “qualitative allegations relating to sexual conduct distinction” between conduct that does or outside work potentially extending to may tend to undermine public trust in the allegations of abusive behaviour in the profession and “conduct that would be context of divorce proceedings or even, generally regarded as wrong, perhaps, allegations of marital infidelity. inappropriate or even for the person concerned, disgraceful”. In Beckwith, the Administrative Court considered the meaning of integrity and Applying this approach in the context of reputation in the context of the regulatory financial services, whether in the context framework applicable to solicitors, of the Conduct Rules or the fit and proper adopting reasoning that will be equally test, means interpreting “integrity” and applicable to financial services. “reputation” in the context of the regulators’ objectives and the provisions As regards integrity (in the context of the of the Handbook, including the examples obligation on solicitors to act with and factors listed in COCON and FIT. integrity) the Court approved the definition of integrity offered in Solicitors Regulation Each case will need to be considered on Authority v Wingate [2018] 1 WLR 3969 its facts but what is clear is that lack of in which the Court had, in turn, cited integrity and reputation in this context Hoodless with approval. The Court does not mean failure to adhere to drew from Wingate the principle that “in prevailing moral or ethical standards at the context of the regulation of a large (to the extent that these can be profession there is an association determined), but failure to meet the between the notion of having integrity standards of the profession, bearing in and adherence to the ethical standards mind that the scope of the regulatory of the profession.” framework, as the Court said in Beckwith, “cannot extend beyond what is necessary The Court further held that “there is no to regulate professional conduct and free-standing legal notion of integrity in fitness to practise and maintain discipline the manner of the received standard of within the profession.” 6 CLIFFORD CHANCE NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Culture and “A culture where sexual harassment is tolerated is not one which would Psychological Safety encourage people to speak up and In assessing whether non-financial be heard, or to challenge decisions. misconduct amounts to a breach of Tolerance of this sort of misconduct the Conduct Rules and/or impacts would be a clear example of a driver the fit and proper assessment, it is of poor culture.” also important for firms to consider the FCA’s wider perspective and to Likewise, in the “Dear CEO” letter to understand how the FCA links insurance firms, the FCA identified non-financial misconduct to its wider non-financial misconduct and an statutory objectives. Consistent with unhealthy culture as a key root cause the judgment in Beckwith, this may of harm: impact on the interpretation of the scope of the Conduct Rules and the “We view both lack of diversity and FIT assessment and it may also inclusion, and non-financial impact the firm’s wider relationship misconduct as obstacles to creating with the regulator. an environment in which it is safe to speak up, the best talent is retained, Pursuant to section 1B FSMA, the the best business choices are made, FCA’s operational objectives include and the best risk decisions securing protection for consumers are taken.” and protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system. The regulators’ perspective is that if In recent years, the FCA has placed non-financial misconduct makes staff increasing significance on the role of feel psychologically unsafe, that may healthy and purposeful cultures in prevent staff from working effectively pursuing its operational objectives. more broadly, including, for example, In its 2020/2021 Business Plan, by inhibiting staff from speaking the FCA identified culture as one of up/offering an appropriate upward its five key cross-sector priorities, challenge. More broadly, it considers noting: “Firms’ culture shapes the that tolerance of non-financial outcomes for consumers and misconduct may serve to harm markets, which is why [the FCA’s] diversity (which, in turn, may hinder aim is to assess and address the both innovation and firms’ ability to drivers of culture.” meet the needs of consumers from diverse segments of society) and As Megan Butler explained in her damage society’s view of the financial letter to the Women and Equalities services sector. Commission, the FCA views non- financial misconduct as a potential The effect of this perspective may be symptom and/or cause of a poor to draw within the regulator’s remit culture, which in turn may drive other conduct and behaviours that might forms of misconduct or impact the otherwise appear to lack sufficient FCA’s statutory objectives: nexus with the workplace to be relevant to the regulatory regime. CLIFFORD CHANCE 7 NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Investigations and in connection with any business activity, including an internal notifications under investigation by an authorised firm. Principle 11/ Fundamental Rule 7 These are broad obligations applying Where allegations of non-financial to all of the firm’s activities whether misconduct are made, firms will regulated or not, and firms will wish usually need to investigate in order to ensure that they do not create to form a view on whether there additional risk by failing to notify or has been a breach of the Conduct delaying doing so. As Megan Butler Rules or whether there is information wrote in her letter to the Women and relevant to the fit and proper Equalities Committee: “Firms must assessment. inform us promptly of potentially serious misconduct involving their Firms will also need to investigate to employees, including criminal assess whether their own internal convictions and other sanctions, standards and policies – which may upheld complaints, and disciplinary go well beyond what is required by proceedings.” And we know through the regulatory system (and breach our interactions with both regulated of which may itself be relevant to firms and the regulator that the FCA the fit and proper test) – have remains particularly focused on being been breached. notified of allegations of non-financial misconduct relating to senior In assessing what is necessary and managers. But firms are entitled to proportionate by way of investigation avoid taking an overly cautious firms may take account of the further approach under the guise of “zero guidance on the meaning of integrity tolerance” in a manner that could be set out above. counterproductive culturally – discouraging those who may have As regards notifications to regulators, legitimate grievances from coming Principle 11 and Fundamental Rule 7 forward for fear of immediate require firms to notify the regulators notification to the regulator. A zero- of anything relating to the firm of tolerance approach might also result which the regulators would in excessive internal disciplinary reasonably expect notice. action, which could increase employment law risk (particularly in In addition, SUP provides that if a the context of the FCA’s regulatory firm becomes aware of information reference regime). It is also which would reasonably be material noteworthy and relevant that Ms to the assessment of the fitness and Butler referred to an expectation of propriety of a senior manager, it must being notified of serious misconduct inform the FCA within seven business involving employees. days. This duty extends to any circumstances that would normally Before notifying the regulator, firms be declared when giving the are entitled to take a reasonable time information required for section 5 of to investigate the nature of Form A or matters considered in FIT, allegations in order to establish with section 5 of Form A requiring whether the conduct alleged is information on whether the individual sufficiently serious and sufficiently has been the subject of an closely connected with the activities investigation into allegations of of the firm or the profession to justify misconduct or malpractice further investigation and/or notification to the regulator. 8 CLIFFORD CHANCE NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
Conclusion Presently, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many firms have shifted to homeworking, and this change looks likely to persist to some degree after the pandemic is over. This may not mean that the FCA’s focus on non-financial misconduct will abate. The regulator will expect firms to take action to detect and prevent non-financial misconduct which may occur remotely or outside the office. As Julia Hoggett, FCA Director of Market Oversight said in a speech on 12 October 2020 (albeit in relation to financial misconduct), “staff should be in no doubt about the standards expected of them. And they should be in no doubt that these standards apply whether they are in the regular office, a disaster recovery site or at a makeshift workstation at home. Culture matters, and it matters most when the risks are highest.” The FCA is also focused on whether firms and individuals are complying with the Covid-19 regulations and the government guidance. It was recently revealed that the FCA has received 47 whistleblower complaints relating to breaches of the Covid-19 regulations, including, for example, relating to miscategorising staff as individuals who have ‘key worker’ status and need to attend the office. Failure by individuals to comply with the Covid-19 regulations could be treated as relevant to the fit and proper assessment and might also impact on the FCA’s view of a firm’s culture and psychological safety. In the wake of Beckwith, and subject to any appeal in that case, it may that both firms and the regulators are more cautious about treating non-financial misconduct as amounting to a breach of the Conduct Rules or as relevant to fitness and propriety. But the regulator also expects firms to have in place appropriate systems and controls, including to evaluate whether or not non-financial misconduct impacts on the Conduct Rules or fitness and propriety. In other words, there is an obligation on firms to be considering issues relating to non-financial misconduct in the right way, where it has the potential to fall within the regulator’s remit, regardless of whether it ultimately does. Failures in such systems and controls were always likely to be a greater area of risk for firms than the underlying misconduct itself, and that has not changed. CLIFFORD CHANCE 9 NON-FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION – WHERE DO WE STAND?
AUTHORS Amy Bird Eleanor Matthews Senior Associate Senior Associate London London T: +44 75 8308 3830 T: +44 78 1142 3470 E: amy.bird@ E: eleanor.matthews@ cliffordchance.com cliffordchance.com CONTACTS Oliver Pegden Dorian Drew Carlos Conceicao Partner Partner Partner London London London T: +44 75 3541 4174 T: +44 79 4352 6743 T: +44 79 6236 1293 E: Oliver.Pegden@ E: dorian.drew@ E: carlos.conceicao@ cliffordchance.com cliffordchance.com cliffordchance.com Chinwe Odimba-Chapman Alistair Woodland Partner Partner London London T: +44 77 1769 3826 T: +44 79 0016 7093 E: chinwe.odimba-chapman@ E: alistair.woodland@ cliffordchance.com cliffordchance.com
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