Axel Schiemann is a financial regulatory partner who advises German and global clients on a full spectrum of domestic and cross-border regulatory issues and transactions in the financial sector. He is a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Group.

Axel regularly advises on:

  • Prudential supervision of banks and investment firms (including CRR/CRDIV)
  • Securities related compliance (including MAR, MiFID/MiFID II)
  • Mergers and acquisitions in the financial industry
  • Issuance of regulatory capital instruments
  • Litigation in the financial sector
  • Regulatory enforcement and investigations
  • Bank recovery and resolution
  • Corporate governance and remuneration systems
  • IT/Outsourcing
  • Fintech and ICOs
  • Brexit-related issues

Prior to joining Latham, Axel served in different in-house roles in the financial industry.

Axel frequently writes and speaks on financial regulatory issues. For example, he is co-author of a commentary on Securities Compliance (Wertpapier-Compliance in der Praxis) and a commentary on the German Supervisory Act on Payment Services (ZAG - Kommentar zum Zahlungsdiensteaufsichtsgesetz).

Non-Contentious Regulatory Matters

  • A number of investment banks in relation to MiFID II implementation projects
  • Global trading platform operator on the establishment of a German subsidiary and the application of a MiFID II license
  • Global investment banking boutique on Brexit-related issues and applying for a license to provide financial services in Germany

Contentious Regulatory Matters

  • German bank in connection with investigation proceedings by the European Central Bank under the European Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM)
  • German bank in connection with a special audit by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority regarding compliance with minimum risk management requirements
  • German bank in connection with additional SREP capital requirements

Fintech and ICOs

  • Global trading platform operator in connection with license requirements for crypto asset trading and custody services
  • European bank on offering of mobile payment solution to German merchants
  • German corporate in connection with a contemplated ICO in the energy sector
  • German corporate in connection with the establishment of a crypto asset trading business

M&A Transactions in the Financial Sector

  • Apollo Global Management
    • Acquisition of a significant participation in BKB Bremer Kreditbank AG
    • Acquisition of a qualifying holding in Oldenburgische Landesbank AG
    • Acquisition of Wüstenrot Bank AG by Bremer Kreditbank 
    • Intended acquisition of HSH Nordbank AG
  • La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) on the acquisition of General Atlantic and H.I.G. Capital’s investment in FNZ
  • Hg on its MediFox-group (including a German regulated factoring business) and Mobility Concept (a German regulated leasing company) acquisitions

Bar Qualification

  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • Second German State Exam, Regional Court, Nuremberg-Fuerth, 2008
  • First German State Exam, University of Bayreuth, 2006
  • Betriebswirt (BA), Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein, 1999
  • Bankkaufmann, Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Kiel, 1998
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December 2, 2022 Recognition

Latham Earns Top Fintech Rankings Globally

Chambers and The Legal 500 recognize Latham’s deep global fintech capabilities and track record of landmark mandates; firm earns Band 1 ranking in Chambers’ inaugural US Crypto-Asset Disputes category.