Payment Services& Platforms

Pledge advises a broad range of players, from financial institutions (banks, finance companies, payment service providers) to non-financial businesses (crowdfunding platforms, marketplaces, e-commerce, collaborative economy), on compliance and risk management with respect to financial and prudential regulations.

We assist at every stage of a project: structuring, obtaining licences, operational deployment, and managing relationships with supervisory authorities (ACPR, AMF, Banque de France).

Our approach combines in-depth regulatory expertise with an understanding of innovative technologies and business models, enabling strategic, agile and sustainable support.

Our areas of practice cover all legal and regulatory matters relating to payment services, crowdfunding and the operation of platforms:

• Structuring and licensing: support in setting up and obtaining the licences required for the activity from the competent authority;
• Compliance and governance: establishing and reviewing internal policies (anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, risk management, outsourcing, data protection, business continuity) and support to the compliance function (RCC, RCCI);
• Structuring and operation of platforms: oversight of financial flows, relations with technical providers, contracting of partnerships and delegations, management of liability and regulatory compliance;
• Relations with supervisory authorities: assistance during ACPR or AMF inspections, investigations and disciplinary proceedings, preparation of responses and representation of managers;
• Cross-cutting regulation and strategic regulatory monitoring;
• Litigation and dispute management: defence of institutions and their managers in disciplinary, contractual or civil litigation, including in relation to licence withdrawal or sanctions.