Address: London: Eighth Floor, Ten Bishops Square, London E1 6EG
Areas of Focus: Financial Services Regulatory; Sustainability; Investment Funds Litigation; Capital Solutions
Biography: Ezra Zahabi leads Akin’s non-contentious financial regulatory team in London and advises some of the world’s largest investment managers on relevant developments and considerations regarding changes to the UK and EU financial regulatory framework, particularly with regard to: - The UK financial services regulatory framework, including the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, FCA Rules and Principles, HM Treasury’s new programme of secondary legislation to replace retained EU law in order to deliver a Smarter Regulatory Framework for financial services tailored to the UK, and interactions with regulatory authorities, including regulatory applications and notifications. - The EU legislative and regulatory framework, including the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the related Regulation (MiFID II); the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD); the Market Abuse Regulation; and the European Markets and Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). - Structuring and promotion of sustainable funds, and the application of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Taxonomy Regulation. Ezra advises on a wide range of matters including: - Regulatory compliance (including SMCR, remuneration rules under AIFMD and MIFIDPRU). - Strategic advice in connection with new or forthcoming regulatory requirements. - Market abuse and market conduct. - Fund structuring, marketing and distribution. - Structuring of investment management and advisory platforms. Ezra participates in industry associations including the Sustainable Investment and Investment Management Sub-Committees of the Financial Markets Law Committee (a committee of the Bank of England) and the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) working groups. She provides client training on regulatory and legal matters, including market abuse.
Representative Work: - Advice on FCA authorization applications. - SMCR implementation for investment managers. - Advice to issuers and market participants on insider dealing concerns. - Advice on post-Brexit marketing considerations for UK and other non-EU investment managers/advisors.
Credentials: Education: PLC, BPP University Law School, England, 2005; PGDL, BPP University Law School, England, 2004; B.A., University of London, SOAS, 2002 Bar Admissions: Solicitor, England and Wales, 2007
Recognitions: - Chambers UK, Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory, 2026. - Euromoney, Expert Guide: Women in Business Law , Financial Services Regulatory, 2022. - IFLR1000 UK, Women Leaders, 2022. - The Legal 500 UK, Next Generation Partner, Financial Services: Non-contentious/Regulatory, 2026. - Euromoney, Women in Business Law Awards, Best in Financial Regulation, 2020. - Euromoney, Expert Guide: Women in Business Law , Leading Practitioner: Financial Services Regulatory, UK, 2021.
Affiliations: - Member, 100 Women in Finance. - Member, Alternative Investment Management Association.
Insights: - UK AIFMD Reset - FCA and HMT Consult on Proposals for a New Regime (August 24, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-aifmd-reset-fca-and-hmt-consult-on-proposals-for-a-new-regime - May 2026 - June 2026 EU/UK Regulatory Round-Up: Investment Manager Edition (July 17, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/may-2026-june-2026-euuk-regulatory-round-up-investment-manager-edition - Ezra Zahabi Named to “Fifty Most Influential Lawyers 2026” List by Financial News (June 8, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/ezra-zahabi-named-to-fifty-most-influential-lawyers-2026-list-by-financial-news - March 2026 – April 2026 EU-UK Regulatory Round-up (May 13, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/march-2026-april-2026-eu-uk-regulatory-round-up - January 2026 – February 2026: EU/UK Regulatory Round-Up (March 24, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/january-2026-february-2026-eu-uk-regulatory-round-up - Akin Advises Helios and HFP on $297 Million Take‑Private Offer for CAB Payments (March 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-helios-and-hfp-on-dollar297-million-takeprivate-offer-for-cab-payments - UK and EU Asset Management 2026 Regulatory Outlook (January 16, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-and-eu-asset-management-2026-regulatory-outlook - November 2025 – December 2025: Regulatory Round-Up (January 9, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/november-2025-december-2025-regulatory-round-up - September 2025 – October 2025: EU/UK Regulatory Round-Up (November 17, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/september-2025-october-2025-euuk-regulatory-update - Akin Advises Coller Capital and Apollo S3 on CVC Ahlsell Transaction (November 7, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-coller-capital-and-apollo-s3-on-cvc-ahlsell-transaction - UK Financial Conduct Authority Consults on Fund Tokenisation (October 29, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/uk-financial-conduct-authority-consults-on-fund-tokenisation - Trimming the Green Tape: The First EU Simplification Package Entered the Final Lap (November 21, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/trimming-the-green-tape-the-first-eu-simplification-package-entered-the-final-lap
/Passle/69038f535e183f94cf091320/SearchServiceImages/2026-01-16-20-52-02-314-696aa4f2614b200ec4716f96.jpg)
