Sheelagh Killen

I specialise in UK financial services regulatory law. I've worked for more than a decade within UK financial regulators, providing legal advice to supervisors, policymakers and enforcement teams at the Financial Conduct Authority, Prudential Regulation Authority and the former Financial Services Authority. I've seen first‑hand how regulatory expectations are shaped and applied and I enjoy supporting financial services clients to manage regulatory risk proactively and engage regulators with confidence.

What inspired you to get into law?

I came to the law as a second career, having started out as a chartered accountant working in corporate tax. So you can probably blame head-scratching over the ins and outs of tax statutes for piquing my interest in becoming a lawyer!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

I specialise in financial services regulatory law. We all use financial services throughout our lives, be that bank accounts, savings, mortgages, insurance or pensions. Effective oversight of this vital sector contributes to a growing UK economy, financial stability and high-quality products and services on which we as customers can rely. It's rewarding to play a small a part in delivering strong outcomes for UK regulated financial services by helping clients and colleagues to navigate regulatory expectations, manage compliance risk and build thriving financial businesses.

What appealed to you about working at Irwin Mitchell?

I like that Irwin Mitchell is a firm with national reach but local presence. Based in IM's Cambridge office, I'm looking forward to integrating specialist regulatory knowledge and insights across the firm's office network and broad-based banking and finance practice.

What do you do away from the office?

I'm a regular ballroom, Latin and sequence social dancer and, during the summer, enjoy swimming outdoors and an evening game of lawn bowls in my village.