sarah willis

Sarah Willis

Counsel, London

"I advise clients on all aspects of financial market infrastructure, derivatives and structured products, with a particular focus on cleared derivatives. I enjoy helping my clients across the spectrum of the financial markets find simple, but innovative solutions to all their needs, from launching new services and products, to documenting their trading relationships and advising on their regulatory requirements."

Overview

Professional experience

Education and qualifications

Overview

Sarah specialises in OTC and exchange-traded derivatives and structured products, with a particular focus on futures and cleared derivatives and financial market infrastructure.

She has advised a wide range of market participants (including CCPs and other financial market infrastructure (FMI), clearing members, clients and industry associations) on the establishment and development of FMI, the rules of CCPs and FMIs, clearing documentation and applicable regulation.

She also advises on OTC derivatives across all asset classes, repos and stock loans. She has worked for industry associations, banks, funds, corporates and pension schemes, with a particular expertise in advising both sell-side and buy-side clients on the latest developments on EMIR and UK EMIR, including EMIR 3.0.

Work Highlights

Sarah has advised on market-leading matters in the cleared and uncleared derivatives markets. These include:

  • advising on the development of LCH’s SwapClear clearing service and the establishment and development of SwapAgent, a valuation and trading platform for uncleared derivatives.
  • advising the FIA on the European Agent-Trustee Model, a new client clearing model for Europe.
  • advising ISDA on the 2022 ISDA Securities Financing Transactions Definitions.

Professional experience

Sarah regularly speaks at FIA and ISDA conferences.

Education and qualifications

Sarah studied law at University College, Oxford University.