A financial services litigator and senior lecturer at UWE Bristol has joined national law firm Foot Anstey’s Bristol office as a partner in its banking and finance team to drive its contentious financial services regulatory practice.
Sonya Zywko, pictured, has had a career spanning private practice, as a regulator and legal counsel at leading investment bank Goldman Sachs and almost 20 years at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, where she specialised in financial services regulatory enforcement and related litigation.
Sonya, who has spent the past two years as a senior lecturer at UWE Bristol, was named as a ‘rising star’ in the 2020 and 2021 editions of prestigious law sector directory Legal 500, with feedback that included “her attention to detail and legal acumen are superb”.
She has successfully represented and advised a diverse range of clients, including major banks, regulated financial institutions, corporates and senior individuals.
This includes investigations and enforcement proceedings by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Ofgem.
Her broad experience includes advising on market abuse, market disclosures, money laundering, LIBOR setting and other credit crisis issues, corporate governance, fitness and propriety and systems and controls.
Foot Anstey said Sonya’s appointment would be pivotal in helping its regulated clients with their risk management, investigations and related litigation as the impact of regulators across all of its clients’ sectors continues to grow.
Partner and head of banking and lender disputes, James Gliddon, said: “Sonya’s reputation and experience is superb.
“During her career she has specialised in significant financial services regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, as well as advising on the conduct of internal investigations and large-scale commercial disputes.”
Sonya added: “I’m thrilled to be joining a talented and innovative team at Foot Anstey.
“The firm is known for being forward-thinking and I’m really excited to bring my knowledge and experience to help drive the practice forwards into the contentious regulatory arena.”
Foot Anstey, which also has offices in Exeter, London, Plymouth, Southampton, Taunton and Truro, works with leading brands and individuals predominantly across six key sectors – developers, energy & infrastructure, Islamic finance, private equity, private wealth, retail & consumer.
