
Robert Cain
+353 1 920 1050
[email protected]
Ten Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
D02 T380
Ireland
Robert is Head of our Financial Regulation practice, specialising in Irish and European financial services regulation.
Robert advises a wide range of domestic and international clients on all aspects of financial services regulation. His practice includes advice on Irish and EU authorisation and perimeter issues, ongoing compliance with conduct of business and other requirements, regulatory capital, market abuse, securities regulations, fintech and payment services, insurance and reinsurance regulation, AML, corporate governance and financial services M&A (including sales and purchases of financial assets and insurance assets). Robert also advises on regulatory enforcement action taken by the Central Bank of Ireland and European Central Bank and on industry investigations and inquiries. Robert previously worked in the Financial Regulation Group of Clifford Chance LLP in London for several years.
Relevant Experience
- Advising multiple financial institution clients on their response to Brexit, including advising on credit institution, investment firm, insurance company, asset manager, payment institution and e-money institution licence application and/or redomiciling projects in the context of Brexit
- Advising both buyers and sellers of Irish financial assets (including all categories of loan, e.g. commercial, mortgage and consumer) and coordinating regulatory due diligence on residential and commercial loan portfolio sales/purchases and securitisations
- Advising on regulatory aspects of multiple financial services M&A transactions (including on change of control notifications)
- Advising on compliance with Irish conduct of business requirements, including the MiFID Regulations 2017, the Central Bank’s client asset rules, the Irish regulations transposing the Consumer Protection Code 2012 and Minimum Competency Requirements 2017
- Advising extensively on the Central Bank’s fitness and probity regime and proposed SEAR regime
- Advising clients on responding to several recent Central Bank of Ireland enforcement cases under its administrative sanctions procedure including devising remediation plans for identified product issues.
- Advising a number of clients on Tier one and Tier two capital transactions
- Advising clients on corporate governance and systems and controls, including in relation to complex outsourcing arrangements
- Advising numerous clients on the implementation of recent legislation and regulatory requirements, including MiFID II, PSD II, Solvency II, the Consumer Credit Directive, the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, the Corporate Governance Code for Credit Institutions and for Insurers, the SME Regulations 2015 and the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act
- Advising clients on regulatory aspects of commercial contracts, including insurance distribution arrangements (white labelling/innovative platforms)
Endorsements
“Robert Cain is brilliant – he is incredibly measured, commercial, reasonable, and gives you realistic, very concise and clear advice.”
Chambers Europe: Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2023
Robert Cain “listens, reflects, and advises. He is commercial, articulate, patient and calm.”
IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, 2022
“I always found Rob to be very knowledgeable… he’s practical and an excellent lawyer.”
Chambers FinTech 2021 Guide
“Responsive, commercial, and understandable.”
IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, 2020
‘Robert Cain is an excellent partner. Very smart with good response times. Knows our institution very well and tailors his responses to accommodate our idiosyncrasies.’
The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa, 2020
Education & Qualifications
- MA (Jurisprudence), 1999, University of Oxford (St. Peter’s College)
- Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland, 2008
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales (non-practising), 2002
- Member of the Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland (ACOI)
- Member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland
Related Services
Recent Insights

ESMA statement on offerings of unregulated products/services by regulated firms

Fitness and Probity: New Regulations and Guidance published

MiCA and Transfers of Funds Regulation finalised

Bank Resolution: Commission CMDI proposal published

IAF/SEAR Update: First commencement order signed

AML Update: Moving closer to an EU supervisor and single rulebook

Climate, crypto and updates to core principles: BCBS focus areas for 2023

Consumer Protection: CBI publishes Outlook Report

IAF/SEAR: Act signed into law

Structured Retail Products: Central Bank publishes supervisory guidance

Central Bank keeps CCyB rate at 1%

Individual Accountability Framework: Bill completes Seanad Committee Stage

AML Update: Access rights to database of bank accounts
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The Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023 signed into Law

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Further Global Capital Management acquisition of AA Ireland group

Arthur Cox contributes to ICLG Fintech 2022

The Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022

Financial Regulation Podcast Series: Ep 1 Trends and Priorities for 2022

Central Bank of Ireland sharpens focus on operational resilience

SEAR/Individual Accountability: Proposed Privilege “Safe Harbour”

SEAR: Draft legislation expected shortly

NPL Update: Scope of Credit Servicing Directive agreed

Regulatory Horizon-Scanning: Central Bank priorities for the rest of 2021

AML Update: Express Trusts and Beneficial Ownership – Welcome Clarity

AML Update: Crypto-Assets – VASPs must register with Central Bank

Arthur Cox Q&A: MLD5 Transposition and AML Horizon-Scanning

NPL Update

Much Ado about Crypto – the Draft EU Crypto-Assets Regulation

The Arthur Cox Regulatory Investigations Review – The Year Ahead

Investment Firms: New prudential rules will apply from 26 June 2021

AML Update: Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies goes live

Senior Executive Accountability Regime – Work begins on draft legislation

Retail Clients: Central Bank to restrict sale of CFDs and ban binary options

Accountability for Senior Executives – Update on Central Bank Proposals

Fitness and Probity: Central Bank ‘Dear CEO’ Letter

AML Update: Beneficial Ownership of Corporates

Settlement Finality: Ireland will implement Recital 7 on a ‘no-deal’ Brexit

Crowdfunding: Domestic regulatory regime now likely

Express Trusts: Trustees must now set up Beneficial Ownership Registers

AML Update: Do you need to register with the Central Bank?

AML Update: New Irish Act comes into force

What you need to know about the new EU Securitisation Regulation

AML Update: MLD5 published in Official Journal; new time-frames confirmed

AML Update: MLD5 published in Official Journal; new time-frames confirmed

AML Update: Bill transposing MLD4 published
