Financial Services Regulatory

Navigating Canada’s financial services regulatory framework requires deep sector knowledge, strategic insight and trusted relationships with regulators. Financial institutions and market participants face increasing oversight, rapidly evolving regulatory requirements and growing expectations around consumer protection, governance and technology risk.

We advise leading domestic and international clients across the full spectrum of financial services regulation. Our lawyers provide practical, business‑focused legal advice that helps clients with matters including:

• Regulatory Strategy, Licensing and Market Entry. Our lawyers advise financial institutions, fintech companies and market entrants on regulatory strategy, business structuring, licensing, registration and exemption applications across federal and provincial regimes.
• Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Transactions. We provide regulatory advice on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings of financial services businesses, including change‑of‑control approvals and regulatory transaction planning.
• Regulatory Compliance and Governance. Goodmans assists clients with compliance programs, policies and procedures addressing banking regulation, insurance regulation, securities law, payment services regulation, consumer protection, privacy and data protection, AML/ATF and economic sanctions.
• Ongoing Regulatory Advisory. Our team provides practical day‑to‑day advice on supervisory expectations, regulatory interpretation, operational issues and risk management matters.
• Regulatory Change Management and Advocacy. Goodmans helps clients respond to new and evolving legislation, regulations, guidelines and policy initiatives, and advocating on their behalf before regulators and government bodies.
• Investigations, Enforcement and Disputes. When necessary, we represent clients in regulatory examinations, investigations, inquiries and enforcement proceedings, including advocacy before regulators, tribunals and courts.
• Cross‑Border and Emerging Financial Services Matters. For Canadian and international clients, we advise on cross‑border regulatory matters, fintech innovation, payments, blockchain, digital assets and crypto‑asset platforms.

To allow us to navigate regulatory processes efficiently and effectively for clients across banking, insurance, securities, payments, fintech and emerging financial technologies, we maintain strong, trusted relationships with key Canadian regulatory authorities, including: the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), the Departments of Finance (federal and provincial), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).