Laura Bates
About Laura Bates
Laura Bates serves as the General Counsel at Hidden Road, where she oversees legal matters across multiple jurisdictions. With extensive experience in financial services and expertise in digital assets, she has held senior roles at various institutions, including Citi and BNP Paribas.
Work at Hidden Road
Laura Bates has been serving as General Counsel at Hidden Road since 2020. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing legal matters and ensuring compliance with regulations across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and beyond. Her expertise encompasses digital assets, crypto, foreign exchange, and equity index swaps. Bates plays a critical role in guiding the legal strategy of the organization, leveraging her extensive background in financial services.
Previous Experience in Legal Advisory
Prior to her current role, Laura Bates worked as a Senior Consultant in Derivatives & Prime at Dentons from 2019 to 2021. She also served as a Legal Advisor at ConneXXion Markets during the same period. Earlier in her career, she held the position of Director and Counsel at Citi from 2007 to 2016, where she led the legal team for Prime Finance, Listed Derivatives, and Cash Equities. Bates has also worked at BNP Paribas and Denton Wilde Sapte, accumulating significant experience in the legal aspects of financial services.
Education and Expertise
Laura Bates holds a Master's degree in Education (Autism) from London South Bank University, which she completed from 2019 to 2021. She also earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from The University of Law in 2002. Additionally, she has a Postgraduate Certificate in Autism and Aspergers from Sheffield Hallam University, obtained from 2017 to 2018. Her educational background supports her expertise in legal matters, particularly in the context of financial regulations and compliance.
Leadership and Regulatory Involvement
Laura Bates has held significant leadership roles in various regulatory and compliance initiatives. She served as Secretary to the European and Middle East & Africa committees of the Association of Global Custodians, focusing on regulatory strategy and lobbying efforts. At BNP Paribas, she chaired the CASS Steerco and CASS Brexit working groups, leading compliance initiatives after Brexit. Bates also co-founded the International Digital Assets Counsel Association (IDAC), which addresses legal issues related to digital assets.
Professional Qualifications
Laura Bates holds the SMF3 function, indicating her senior management role within financial services. She has previously held SMF16 and SMF17 functions, reflecting her extensive experience in compliance and risk management. Her qualifications demonstrate her capability to navigate complex regulatory environments, particularly in relation to the FCA Client Asset Sourcebook (CASS rules) and other EU regulations.