Need strategic advice?
Need to build compliance, legal or risk frameworks?
Need these frameworks to operate on a Build, Operate, Transfer basis?
Need a new SMF 16/17 on the FCA register for your firm?
James Lane — SMF 16/17, 15 years in-house
James Lane founded Reg Advantage to combine strategic advice with mandates to build compliance, risk and legal frameworks for hedge funds, market makers, prop firms and crypto asset firms — including spin-outs and SMA launches.
James has 15 years experience working across Legal, Compliance and Risk for Linklaters, HSBC, Citadel Securities, IMC and Engineers Gate — he has built the frameworks from scratch, secured FCA authorisation and built a UK business from 1 FTE to 30.
Reg Advantage provides senior compliance, risk and legal services — becoming part of the business, not advising from outside it. James listens, advises on strategy, builds the infrastructure, and owns the function from within — hosted externally for as long as the firm wants, or built ready to transfer in-house when it makes sense.
Please contact James for further information or to discuss available services.
Services
Select the phase that best describes your status below.
Spinning out, seeking FCA authorisation, structuring the entity, launching a first SMA or building the compliance function.
Building controls, surveillance and reporting infrastructure properly, alongside the daily reconciliation and vendor due diligence processes behind it — not retrofitting either later.
Growing AUM, separating CCO and COO roles, preparing for a fund launch, CPMI authorisation or expanding into new markets.
Fixing gaps — ODD remediation, surveillance, reporting, SMF separation, crypto/FSMA readiness or something else.
Not sure what you need next?
Two free decision tools built on 15 years of in-house experience. Or if you'd prefer to speak directly, call 0203 567 1037 or request a call and James will be in touch.
Engagement models
We don't have to rigidly stick to Build, Operate, Transfer — we've found some firms want it built externally then transferred into an internal team as soon as that's viable (and we can help build that team) while others want us only to build from within on day 1, which is also perfectly fine!
Insights
Practical intelligence for trading firms and hedge funds — from enforcement priorities and incoming regulation to the full compliance lifecycle. Plus two free decision tools.
Market context
Launches at a four-year high, closures at a 20-year low — and SMAs now the default route to institutional capital for emerging managers.
Read →Our approach
How a senior compliance, risk or legal function gets stood up, run, and — if and when it makes sense — handed over in-house.
Read →Regulatory perspective
Why a fractional CCO arrangement has to be structured carefully — and how this shapes engagement structure and capacity.
Read →Enforcement
Transaction reporting, algo controls, UK MAR, MiFIDPRU — regime by regime, with enforcement callouts and recent FCA actions.
Read →Horizon
DORA, MiCA, AIFMD 2 and the UK crypto FSMA regime — timelines, obligations and practical implications for MiFID firms.
Read →Guide
Seven stages from pre-launch to global fund structure. Stages 1–2 free. Full guide available on registration.
Read →Market context
Launches at a four-year high, closures at a 20-year low — and SMAs now the default route to institutional capital for emerging managers.
Read →Our approach
How a senior compliance, risk or legal function gets stood up, run, and — if and when it makes sense — handed over in-house.
Read →Regulatory perspective
Why a fractional CCO arrangement has to be structured carefully — and how this shapes engagement structure and capacity.
Read →Enforcement
Transaction reporting, algo controls, UK MAR, MiFIDPRU — regime by regime, with enforcement callouts and recent FCA actions.
Read →Horizon
DORA, MiCA, AIFMD 2 and the UK crypto FSMA regime — timelines, obligations and practical implications for MiFID firms.
Read →Guide
Seven stages from pre-launch to global fund structure. Stages 1–2 free. Full guide available on registration.
Read →Decision tool — free
Answer eight questions and get a personalised recommendation — CCO type, SMF implications, cost structure and next steps.
Launch tool →Decision tool — free
Interactive assessment with realistic timelines, SMF requirements and cost estimates for your specific situation.
Launch tool →Let's talk
Whether you need a one-off answer to a regulatory question or a fractional CCO on your FCA register, the conversation starts here. Most engagements begin with a 30-minute call.
James's direct SMF 16/17 capacity is held deliberately limited — get in touch early if timing matters to you.
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