Dimitrios Sachinidis studied Banking and Finance Law LLM, graduating in 2017. He is now Senior Legal Counsel at the Wealth & Trading division of Revolut.
I considered several factors, key among them the recognition of the Banking and Finance Law LLM as one of the best finance-oriented LLM courses in Europe.
Studying an intellectually stimulating area where law meets finance and politics: sovereign debt financing and restructuring. I really enjoyed EU Financial and Monetary Law, which approaches this subject through the prism of the recent European sovereign debt crisis, and Sovereign Debt Restructuring, which explores the history and workouts of such crises globally. Attending a series of lectures by the living legend of sovereign debt workouts, Lee Buchheit, remains my highlight from that year.
My relationship with CCLS did not end, but entered an exciting new chapter on the LLM graduation day. I enjoy being an active CCLS alumnus and member of a growing community which offers networking and socialising opportunities by bringing together alumni from different year groups and specialisms.
I have been working in financial services in London since 2017, when I completed my LLM. Initially as a regulatory consultant and later on as an in-house counsel, I specialise in advising on the Financial Services and Markets Act and the Financial Conduct Authority’s Handbook of rules and guidance.
Reflecting on my days at CCLS, I see the positive effect these studies had on me as a professional. For lawyers practicing in financial services, a heavily regulated industry, it is important to develop the ability to efficiently navigate through key legislation, whilst maintaining a holistic overview of the financial sector. Attending this LLM at an early stage in my career supported me in building a balanced legal skillset, comprising technical expertise and broader knowledge.
This balance was achieved through an interplay between high-level and specialised modules. High-level modules, such as Regulation of Financial Markets, equipped me well in terms of demonstrating to colleagues and clients alike an in-depth understanding of the driving forces behind financial services legislation. Specialised modules, such as Securities Regulation, allowed for a deeper dive in MiFID II, AIFMD and MAR, providing technical and critical analysis of these laws.
CCLS has a great reputation in the legal industry, both in the UK and overseas. Especially for students who plan to pursue a career in London further to their studies, CCLS has its amazing location in Holborn, London’s legal hub, to offer, which hosts a wide variety of academic and professional events throughout the year.