Eversheds Sutherland deepens fintech and regulatory bench with double partner hire

The global law firm has welcomed payments and fintech specialist Paul Harris from Osborne Clarke alongside financial services regulatory specialist Anahita Patwardhan from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader.

Both join Eversheds Sutherland’s London office.

The appointments form part of the continued development of the firm’s financial services practice, led by Michaela Arter, European Head Financial Services Sector. Their arrival adds depth across payments, fintech and digital assets, as well as retail investments, wealth management and private banking.

Paul was a partner in Osborne Clarke’s Financial Services team. A former regulator at the Financial Services Authority, Paul has spent close to two decades working in financial services regulation and advises financial institutions and fintech businesses on regulatory strategy, product development, market entry and expansion.

His practice has a particular focus on payments, e-money and fintech. Paul works with established financial institutions as well as high-growth fintech businesses on authorisation and regulatory compliance, the launch of new products and services, and expansion into new markets. He also has notable experience in cryptoassets and digital assets.

Paul is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ for Financial Services: Payments Law in Chambers UK 2026 and has acted as co-chair of the Legal and Regulatory Working Group at the Payments Innovation Forum.

Anahita was a member of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s Global Regulatory offering. She advises banks, insurers, investment firms, asset managers, market infrastructure providers and other regulated businesses on a wide range of regulatory issues.

Her practice spans regulatory change, governance and conduct, investment products, market infrastructure, financial crime and the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions. Anahita has particular experience advising clients operating in the retail investments, wealth management and private banking spaces, including on product launches and customer propositions. Anahita has also completed secondments at the wealth management/private banking arms of three major international banking groups.

Michaela Arter, European Head Financial Services Sector, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“Paul and Anahita are fantastic additions and central to our ambitions for the financial services practice.

“Paul’s a recognised name in payments and fintech, with the rare combination of having worked as a regulator and advised businesses on some of their most important growth decisions.

“Anahita brings complementary experience across retail investments, wealth management and private banking, alongside broad regulatory expertise. Bringing them both into the team is a real statement of intent. We have big plans for financial services globally, and Paul and Anahita bring the talent and experience to help us realise them.”

Paul Harris, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“Eversheds Sutherland has a significant foundation in payments, fintech and digital assets, and there’s clearly a very exciting opportunity to build further on that. Its financial services relationships and international reach are particularly valuable in markets where clients are increasingly operating across borders.

“I’m looking forward to working with Michaela and the wider team and drawing on my experience to enhance the continued growth and ambition of the practice.”

Anahita Patwardhan, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“Clients want regulatory advice that reflects what they’re trying to achieve commercially, whether that’s bringing a product to market, developing a customer proposition, investing in technology or responding to regulatory change.

“Eversheds Sutherland’s financial services capability is an ideal springboard for the next stage of my practice, particularly in retail investments, wealth management and private banking. Combining that with expertise from across the firm means we can offer clients a genuinely joined-up service, both in the UK and internationally.”

Anahita’s and Paul’s arrivals follow a raft of strategic appointments including, most recently, Partners Nicola Donovan, Laura Fannin, Grant Edwards and Chrissy Findlay.