AFB Financial Crime Compliance Conference

We are pleased to invite you to the AFB Financial Crime Compliance Conference, sponsored by DCM and BeyondFS and hosted by A&O Shearman on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

The conference will bring together senior industry leaders, regulators, and compliance experts to examine the most pressing challenges and innovations in the fight against financial crime. It will also provide an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge, share insights, and build connections with peers across the banking community.

The sessions will explore a range of topics including the UK’s AML reforms; changes to the UK’s sanctions enforcement regime; the practical use of technology and AI to strengthen AML compliance; and the 2027 FATF Mutual Evaluation.

Speakers will include representatives from the regulators (including the FCA), experts from A&O Shearman, BeyondFS and DCM, as well as AFB member representatives.

A full agenda and timings will be shared in due course.

Attendees will gain insights into:

• the latest policy and regulatory developments in financial crime compliance
• innovations in technology and data analytics for combating financial crime
• strategies for fostering a culture of compliance within your bank

Who should attend?

AFB members with an interest in the ongoing changes to the UK Financial Crime Compliance environment.

Logistics

Please note this is an in-person event only. Places are limited to five per member bank. Please contact secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk if you have any questions.

Fee:             Included in AFB Membership
Location:   A&O Shearman, One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD
Date:          Wednesday 14 October 2026
Time:          09:00 – 17:00 (arrivals and breakfast from 08:30, lunch will be provided)

Sponsor Biographies

Host Partner

A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman transforms the way law is practiced, to deliver unparalleled results for our clients’ most complex matters – everywhere in the world. We’re a law firm at the forefront of the forces changing the current of global business. A&O Shearman’s finance team is renowned as one of the strongest and deepest in the world, with top-tier lawyers located in all the major markets. We have acted on many of the highest-profile financial services enforcement and litigation matters of recent years and are regularly called on by governments to help develop new regulatory frameworks. Fluent in U.S. law, English law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets in equal measure, we support our clients with bespoke teams of expert minds. On May 1, 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to become A&O Shearman.

Find out more on A&O Shearman website

Supporting Partners

DCM

DCM provides specialist regulatory compliance support to firms navigating authorisation, growth, governance enhancement, and evolving supervisory expectations. Our team combines deep technical expertise with scalable delivery capability to strengthen frameworks, enhance controls, and provide confidence across AML, sanctions, fraud, and transaction monitoring. We partner with clients to deliver high-quality outcomes. Our mix of FCA Skilled Person Oversight, deep regulatory expertise, and industry know-how all under one roof provides comprehensive coverage to our clients.

Find out more on DCM website.

BeyondFS

BeyondFS helps banks build financial crime programmes that work. We turn around stalled initiatives, close regulatory gaps and create high-performing operations – all delivered by small, senior teams who’ve done it before. We focus on getting the essentials right: robust controls, efficient processes and reliable data. That way, programmes meet regulatory expectations, run cost-effectively, and give customers a smoother experience.

Whether it’s a health check, a Section 166 response, or a complete redesign of AML and KYC frameworks, we bring the clarity, discipline and hands-on delivery needed to fix problems and build lasting capability.

Find out more on BeyondFS website