The London law firm is building up its alternative business structure with a senior hire.

Bates Wells Braithwaite has appointed Gillian Roche-Saunders as partner to lead the firm’s new financial regulation consultancy service.

Roche-Saunders joins from Bovill where she set up a compliance consulting team dedicated to the venture finance industry. She brings expertise in the alternative finance, venture capital and financial technology sectors. She previously spent seven years leading compliance investigations at The Law Society.

“We became the first City law firm to be granted an ABS (alternative business structure) specifically so we could provide a more unified service to our clients,” said the firm's managing partner, Martin Bunch.

“It has allowed us to expand our practice further into impact investing and social value with the addition of our Impact and Advisory teams. The compliance consultancy will enhance our offering further.”

Based in London, Roche-Saunders is a director of the EIS Association and chairs its regulatory committee. She also provides support to the UK Business Angels Association and the UK Crowdfunding Association.

In her new role, she will work both with external law firms as well as with colleagues at BWB.