“Solving complex problems to strengthen the pillars of tomorrow’s financial world.”
Joanna Perkins is a distinguished legal scholar, regulator, and strategic adviser whose career has shaped and safeguarded the integrity of international financial markets. With over two decades of experience spanning academia, public service, private practice, and nonprofit leadership, Joanna has been at the forefront of designing resilient legal and regulatory frameworks that respond to the evolving dynamics of global finance. Her mission—to tackle intricate challenges through insightful ideas and robust policy advocacy—has not only influenced legislation and institutional reform but also empowered decision-makers across borders.
Joanna’s ascent in the world of financial regulation began after she earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from Oxford University. Grounded in moral and legal philosophy, her doctoral work established the analytical depth and systemic thinking that would characterize her professional life. Early academic appointments at Durham University, Oxford, and Paris II (Panthéon-Assas) allowed her to explore complex issues of contract law, conflict of laws, and legal theory, earning her a reputation for intellectual rigor and pedagogical excellence. These formative years shaped her dual passion: clarifying legal uncertainty and making complex systems work better for people.
Her transition into public policy began at the UK Law Commission, where Joanna oversaw a reform project on unfair contract terms. This experience demonstrated her aptitude for transforming scholarly knowledge into practical reform and equipped her to navigate the intersection of legal doctrine, public interest, and legislative policymaking. It was a natural evolution for Joanna to bring her talents to the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC), a Bank of England-established think tank where she would leave a lasting legacy.
Joanna served the FMLC for 17 years, ultimately as its Chief Executive. In this role, she led the organization through a pivotal era of financial reform—from the aftermath of the global financial crisis through the Brexit transition and into the digital finance age. Her leadership redefined the organization as a trusted authority on legal uncertainty in wholesale financial markets. She established and oversaw dozens of expert working groups, moderated international forums, and collaborated with regulatory bodies such as HM Treasury, the European Commission, and the European Central Bank. Under her guidance, the FMLC produced dozens of influential publications that addressed emerging risks in a wide range of financial sectors, including, among others, clearing services, fintech regulation, digital currencies, and benchmark reform.
Following the market disruption caused by the LIBOR benchmark fixing scandal, Joanna served as the inaugural Chair of the ICE LIBOR Oversight Committee and as a Non-Executive Director of ICE Benchmark Administration. Her leadership strengthened governance and transparency for one of the world’s most critical financial benchmarks during a pivotal regulatory reform period and underscored her capability to lead under intense regulatory scrutiny. She brought clarity and independence to a space where public trust and institutional transparency were paramount. Her presence on this board—alongside appointments to expert panels with P.R.I.M.E Finance and the European Commission—cemented her standing as a recognized authority on regulatory design.
Notably, Joanna balanced these roles with part-time practice as a barrister at South Square Chambers, where she specialized in financial transactions and regulatory disputes. Her practice further enriched her understanding of market realities and sharpened her skills in advocacy and legal reasoning. Described in Legal 500 as possessing “an impressively analytical and forensic approach,” Joanna stood out for her ability to distill complexity into actionable advice without losing sight of the human and systemic stakes involved.
Joanna’s intellectual contributions extend to academia and public discourse. She authored a pivotal chapter on FinTech and financial infrastructure in Financial Markets and Exchanges Law (OUP, 2021) and contributed regularly to the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law and other periodicals. Her written work blends legal scholarship with real-world applicability, offering regulators, practitioners, and academics a roadmap for navigating novel challenges—from the regulation of cryptocurrencies to the legal consequences of benchmark transitions and Brexit.
Her global perspective has been a consistent thread throughout her career. Joanna has spoken at major international conferences, including at the European Central Bank, Central Bank of Japan, and events across New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Milan, and Dublin. Whether lecturing on legal architecture in Paris or addressing digital currency governance in London, Joanna brings clarity, diplomacy, and warmth to every conversation. Fluent in English and with a strong proficiency in written French, she is at home in multicultural and multilingual environments—a crucial skill in the transnational world of financial markets.
Despite the weight of her accomplishments, Joanna remains deeply grounded in her values. She is passionate about using her knowledge to help others, a principle that guided her tenure at a charitable think tank and continues to inspire her post-FMLC consulting work. Joanna brings empathy, vision, and accountability to every boardroom, believing that good governance is not just a structural requirement but a moral imperative. Her love for walking, crosswords, puzzles, and AI experimentation hints at a curious, agile mind that is never at rest.
Today, Joanna is open to new challenges. She seeks board and advisory roles where she can deploy her unique combination of academic insight, regulatory acumen, and strategic vision to build ethical, effective, and future-ready institutions. Whether in fintech, traditional finance, defense, or legal-adjacent sectors, she offers the foresight and judgment needed in a world where financial innovation and systemic resilience must go hand in hand.
Character:
Joanna exemplifies unwavering integrity and a deep commitment to public service, having spent decades advocating for ethical governance and legal clarity in global markets. She leads with purpose, empathy, and an innate sense of responsibility to build trust and safeguard the public interest.
Knowledge:
Her academic foundation in law and philosophy, paired with years of regulatory leadership, positions Joanna as one of the most knowledgeable minds in the domain of financial law. She continuously bridges theoretical insight with practical action, empowering organizations with informed decision-making.
Strategic:
Joanna possesses a keen ability to anticipate industry shifts, design innovative policy responses, and build cross-sector coalitions to address global challenges. Her strategic mindset has transformed the FMLC and influenced regulatory frameworks at the highest levels.
Communication:
A gifted communicator and seasoned public speaker, Joanna is skilled at translating complex legal issues into accessible, actionable guidance. Her ability to moderate, negotiate, and inspire dialogue makes her a trusted adviser across stakeholder groups.
