With over 20 years of experience advising on complex financial services regulatory and fintech matters, Bogardi is widely recognized for advising international financial institutions, investment funds, intermediaries, asset managers, insurers, and fintech companies on financial services regulatory issues, with particular experience in licensing and authorization, cross-border compliance, conduct matters, and the supervision of banks and intermediaries.
Her practice also has a strong focus on the regulation of innovative technologies in the financial markets, including digital assets and payments regulation.
Bogardi’s previous role as senior counsel to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority provides her with a unique perspective on regulatory frameworks, licensing and authorization issues, market infrastructure, as well as compliance and cross-border regulatory issues.
Praj Samant, Reed Smith’s Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Etelka to the firm. Her appointment greatly strengthens our financial regulatory offering in Singapore and across the wider region. Etelka’s arrival underscores the firm’s continued growth and success in Asia, and the strength of our platform in attracting leading talent.”
Panos Katsambas, global co-lead of Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group, commented: “Etelka brings extensive experience advising financial institutions, banks, funds, and fintech businesses, drawing on her background in private practice and as senior counsel at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Etelka’s drive and ambition, combined with her strong network of long-standing relationships, will be invaluable to the firm.”
Timothy Cooke, Reed Smith’s Singapore office managing partner, said: “Etelka’s arrival brings a proven market leader into the firm and reinforces collaboration across our Asia offices. She is a highly respected partner, and her energy, expertise, and breadth of experience will prove a huge asset to our clients.”
Bogardi said: “I am delighted to be joining Reed Smith at such an exciting time for the firm in Asia. The global platform and collaborative culture provide an excellent foundation to support clients navigating the fast-evolving regulatory and fintech landscape, and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the practice.”
Bogardi will join from Norton Rose Fulbright, where she was the Asia Head of FinTech and Financial Services Regulatory.
She is actively engaged in numerous industry bodies, sitting on the fintech working group of the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA), serving as Hong Kong ambassador to the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), and acting as Hong Kong and Singapore ambassador for the Association for Women in Cryptocurrency (AWIC). She is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales (2003) and Hong Kong (2009), and is fluent in English, German, and Hungarian.