John Sampson (left), an executive director for EY’s Advisory  Practice in New York, will be a featured presenter at the multi-agency seminar on the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) scheduled for February 3, 2014.

Sampson, who focuses on asset management compliance, has over 30 years’ experience of innovations in the financial services industry and has ex-tensive experience in regulatory and legislative issues as they relate to financial services firms.

The AIFMD, which entered into force July 22, 2013, collectively refers to a set of releases that comprise an European Union directive issued June 8, 2011, an EU regulation issued December 19, 2012, and additional guidelines from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

The directive outlines the EU’s philosophy toward alternative investment fund management, whereas the regulation contains the methods intended to implement the directive’s philosophy.

“The AIFMD will have a profound effect on the manner in which a firm does business and on its future in the EU,” says Sampson.

Sampson will speak on this impact and the timelines of the directive, focusing also on what managers should be doing now.

Mechelle Martinborough, legal counsel at the Securities Commission of The Bahamas, will discuss the information sharing provisions of the directive and examine how select regulators from other international financial centres are addressing it.

The Office of Legal Counsel at the SCB is responsible for providing legal advice to the various departments of the commission, assisting in the review of financial sector legislation, and managing matters of international cooperation.

Both Sampson and Martinborough will review next steps, as the provisions of the directive are rolled out in ensuing years.

The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB), the Ministry of Financial Services, SCB and corporate sponsor Ernst & Young (EY) are collaborating to host the half-day seminar at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel in downtown Nassau, starting at 10:00 am. Price per person: $35.