Nicholas Segal and Peter King to lead EDMC
The Bank of England has appointed Nicholas Segal as Chair and Peter King as Deputy Chair of its Enforcement Decision Making Committee, effective 1 August 2026. The appointments follow an external recruitment process to succeed Sir William Blair and Philip Marsden.
Fresh legal leadership at the helm
Nicholas Segal, a judge across multiple jurisdictions and former partner at Freshfields, Davis Polk and Allen & Overy, takes over leadership of the Enforcement Decision Making Committee (EDMC).
Joining him as Deputy Chair is Peter King, former Legal Director at HM Treasury and former Linklaters partner.
The EDMC serves as the central decision-making body for contested enforcement cases across the Bank of England's statutory regimes, including prudential regulation, resolution, securitisation and financial market infrastructures.
David Roberts, Chair of the Court of the Bank of England, welcomed the appointments, noting that their extensive legal experience will support the committee's work in handling complex contested enforcement proceedings.
An independent tribunal for contested cases
While most regulatory disciplinary matters are settled directly with firms or individuals, contested cases are referred to the EDMC.
In such instances, the Chair convenes an independent panel of three or more members to review evidence, hear representations and issue formal decisions.
Outgoing Chair Sir William Blair and Deputy Chair Philip Marsden completed their terms at the end of July 2026 after establishing the body's operational framework.
Members are appointed for five-year terms with a maximum limit of two consecutive terms under the committee's operating procedures.
Credibility meets procedural reality
Appointing top legal veterans strengthens the credibility of the Bank's enforcement panel as regulatory scope expands.
With contested cases growing more complex, high-level judicial experience is crucial for robust decisions.
However, expert leadership alone cannot eliminate procedural friction in contested cases.