Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by jacquesm 1722 days ago
There is a reason that London was the financial headquarters of the EU while it lasted. They are going to try to do what they can to attract EU capital now that the last of these rules no longer apply to them, and will be the de-facto tax haven for the rest of the world except for the five-eyes.
1 comments

Well, the UK is well suited to finance in many ways, most of the legit. The way courts work for example. Maybe a bit like France and Italy have a natural talent for couture, say.

But the shady stuff is sure there, and shady. UK high end property market seems to be a Monopoly-esque money laundering machine, with the extra inconvenience of having physical real estate attached to it.

Maybe one good replacement market for NFTs.

> The way courts work for example.

What do you mean?

IANAL but I understand UK courts have a reputation for being quick, pragmatic, fair and unbureaucratic. Finance often turns on 'legal innovation', or introducing entirely new financial constructs, and where on the Continent a more prescriptive legal system is in place, UK law is more interpretation-based.

Possibly not a concern with many EU countries, but with some for sure: the legal system is also stable, doesn't change on the whims of the politicians, and appears to be genuinely un-politicised.

Since Finance heavily relies on parties promising huge contingent payments to each other, having a trustworthy and reliable arbiter is key. If I enter into an agreement where I pay upfront, and I'm guaranteed insurance-type payments for 20 years into the future, the legal apparatus is the backstop to my claims.