Addleshaw Goddard has increased its financial regulation capability in London with the appointment of consumer finance expert Nikki Worden to partner. Nikki's appointment is part of the firm's strategy to strengthen its advisory capability in retail financial services and to target further growth in the financial services sector.

Nikki is the third senior appointment the firm has made to its financial regulation team in the last four months following the arrival of Brian McDonnell from Olswang and the promotion of Rosanna Bryant to partner in May. Addleshaw Goddard now has one of the biggest financial regulatory partner teams in the market as well as one of the biggest financial services client bases in the sector.

Nikki joins Addleshaw Goddard from Allen & Overy where she specialised in consumer finance. Prior to this, she held senior legal and business roles at MBNA, one of the UK's largest credit card issuers.

She has a wealth of experience dealing with consumer credit compliance, interaction with regulators, including the OFT and the FCA and handling large scale compliant handling processes, including dealing with issues arising from the sale of payment protection insurance. Her clients include, retail banks, building societies, merchant acquirers and payment schemes.

Commenting on Nikki's appointment, David Heffron, head of financial services at Addleshaw Goddard said:

"We are recognised as having one of the best financial services offerings in the sector which has consistently been a high performing part of our business. In the last 12 months, we have seen increased demand for our retail financial services and payments expertise in particular, and anticipate further growth in this area so Nikki's considerable expertise will be a very welcome addition to our market leading team".

Addleshaw Goddard's Financial Services practice provides clients with transactional, regulatory, compliance, advisory and dispute advice. Its clients include the UK's biggest banks, two of the top 10 insurance businesses, eight of the top 10 mortgage providers and 29 building societies.