Our Practice

Each assignment is designed by a senior consultant, bespoke to individual client requirements. A typical programme may include representations to UK or EU government, officials or regulators, contributing to the policy debate through green papers, think tanks or the media, training for UK or EU committee interviews, support drafting UK Private Members Bills or EU own initiative reports, preparing political intelligence reports or acting as an early warning monitor. Cicero undertakes these and many other activities on behalf of our clients.

Examples of Cicero mandates in the last 12 months include:

• Full political and policy support to major market players on UK pensions reform
• Development and implementation of EU gender discrimination policies
• Work with leading pan-European asset managers responding to EU legislation including MiFID, the Prospectus Directive and the Intermediation Directive
• Strategic advice and implementation for a major UK provider of “at-retirement products”, including equity release, annuities and enhanced annuities.

Understanding the implications of forthcoming, new or existing policy and regulation is a core offering at Cicero. We analyse financial services public policy developments across European and domestic markets interpreting the impact this may have on our clients’ firms and their respective business models. Our teams provide early warning and mitigation strategies, helping our clients respond to an ever-changing and uncertain environment.

Recent examples of advice and analysis include:

• Preparing clients for MiFID implementation and promotion of client technical expertise to officials
• Advised clients on responses to the EU Mortgage Credit Green Paper
• Strategic advice for a major UK fund manager in response to the EU Fund Management Green Paper
• Supported campaigns and activity in relation to UK pensions simplification and liberalisation of pensions term assurance
• Strategic counsel for product distribution in light of UK depolarisation.

Research backed advocacy is a central component of most effective public policy programmes. Cicero specialises in the design and implementation of award winning public policy research that complements media and decision maker engagement and allows our clients to develop robust, persuasive and tested arguments.

Cicero uses a wide range of research options including polls, focus groups and industry benchmarking.

Examples of Cicero research include:

• Conducted pan-European study of intergenerational savings patterns and retirement aspirations
• Design and commentary of award-winning UK life and pensions industry research
• Mapped levels of adequacy for insurance products throughout the UK
• Designed and implemented a detailed analysis of the equity release market including regulatory aspects

Click here for a sample of Cicero research.

Some recent campaigns include:

• Managed a coalition of organisations, from disability charities to leading financial services companies, enabling them to lead the debate on contemporary social issues receiving recognition from the UK Prime Minister and the Secretary of State
• Designed and implemented the launch of a pan-European membership organisation delivering successful integration of national bodies receiving endorsements from media, regulators and policy makers
• Assisted major UK life companies with their corporate affairs partnership programmes, facilitating links with major UK not-for-profits groups to promote mutual agendas.

Cicero designs award winning campaigns helping clients foster and maintain relationships with third-party groups—these can include consumer associations, charities, voluntary organisations, NGOs, corporates, quangos, multi-Member state bodies and others.

Cicero is able to suggest partnerships that are effective and potent in promoting positions of mutual interest and long-term shared objectives.