Ben Kingsley is a partner in Slaughter and May's Financial Regulation Group. On a regular basis, Ben will be sharing his thoughts with PLC Financial Services subscribers on topical developments in the banking and investment services sector.

In his first column, Ben looks at the challenges facing the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), as the deadline fast approaches for publication of its final report and recommendations to government on reforms to the UK banking sector to promote financial stability and competition.

The ICB published its final report on 12 September 2011. PLC Financial Services has published the following article, based on a briefing by Slaughter and May's Financial Regulation Group, see Article, Resolving the dilemma of British banking: the final report of the Independent Commission on Banking. The authors comment on the practical implications of the ICB's recommendations and suggest that some of the initial criticisms levelled at the report have been misplaced.