A&L Goodbody has been appointed to advise Europe’s first independent white-label exchange-traded fund (ETF) platform.

The commercial law firm will provide legal, regulatory and taxation advice to HANetf and its on-platform clients as it prepares to proceed with a number of clients planning to launch ETFs this year via an Irish domiciled platform.

HANetf has been founded by Nik Bienkowski and Hector McNeil to lower the barriers to entry for prospective ETF issuers by providing a fully managed solution including product development, capital markets, sales, marketing and distribution.

Mr Bienkowski said: “The agreement between our two companies reaffirms HANetf’s commitment to creating a superior mechanism for clients to gain entry to the European ETF market.

“It’s critical for us and our clients to know that HANetf’s proposition is supported by the best possible technology and the strongest and most experienced service providers.

“A&L Goodbody has an outstanding pedigree supporting the needs of both asset management companies and investors and we are very pleased to be working with them.”

Stephen Carson, partner in the asset nanagement and investment funds group at A&L Goodbody, said: “We are delighted to be appointed by HANetf to support them with a range of legal services as they establish their innovative ETF platform and assist their clients in launching European ETFs.”