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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – the UK's all-encompassing financial services regulator – is at any point the subject of either praise or derision, depending on the commentator. But there is rarely any middle ground. It has earnt itself the reputation as one of the European Economic Area's most fine-happy enforcers, with a particular penchant for punishing firms over failures to comply with the new wave of reporting requirements.

What could be more influential than the 2008-9 financial crisis, the financial crisis of the century? The catastrophic event led to the collapse of Lehman Brothers and left practically the entire world wondering what went wrong.

The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act may be coming up for its 10th birthday, but the wide-ranging regulation remains as important as ever. The vast Obama-era financial reform came as a direct response to the 2008-9 crisis, which as well as establishing a whole set of new government regulators and agencies designed to protect consumers and financial stability, introduced a range of new requirements designed to keep the US banking system under wraps. The Act faced a lot of criticism and had many adversaries before it even passed, barely scraping through the Senate, and in recent years has faced a barrage of attacks from the incumbent Republican administration.

More than just a trade association, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association's (Isda) reach is almost unparalleled in financial markets, and makes our list this year for its instrumental work on a number of topics highly pertinent to both IFLR and Practice Insight readers. As its full name would suggest, Isda has great sway on the over-the-counter derivatives (OTC) market, but it also works closely with trade organisations in other sectors to ensure that markets harmonise and operate as smoothly as possible.

The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has the unenviable task of making sure that the transition from US dollar Libor to the more robust Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) – its recommended alternative – goes smoothly, with plenty of time left before Libor's expiration at the end of 2021.

The world of fintech is growing in leaps and bounds. For financial regulators, keeping up is not an easy task. Yuta Takanashi, deputy director for fintech and innovation at the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA), has taken a lead role in engaging stakeholders on fintech, especially on blockchain technologies, to develop better regulations for Japan while creating dialogue with global players internationally. Those regulated by the FSA speak highly of him.

It would be remiss of us to put a list like this together and not include the thorn in the side of Wall Street. Elizabeth Warren has dedicated much of her career to keeping the US financial sector at bay, and as senior Senator for Massachusetts for the last six years, has been able to make a marked influence from the Senate floor.

Since 2016, Britain – and by extension, the global news agenda – has grappled with the backlash of Brexit. The UK's planned exit from the EU has created unprecedented levels of uncertainty about what the future holds for financial services in the UK, EU, and much further beyond.

The existence of blockchain, or distributed ledger technology (DLT), has prompted fierce debate over its usage, status and capabilities, to the point that some experts feel its namesake undermines the benefits it offers.

BlackRock's government relations team was established in 2009, when the S&P 500 was at its lowest nadir and "it was clear that significant financial regulation was on the horizon".