Clients including major banks, superannuation funds and fintech companies instruct Allens on the full spectrum of fintech and financial services regulatory (FSR) work encompassing M&A transactions involving financial institutions, digital transformation projects and AML compliance matters. The unit is additionally praised for the ‘depth of its experience in financial crime matters.’ Heading up the FSR team, Simun Soljo assists clients including superannuation trustees and wealth managers on mandates including the development and regulation of new products and services. Dominic Anderson leads the fintech team; his varied caseload includes technology-sector M&A and technology-led innovation activities. Working with financial services clients on their Stronger Super products is an area of activity for Michelle Levy. Melbourne-based Kerensa Sneyd has a strong focus on the retail banking sector, while Valeska Bloch is a key contact for matters involving new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. Derivatives specialist Yu Zhang is another name to note. Unless otherwise stated all mentioned lawyers are based in Sydney.

The Sydney-based fintech and FSR team at Gilbert + Tobin covers the market with front-end and back-end expertise spanning Web3, disputes, competition work, regulatory issues and corporate affairs. There is also a strong investment law practice at the firm with transactional capabilities supported by regulatory specialists. Bank-in-a-box solutions, payment systems and digital asset work are some of the team’s recent highlights. The fintech and Web3 team is marshalled by Peter Reeves; his varied case loads includes a wide array of payments and digital assets work. Disputes and investigations team head Richard Harris is regularly tasked with guiding banks and other corporate entities through investigations and enforcement action by Australian regulators. Elizabeth Avery heads up the the competition and regulatory group and is well placed to assist with merger clearances and enforcement litigation. Simon Burns has a focus on the regulatory aspects of financial transformation projects, particularly when undertaken by major banks. Georgina Willcock, who frequently collaborates with Reeves on thought leadership pieces, is another name to note.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is trusted by established financial services players and disruptive newcomers for assistance with work such as commercial transactions, cross-border sales, regulatory change implementation and defence of regulatory enforcement actions. The far-reaching regulatory expertise extends to advising on the Australian financial services licensing exemptions which took effect in March 2023. The department is headed up by market entrance specialist Charlotte Henry, experienced litigator Andrew Eastwood, superannuation specialist Andrew Bradley, who joined in June 2022 from Minter Ellison, and Kate Cahill, who is a key contact for complex financial services investigations. Luke Hastings has deep experience in contentious regulatory matters, while Michael Vrisakis frequently leverages his significant regulatory experience to advise on the development of new financial services law. Tamanna Islam is the key name at senior associate level and focuses on regulatory work.

King & Wood Mallesons’ far-reaching regulatory practice is well-equipped to handle domestic, cross-border and global regulatory matters and has a proven track record of acting in the regulatory investigations space. On the fintech side, the firm handles work including stablecoin projects, fundraisings and SaaS agreements covering staking-related services for clients such as high-growth start-ups, crypto exchanges and payment institutions. Jim Boynton, Mark McFarlane and Alexander Morris head up the regulatory team, while Anthony Boogert and Urszula McCormack, who is also based in Hong Kong, are the fintech leads. Kate Jackson-Maynes is the key contact for digital payments matters, and blockchain and regtech specialist Hannah Glass is another name to note. Unless otherwise stated, all mentioned lawyers are based in Sydney.

Praised for its ‘commercial and practical approach’, A&O Shearman’s regulatory practice is particularly strong in financial services licensing, FOFA reforms and ASIC investigations; customer remediation and regulatory reviews are additional areas of expertise. The Sydney office is a popular destination for investment banks, financial services institutions and sovereigns. Jason Denisenko leads the team; he is well placed to advise on the marketing and distribution of financial products. Litigation partners Jason Gray and Michael Shepherd are well versed in regulatory investigations, while Christopher Scarf frequently advises both foreign and domestic clients on the FFSP, AFSL and ACL regimes. Kate Morris and Lee Alam are further key contacts.

Global banks and financial institutions instruct Ashurst for contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters across the whole gamut of financial services regulatory work. Remediation programs, payments mandates, regulatory investigations and the implementation of new regulatory regimes are all areas of strength, with the team also well regarded for its work related to market infrastructure, digital assets and superannuation. Team head Corey McHattan frequently assists investment and trading banks with issues such as enforcement control transactions, while the implementation of remediation programs stands out as an area of activity for Jonathan Gordon. Narelle Smythe‘s portfolio of work includes advising on M&A transactions in the financial sector. Hong-Viet Nguyen is a key contact for mandates with a consumer credit element, while the Brisbane-based Samantha Carroll is well versed in the implementation of product suitability reforms. Nicky Thiyavuikan is another name to note. Unless otherwise stated all mentioned lawyers are based in Sydney.

The ‘pragmatic and commercial’  team at Baker McKenzie pulls together a strong offering with RADI authorisations, regulatory issues for cross-border banks and advice relating to international card schemes among the unit’s areas of expertise. The practice is also active on regulatory and criminal investigations in the financial sphere. Bill Fuggle and Adrian Lawrence share leadership duties from the firm’s Sydney office; Fuggle is an authority on restricted ADI regulation and actively managed ETFs, and Lawrence frequently assists companies in the fintech arena with issues such as mobile banking and payments. In Brisbane, Trudi Procter, who joined from McCullough Robertson in August 2022, has a focus on payment systems and digital assets. Back in Sydney, Yechiel Belfer is well placed to advise on AML regulation, while Shemira Jeevaratnam frequently assists wealthtechs, neobanks and payment processing providers with regulatory matters.

Helmed by national practice group leaders Alexander Schlosser and Greg Williams, the fast-growing team at Clayton Utz offers expertise in a broad array of financial services and commercial litigation work including superannuation, enforcement actions, retail banking and complex regulatory investigations. Banks, non-bank lenders, sovereign wealth funds and emerging fintechs make up some of the firm’s varied client base. Ross McInnes leads the financial services litigation team and is well regarded for his ability to represent C-suite executives in highly confidential regulatory matters. Steven Klimt is an authority on buy now pay later products, while Matthew Daley and Vanessa Pallone are key contacts for managed investment scheme mandates. Craig Hine is well versed in anti-money laundering and privacy issues. All named practitioners are located in the Sydney office.

From front-end advisory and transactional matters to investigations, enforcement and remediation work, Corrs Chambers Westgarth‘s fintech and financial services regulatory practice is a popular address for major brands, disruptive fintechs and financial institutions. Digital transformation projects, digital asset related mandates and litigation funding are additional areas of strength for the ‘industry experts’ at the firm. James North, Robert Clarke and Mark Wilks form a leadership triumvirate, with North providing expertise in technology transactions for financial services. Described as ‘at the top of his field’, Fadi Khoury has longstanding experience in advising on the development of financial services regulatory products in the US. Felicity Healy is a key port of call for clients facing regulatory investigations. Superannuation and pensions regulations are some of Michael Chaaya’s sweet spots, while Steven Rice is well placed to advise on BNPL products. Mizu Arda is highlighted for her payments regulatory expertise.

Appointed to numerous financial institutions panels, Norton Rose Fulbright is well placed to advise global businesses and ASX-listed entities on their response to investigations from bodies such as APRA and ASAIC. The team also has a strong track record of acting on matters relating to multi-jurisdictional compliance and is active in the financial advice remediation space. Ray Giblett and Peter Mulligan head up the fintech division with the latter a key contact for contentious and non-contentious insurance mandates. Fellow co-head Jon Ireland has longstanding experience in advising asset managers on strategic initiatives. Helen Taylor frequently assists major financial institutions with a range of risk advisory work, while Merren Taylor is singled out for her superannuation and corporate governance expertise. Claudine Salameh departed in November 2023.

Clyde & Co LLP is home to ‘experts in financial services laws’ who are well placed to advise financial institutions on compliance, financial product development and transactional work such as acquisitions and portfolio transfer agreements. On the contentious side, the team has longstanding experience in acting on regulatory investigations and financial services litigation. Avryl Lattin, a key contact for insurers, helms the practice from Sydney; she frequently brings her government experience to bear on regulatory matters. Her colleague Dean Carrigan specialises in matters which fall at the nexus between the financial services industry and regulators. The two are frequently supported by Johann Spies and Isabella Jones. In Melbourne, Matthew Ellis is well versed in AFSL licensing and compliance, while Nicole Wearne is active in securities class actions. The Brisbane office saw the arrival of Liam Hennessy from Gadens Lawyers in April 2023.

Praised as ‘a stand out in the field of emerging technology, specifically blockchain’, Hall & Wilcox‘s Melbourne office is a popular destination for fintech companies looking to set up their Australian operations. The unit is also known for its far-reaching financial services contentious and non-contentious regulation advice. Practice co-head Harry New‘s regulatory expertise covers advice on the Corporations Act and the National Consumer Protection Act. Fellow co-head John Bassilios is embedded in fintech and blockchain and is additionally well placed to advise on the establishment and development of financial products. Eugene Chen is well versed in anti-money laundering legislation, and Hamish McNair assists clients with their responses to regulatory investigations.

A September 2022 merger that saw The Fold Legal join Hamilton Locke has resulted in a team with ‘deep industry and subject matter expertise‘ that is able to advise across a broad range of regulatory, corporate and commercial areas. Notable areas of expertise include the establishment of discretionary mutuals, crypto products and service offerings, and managed investment schemes. Charmian Holmes leads the practice from Brisbane and is embedded in the insurance regulation space, while Simon Carrodus has a focus on assisting wealth advisory businesses with navigating financial services law. In Sydney, Erik Setio, Jaime Lumsden and Michele Levine are some of the key contacts with Setio praised for his ‘deep expertise in financial services matters, including blockchain technology’. Brendan Ivers operates from the firm’s Melbourne office; he is singled out for his knowledge pertaining to the structuring of real estate funds. Jessica Smith and Glenjon Aligiannis are further names to note.

Active across a range of front end and contentious regulatory mandates, notable areas of activity for the ‘smart and efficient‘ team at Johnson Winter Slattery include advice on breach reporting, Australian financial services (AFS) licence applications and negotiating regulatory enforcement matters. Sydney-based practice head Austin Bell has a proven track record of assisting clients with the regulatory aspects of establishing their business in Australia. In Melbourne, Simon Haddy frequently advises on regulatory aspects of investment structuring, while Tom Jarvis and Christopher Sones are key contacts for commercial litigation and regulatory disputes.

Providing regulatory advice on transactional matters, remediation of past breaches and guiding financial institutions through regulatory reforms and developments such as the Financial Accountability Regime and the Consumer Data Right scheme are all sweet spots for Minter Ellison. The team is additionally praised for its ‘deep understanding of the life insurance industry’. Michael Lawson and Richard Batten oversee matters from the firm’s Sydney office. The latter has in-depth knowledge of the regulation and wealth management and insurance services. Melbourne-based Ross Freeman’s contentious credentials are underlined by the fact that he is the lead external counsel for ASIC’s enforcement matters, while Ian Lockhart frequently provides regulatory advice to clients ranging from Australian banks to government entities from the firm’s Brisbane office.

With Shannon Adams holding the reins in Adelaide, Piper Alderman leverages its ‘key relationships within the fintech and crypto industry’ to assist clients from the space with mandates such as capital raisings, security token issuances and Australian market entries. The team is also well placed to advise traditional financial institutions and fintech companies on an array of financial services regulatory, licensing and compliance work including anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing issues, regulatory investigations and disputes. In Sydney, digital law expert Michael Bacina leads the blockchain group; the former software developer combines technical know-how with regulatory and legal expertise. Financial services regulatory expert Andrea Beatty is equipped to handle front-end and back-end work related to ASIC investigations. Leading the Melbourne team is Steven Pettigrove whose practice extends to digital asset regulation.

Praised for its ‘good knowledge of payment service regulations’, Colin Biggers & Paisley is also strong on regulatory issues for banking, credit, insurance and fintech clients. The team also wins plaudits for its advice on topics including corporate structuring, compliance, white labelling and data protection. The ‘responsive’ Michael Bracken leads the team; he guides clients including fintechs, ADIs and payment services providers through a broad range of regulatory issues and is notably strong on medical indemnity insurance mandates. Bracken’s Sydney colleagues Kate Craig and Jane O’Neill are further names to note.

The technology, regulation and compliance group at Dentons’ Sydney office pulls together a strong offering for regulatory issues such as credit regulation, payments, cryptocurrency and superannuation. Practice head Amber Warren is well placed to provide regulatory advice and due diligence for large M&A transactions, while her colleague Elise Ivory is an authority on consumer and commercial credit regulations. David Carter is recommended for his in-depth knowledge of credit law requirements. A key contact for fintech clients, Rachel Walker is also advising on a growing number of bridging finance products introduced for home loan borrowers. AJ Sridaran is another name to note.

Clients ranging from large financial institutions to early-stage fintechs turn to Gadens Lawyers for compliant regulatory advice on issues such as product design, disclosure, and remediation programs. The practice is additionally praised for its ‘deep understanding and significant experience in complex regulatory litigation’. Practice chair Kate Mills’ practice extends to mandates related to the regulation of financial and debt markets. Kathy Merrick frequently acts for both private clients and key financial services sector regulators. Liam Hennessy departed in April 2023, while Caroline Ord, who is based in Melbourne, joined from Ashurst in January 2023.  Susan Goodman joined in December 2022 from Holding Redlich. Unless otherwise stated, all named lawyers are based in Sydney.

K&L Gates’ practice has experience in dealing and interacting with financial services regulators, cross-border transactional expertise and a proven track record of advising fintech clients raging from neobanks to open banking clients on an array of issues. Melbourne-based practice head Jim Bulling has a notable focus on financial product disclosure issues, and Daniel Knight frequently guides fintech start-ups through various regulatory challenges. In Sydney, Kane Barnett is a key contact for clients looking to distribute financial products to the Australian market. Also in Sydney, James Lonie, who joined from HWL Ebsworth in December 2022, is well placed to assist with transactional matters.

Maddocks supports clients in a wide range of areas including business establishment and regulation, AFSL and M&A work. The team also assists superannuation funds, private clients and accounting firms with general compliance and regulatory investigations. The Melbourne-based Gina Wilson and Julian Smith share leadership duties. Wilson frequently brings her extensive litigation experience to bear when representing ASIC in the Federal Court, and Smith’s portfolio of work includes advising on financial services regulatory compliance for innovative market entrants such as the fintech Shift Time. Also in Melbourne, Mick Garner has a strong focus on fund management and superannuation issues.