Mr Mark Schroder > Dentons New Zealand > Auckland, New Zealand > Lawyer Profile

Dentons New Zealand
18 VIADUCT HARBOUR AVE
PRIVATE BAG 92101
AUCKLAND 1142
New Zealand
Mark Schroder photo

Work Department

Financial Markets

Position

Senior Associate

Career

Mark is a senior associate in our financial markets team specialising in investment funds (including KiwiSaver and superannuation), insurance, innovation, and financial product and services regulation.

Having worked on both sides of the fence, private practice and in-house at the regulator, Mark offers a broad perspective on the ins and outs of the Financial Markets Conduct regime. Advising on all aspects of the regime, he has worked extensively on disclosure, governance, licensing, and supervisory matters. This includes drafting and review of product disclosure statements, drafting and advice on governing documents, and advice on fair dealing, custody, and financial reporting requirements.

Mark has an in-depth knowledge of the licensing requirements and ongoing compliance obligations for managed investments schemes, derivative issuers, DIMS, financial advice providers, intermediary services (peer-to-peer and crowdfunding), and supervisors. Mark also has experience with financial product market obligations, including whether a licence is required to operate a market facility.

A particular focus for Mark are innovative products and offers. As well as helping develop regulatory guidance, he has liaised with various FinTech and start-up entities in relation to bespoke MIS products, exchanges and investment platforms, and offers utilising the Schedule 1 exclusions of the Financial Markets Conduct Act (such as wholesale and small offers). He can also assist these entities with risk disclosure and client fund arrangements as well as financial service provider and AML/CFT matters.

Mark helps insurers develop and draft policies along with the review of related marketing material and website content. He also provides advice on licensing and prudential supervision matters, including regulatory reform.

Having previously worked at the regulator, Mark has drafted numerous exemptions to facilitate tailored disclosure, licensing, and reporting obligations. This includes drafting exemptions to create bespoke disclosure requirements for initial public offers, restructures, takeovers, schemes of arrangement, and hybrid MIS-debt products.

He is well versed with FMA requests to supply information and produce documents (section 25 notices) and how to respond to them.

Mark has considerable experience with licensed entities facing regulatory enforcement action (warnings, censures, action plans, and directions through to suspensions, cancellations, direction orders, and stop orders). He can provide tailored advice to help clients negotiate this tricky territory and respond to these actions including drafting submissions, hearing preparation, alternative methods of resolution, and agreed compliance improvements.

Languages

English

Memberships

Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand (INFINZ)

Education

Victoria University of Wellington, 2004, Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

Victoria University of Wellington, 2002, Bachelor of Arts, History and Geography

Admitted: Barrister and Solicitor, High Court of New Zealand, 2006

Lawyer Rankings

New Zealand > Investment funds

Dentons New Zealand houses a ‘very supportive and capable team’, noted for its expertise in managed funds, superannuation and assisting offshore funds in relation to New Zealand investments. Counting public entities, fund managers and banks among its key clients, the team is known for its work with clients in the fintech area, with a particular focus on digital financial advice. The practice is jointly steered by Wellington-based partners Catriona Grover and David Ireland. Grover specialises in investment funds, including KiwiSaver, managed funds and superannuation schemes, while Ireland, noted for his ‘excellent technical advice’, is regularly engaged by both large and boutique providers of investment funds and investment management services. Senior associate Mark Schroder has extensive experience in funds management and financial services law.