Hall & Wilcox is recognised for its financial services regulatory expertise, advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters under key regimes and before major regulators. The team is adept at representing clients in high-profile regulatory investigations and civil penalty proceedings, and is also well-versed in assisting clients applying for Australian financial services licences (AFSLs) and Australian credit licences. Harry New, who leads the financial services arm of the practice, is a recognised authority on financial services regulation, while John Bassilios takes the lead on fintech and blockchain work. Philip Hopley is noted for his expertise in providing financial services regulatory advice to the insurance sector, and Elliott Stumm specialises in fund management regulation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The genuine partner-led engagement and their strong commercial acumen set Hall & Wilcox apart. The partners take the time to deeply understand our business, industry dynamics, and strategic goals, which results in advice that is both legally sound and commercially pragmatic. The approach almost feels like engaging an embedded strategic partner as opposed to an external service provider.’
‘Harry New has a genuine interest in our business and wants it to succeed. Beyond providing commercial and sound legal advice, he is an advocate and friend. We will only use him for our future fund structuring and related legal advice. ’
‘The team is incredibly experienced, understands its clients and is responsive.’
‘Harry New is very available and engaged, and oversees all matters. Harry's depth of experience is highly valued, as is his understanding of our businesses and market conditions.’
‘Experts on all matters relating to AFS licence obligations.’
‘Harry New has vast experience and is able to apply that with great commercial acumen.’
Key clients
- Vanguard Investments Australia
- Integrity Life Australia Limited
- Australian Unity
- Centrepoint Alliance
- Paradoor Holdings Pty Ltd
- MezFi Pty Ltd
- Aware Super
- Barings Australia Pty Ltd / Gryphon Capital Investments
- SNUG
- Beaufort Fiduciaries Pty Ltd
- MyAssetPay
- TreeCoin Assets
Work highlights
Assisted MezFi with the establishment of the MezFi Fund 1, a retail managed investment scheme structured as a unit trust and registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Advised Integrity Life on the transfer of life insurance cover for 10,000 customers from Integrity Life to AIA Australia under a scheme confirmed under Part 9 of the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth).
Advised Barings and its subsidiary Gryphon on the establishment of key investment vehicles, including the Barings Australian Private Credit Fund and the Barings Liquidity Investment Strategy, assisting with structuring, regulatory compliance, disclosure documents, and service provider agreements.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Harry New; John Bassilios
Other key lawyers
Emma Donaghue; Philip Hopley; Elliott Stumm; Jacob Uljans; Hamish McNair