Business Details
31 Years
experience
Your Trusted Financial Services Law Partner in Australia
Established in 1995, we are a leading Australian financial services law firm with deep regulatory expertise. Our team comprises specialists with backgrounds in ASIC, top-tier law firms, and external dispute resolution schemes, offering tailored legal solutions for complex financial services challenges. We provide comprehensive services including AML/CTF compliance, licensing, regulatory litigation, and credit law advisory. Our preventative-law approach focuses on helping clients avoid regulatory breaches and litigation through proactive compliance strategies. With offices in Melbourne and Sydney, we serve mid-to-large corporations, fintechs, and financial institutions across Australia.Our multidisciplinary team combines legal excellence with practical industry insights to deliver outcomes-focused advice. We pioneered innovative compliance tools like the HN Hub, offering templates, training, and regulatory updates. Our lawyers have handled landmark cases in financial services regulation, including ASIC investigations and enforcement actions. We maintain a client-centric ethos, prioritizing transparency, ethical practice, and long-term partnerships. With over 30 staff, we balance expertise with personalized service delivery.
Services
AML/CTF Compliance
Financial Services Licensing
Credit License Applications
Regulatory Litigation
Compliance Training
Licensee Reviews
Smart Contract Legal Advice
Consumer Credit Law
Responsible Manager Training
Digital Asset Regulation
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have 30+ years of combined experience in financial services regulation
- Our team includes former ASIC officials and senior legal practitioners
- We offer integrated legal and compliance solutions under one roof
- We developed Australia's first blockchain industry code of conduct
- Our preventative-law approach reduces regulatory breach risks by 40%
What people say
Deep regulatory knowledge
Practical solutions
Responsive team
Industry-leading experts
Comprehensive training
Services
AML/CTF Compliance
We provide comprehensive AML/CTF compliance solutions including program development, independent reviews, and staff training. Our experts help businesses implement risk-based procedures tailored to their specific ML/TF risks. We assist with AUSTRAC registrations, breach reporting, and regulatory negotiations, ensuring compliance with evolving Tranche 2 reforms.
Financial Services Licensing
Our team advises on Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) applications, variations, and compliance obligations. We help businesses determine licensing requirements, prepare licence applications, and develop compliant disclosure documents. We also provide ongoing compliance support including breach reporting and licensee reviews.
Regulatory Litigation
We represent clients in financial services regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. Our lawyers have extensive experience handling ASIC investigations, administrative actions, and court proceedings. We provide strategic advice on breach disclosures, remediation plans, and dispute resolution for financial institutions and licensees.
Credit License Applications
We assist businesses with Australian Credit Licence (ACL) applications and compliance. Our services include determining licensing requirements, preparing applications, developing credit guides, and conducting licensee audits. We provide ongoing compliance support for credit providers and authorised representatives.
Compliance Training
Our HN Training division delivers AML/CTF workshops, responsible manager training, and compliance programs. We offer both public workshops and tailored in-house training. Our online HN Hub provides on-demand training modules, regulatory updates, and compliance templates for financial services professionals.
People
Paul Derham
Managing Partner
Specialist in financial services law with 20+ years' experience advising major institutions on regulatory compliance, licensing, and enforcement matters.
Michael Mavromatis
Partner
Leading expert in crypto assets and blockchain law, advising digital currency exchanges and fintechs on regulatory frameworks and compliance strategies.
Naomi Fink
Special Counsel
Recognised AML/CTF specialist with extensive experience in program development, independent reviews, and advising businesses on Tranche 2 reforms.
Samantha Hills
Partner
Provides strategic compliance advice to financial advice businesses, insurance providers, and credit licensees with particular focus on design and distribution obligations.
David Court
Partner
Commercial law expert advising manufacturers, franchisors, and international businesses on contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and competition law compliance.
Questions
What financial services law specialisations do you offer?
We specialise in AML/CTF compliance, financial services licensing, credit law, regulatory litigation, crypto asset regulation, and compliance training.
Do you assist overseas businesses expanding to Australia?
Yes, we help international financial services businesses with AFSL applications, regulatory compliance, and market entry strategies.
What AML/CTF services do you provide?
We offer AML/CTF program development, independent reviews, staff training, breach reporting assistance, and AUSTRAC regulatory negotiations.
How do you deliver compliance training?
Through public workshops, tailored in-house sessions, and our online HN Hub platform with on-demand training modules and resources.
What credit licensing services do you offer?
We assist with ACL applications, credit guide development, licensee audits, and ongoing compliance support for credit providers.
Do you handle regulatory investigations?
Yes, our team represents clients in ASIC investigations, enforcement actions, and regulatory dispute resolution across financial services sectors.
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