Financial services regulation

Buddle Findlay has one of New Zealand’s leading financial services teams.  Our team is at the forefront of the newest legislative changes relating to the provision of financial services and products, and has worked on a wide range of matters in relation to the provision of financial services and the establishment, governance and disclosure of offers of financial products.

Overview

Buddle Findlay has one of New Zealand’s leading financial services teams.  We act for all major New Zealand banks, as well as offshore banks, other international and domestic financial service providers, regulators, FinTech enterprises, and for large New Zealand corporates on financing matters.  Our team is highly experienced, with some of the partners having worked together for over 20 years.  Most of our senior lawyers have worked in global firms, covering all the major financial centres around the world, including London, New York, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Our financial services regulation team is at the forefront of the newest legislative changes relating to the provision of financial services and products in New Zealand, and has worked on a wide range of matters in relation to the provision of financial services and the establishment, governance and disclosure of offers of financial products.

Our team has particular expertise in payment systems, regularly advising on mobile payments, domestic debit, credit card interchange, payment gateways, merchant acquiring arrangements (global and domestic) and prudential regulation.



Work highlights

Advising SBS Bank

on all aspects of the issuance of its first debt instrument to be listed on the New Zealand stock exchange (NZX Debt Market)

Advising Bank of India and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

in relation to application for registered bank status in New Zealand and all aspects of establishment of business in New Zealand

Advising ANZ and NZFMA

in relation to issues of close-out netting under ISDA Master Agreements

Advising various banks and financial institutions

on compliance requirements under a range of financial markets regulation including the Financial Markets Conduct Act, Financial Advisers Act, Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act, the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act and Responsible Lending Code, and the Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act

Assisting a group of credit unions, building societies and finance companies

Assisting a group of credit unions, building societies and finance companies to engage with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the proposed Deposit Takers Bill

Advising Airwallex

on establishing its business in New Zealand and advising on New Zealand regulatory requirements, including obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act), analysis of products under New Zealand law and review of commercial contracts


Our team

Hak Jun Lee

Partner, Auckland

Hak Jun specialises in banking and financial services and has extensive experience in property law and overseas investment…

Email Hak Jun Lee

Jan Etwell

Partner, Christchurch
Board of Management

Jan leads the Christchurch banking and financial services team.  She has particular expertise in regulatory compliance including…

Email Jan Etwell

Renee Stiles

Partner, Wellington

Renee is a member of our Wellington corporate and commercial team, specialising in commercial contracting, information and…

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Scott Abel

Partner, Auckland

Scott specialises in insolvency and debt restructuring, corporate and secured finance, and specialist personal property security and…

Email Scott Abel