Senior Associate, Wellington
Emma Geard
Contact
- Wellington office
- DDI +64 4 462 0457
- M +64 27 428 9147
Profile
Emma specialises in financial services regulation, with particular expertise in payments systems and the prudential regulation of banks. She has experience advising a broad range of financial institutions and financial industry bodies on regulatory change, compliance and enforcement matters in relation to prudential regulation (including the Deposit Takers Act 2023), the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and payments system regulation (the Financial Market Infrastructures Act 2021 and Retail Payment System Act 2022) and rules (both local and scheme rules).
Emma has worked with a range of legal entities, including companies, trusts, building societies and credit unions advising on matters relating to corporate governance, legal risk and compliance management, capital raising and structuring.
Before returning to the law, Emma worked for a number of years in the impact investing and fintech sectors.
Experience
Work highlights
Advising the API Centre
on the ongoing development of New Zealand's industry lead open banking regime
Advising a major Buy Now Pay Later provider
on the transition to regulation under the CCCFA
Co-ordinating an industry group of non-bank deposit taker's
in their engagement with the Reserve Bank throughout the development of the Deposit Takers Act 2023 and its prudential standards
Advising a major bank
on the provision of exchange settlement services in the pacific to a mobile network operator seeking to become a clearing participant in the payments system
Advising New Zealand's large banks
on the enforceability of netting under ISDA Agreements
Advising the Treasury
on its indemnities in relation to the Reserve Bank's quantitative easing programme in response to COVID-19