Fintech, Blockchain and Web3
There are now more than 800 diverse and complex fintech companies operating in this multifaceted sector across Australia. These businesses play an essential role in revolutionising how users engage with financial services, and ultimately they deliver better outcomes for all participants.
Our cross-practice Fintech team understands the challenges clients face in this sector. Internationally recognised as leading lawyers in their field, our team advises on all facets of fintech law affecting both new and established participants. Our diverse clients include dedicated fintech companies as well as established organisations developing their fintech services. These include:
new and established fintech companies (neobanks, blockchain businesses, cryptocurrencies and digital assets, lending and payment platforms, wealthtech, regtech, insurtech and crowdfunding companies)
banks and non-bank lenders
fund managers (including superannuation and investment funds)
insurers, underwriters and brokers
'We appreciated the team’s efficiency and it always appeared to think about what would produce the best value for our business. Hall & Wilcox is highly competent at tackling complex matters that have not previously been addressed and can think outside the square.’
We play an active role in the industry as committee and board members of peak bodies and participate in legislative reform sub-committees submissions to stakeholders, industry bodies and government. We remain at the forefront of developments in the financial services sector through our partnerships, sponsorships, directorships and regulator engagement. The nature of our work means we regularly liaise with the key financial services regulators including Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, AUSTRAC and the Australian Taxation Office on behalf of our clients.
We participate in several Financial Services Council working groups. Partner John Bassilios is deeply involved with Blockchain Australia, of which he currently serves as a Director. John is also a Director of FIBREE, the Foundation for International Blockchain Real Estate Expertise and a Course Mentor for the RMIT Blockchain Strategy Course. We support and partner with Stone & Chalk to run a variety of programs including ‘Insurtech’, blockchain training and information sessions and seminars on intellectual property protection and commercialisation.
Our firm is a recommended law firm for banking and finance, superannuation and financial services by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 guide. Members of our team are also individually recognised in the Chambers and Partners directory, the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession and the Best Lawyers in Australia.
We advise on:
regulatory and licensing (AFSL, ADI, ACL, RSE, and APRA and AUSTRAC registration)
fund establishment
anti-money laundering
payments system
joint venture and shareholder arrangements
a range of different agreements including service agreements and customer agreements
new products and related advice like product disclosures and customer agreements
IP / IT (such as agreements covering credit card issuing, merchant acquiring, transaction processing, payment gateway services and IT systems)
preparation of lending and security documents
privacy
cyber security
competition law matters
tax advice and structuring
Our Fintech and Blockchain Lead, Partner John Bassilios has written the Australian chapter of the Lexology Getting The Deal Through Fintech 2023 publication. He covers issues such as financial regulation, financial crime, AI, and much more.
