Pip has more than two decades’ experience in funds management and financial services regulation, advising providers of asset management, trustee and responsible entity, custodial, broking, non-cash payment, research, platform, managed discretionary account, model portfolio, registry, technology and other intermediary services. Pip has established professional relationships with businesses ranging from start-ups through to ASX-listed and global players.
Pip’s experience in financial services regulation began with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). She has since practised in a large national firm, a major global firm, and a small boutique specialist investment management-focused law firm. She also has in-house experience with a major Australian financial institution and has been a secondee lawyer to major domestic and global funds management businesses.
Pip co-chairs the Financial Services Committee within the Law Council of Australia’s Business Law Section. The Committee regularly makes submissions on financial services law reform and policy developments to ASIC, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Treasury and Parliamentary Committee inquiries.
In addition to her professional legal qualifications, Pip has completed the Financial Services Institute of Australasia’s Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course.
Experience
Pip has developed extensive expertise in:
- Navigating complex regulatory issues, advising both Australian and international clients on their Australian financial services regulatory obligations, including licensing, disclosure, dispute resolution, documentation, reporting and conduct requirements.
- Establishing, preparing, reviewing and negotiating documents for the offering and distribution of retail and wholesale funds (both domestic and offshore vehicles) investing in a broad range of asset classes across direct and indirect real property, domestic and international equities, environmental and crypto currency markets.
- Negotiating agreements with service providers (including trustees, investment managers, custodians, administrators, prime brokers, brokers, dealer groups, model portfolio managers and research providers), major investors, strategic partners and other stakeholders.
- Preparing documents for and chairing investor meetings to approve changes to fund constituent documents, fund structure and changes in trustee/responsible entity.
- Advising responsible entities and trustees on specific transactions and ongoing commercial arrangements, including:
- a change in responsible entity of over 100 registered managed investment schemes following an acquisition of a major Australian funds and wealth management business
- ASX listing of a managed fund invested in the Australian equities market
- a change in custodian, professional trustee and responsible entity roles for a number of wholesale and retail equities funds.
- Advising on due diligence covering financial services regulatory matters for proposed acquisitions and disposals of assets and business ventures.
- Advising on financial services licensing, including ASIC applications for both newly formed and well-established financial services businesses and preparing and negotiating authorised representative agreements on behalf of both authorising licensees and representatives.
- Reviewing advertising and promotional materials for electronic communication, website and social media channels.
- Preparing ASIC relief applications, (including licence exemptions for foreign financial service providers based in the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong and Luxembourg).
- Responding to breaches, incidents, customer complaints and regulatory inquiries.
- Developing and reviewing compliance policies and procedures for newly established and developing financial services businesses.
- Delivering training on anti-money laundering and financial services regulatory compliance topics for clients, including a government-owned investment company, managers of wholesale private equity investment funds, and a number of smaller equities fund managers.
- Preparing or conducting independent reviews of AML/CTF programs.
Memberships
- Financial Services Committee, Business Law Section, Law Council of Australia
- Anti-Money Laundering Working Group. Law Council of Australia
- Australian Institute of Company Directors