About us

We are a risk advisory firm. We focus on regulatory, risk and compliance for the financial services industry.

With a deep knowledge of issues affecting the industry, and with extensive experience advising on complex legal issues we can provide comprehensive and commercial solutions to reduce the risks associated with operating a financial services business. We currently assist on-shore and off-shore banks, financial institutions, lenders, tech companies, foreign financial service providers, private equity firms, FinTechs, payment service providers, BNPL providers, aggregators, and finance brokers. We work closely with our clients, integrating into each organisation to provide a tailored approach to ensure compliance with the different licensing and regulatory regimes. We now also offer global secretariate services to support our cross-border financial services clients and their teams. Our team of top tier lawyers, and Senior Risk and AML/CTF Consultants have worked with some of the largest and most profitable financial institutions in the world including:
We work closely with our clients, integrating into your organisation and its structures to provide a tailored approach to your business requirements. We now offer global secretariate services to support our cross-border financial services clients and their teams. Our team of top tier lawyers, Senior Risk Consultants, AML/CTF Consultants and have worked with some of the largest and most profitable financial institutions in the world including:

Need Advice?

Need an ADI License?

Do you want to run a banking business? If so you need a licence. We can prepare RADI’s, ADI and foreign ADI licence applications, advise you on the prudential framework and provide all necessary documents to get you up and running.

Need an AFSL or ACL?

Do you want to run a financial services business or engage in credit activities? Then you need an AFSL or an ACL. We can advise on authorisations, prepare your application, and help develop all your financial products and services.

Remittance or Crypto?

Are you providing designated services, remittance or digital currency exchange services? We can help with AUSTRAC registration, prepare AML/CTF Programs, and advise on KYC, Sanctions, PEPs, IFTIs, STRs & annual compliance requirements.

Team members

Naomi

Naomi

Partner, Credit and Financial Services

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1800 965 990

Naomi’s practice focuses primarily on financial services and financial services regulation. Naomi is an expert in banking, credit and financial services regulation, AFSL and ACL compliance, AML/CTF regime, and is focused on building and operationalising regulatory, risk and compliance frameworks for clients. With over 12 years of experience working globally for top tier legal firms including Herbert Smith Freehills, Clifford Chance and K&L Gates as well as working in Australia as General Counsel and Head of Risk & Compliance in various ASX listed companies, Naomi has built a large client base of global banks, large financial institutions, credit providers, tech companies, BNPL, foreign financial service providers, private equity, FinTechs, and payment service providers and is able to provide extensive support, structuring and advice. Naomi was a finalist in the Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year, is a non-executive director of an off-shore Bank and the founder and CEO of a US based loan service aggregator and an Australian based identity verification service offering token based authentication via block chain technology.
Monika

Monika

Partner, Banking & Finance

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1800 965 990

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Monika’s practice focuses on banking and finance. Monika is an expert in leverage and acquisition finance, corporate lending and structured finance, bi-lateral and syndicated loans, real estate finance and corporate restructuring.

With over 13 years of experience working in magic circle, top tier domestic and international law firms, as well as General Counsel roles in investment banks and debt funds, Monika acts regularly for both lenders and borrowers in Australia and the UK and is able to provide pragmatic, agile legal advice whilst mitigating legal risks, with a focus on effective and efficient deal execution.

Jessica

Jessica

Senior Risk Consultant

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1800 965 990

info@cocounsel.com.au

Jessica is an experienced risk advisor and an expert in providing specialist risk management advice, building governance, risk and compliance frameworks, preparing risk management plans, reports and assessments, creating risk management dashboards and risk and control registers and designing policies, processes and procedures to mitigate risk.

With over 15 years of experience working as a senior risk advisor to investment banks and major corporates, Jessica support clients with their operational and risk management requirements and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory standards.

Bianca

Bianca

Senior AML/CTF Consultant

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1800 965 990

info@cocounsel.com.au

Bianca offers AML/CTF consulting and advisory support and works with clients to implement effective AML/CTF Programs, practices and policies. Bianca is an expert in providing independent AML/CTF audits, assessments and reviews, advice on designated services, compliance with AML/CTF laws and AUSTRAC enrolment and enquiries.

With over 8 years of experience working in major banks, credit providers and Fintechs, Bianca can support clients with understanding what AML/CTF obligations are applicable, assist with preparing and implementing an AML/CTF Program, and provide advice on KYC, ongoing customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, sanctions, identity verification and ML/TF risk assessment.

Chloe

Chloe

Director, Global Secretariat Services

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1800 965 990

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Chloe Mcilveen has spent the last 15 years working as an Executive Assistant and Legal Secretary. She holds a wealth of knowledge working within different industries across Australia and the United Kingdom. Chloe brings with her not only experience in the industry, but a true passion for helping Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Executives effortlessly meet their targets.

Chloe’s experience working for high profile corporate businesses was an insight into the seemingly endless list of tasks and projects that Managers and Colleagues are faced with. No task is too little or too big, be it drafting legal documents, taking confidential meeting minutes or general support managing your day to day schedule. Chloe is discreet, trustworthy and completely capable of assisting in any task that is sent her way.

sahar

sahar

financial services regulatory

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Sahar’s practice focuses on financial services regulation. Sarah is an expert in financial services, insurance, AML/CTF, privacy, and regulatory compliance. With over 9 years of experience working in private practice and in-house for global insurers, brokers and AFSL holders, Sahar acts regularly for wholesale and retail financial services providers and is able to provide support to financial institutions, financial services providers, intermediaries and other industry participants to comply with the regulatory requirements in the financial services sector.

Banking & Finance

Our banking team has extensive experience in assisting clients close cross-border transactions and comply with complex legal, regulatory, and compliance frameworks. Whether for acquisition finance, asset-based lending, corporate and commercial lending, syndicated financing, debt capital markets, equipment leasing and finance, project finance, real estate finance, retail and consumer finance, Co-Counsel can assist.

"Monika is an exceptional lawyer and was able to close a difficult deal for us. We are exceptionally happy with the terms of the US$60m syndicated loan and can now get back to building the business thanks to Monika’s forward-thinking solutions when dealing with the lenders. CEO / Multinational Corporate Client"

"Thanks to Naomi’s product advice we were able to establish a managed investment scheme and issue a digital wallet to our clients. It was fun working with Naomi and we are looking forward to the responsible manager training that Naomi is presenting to us next week. Director / Australian Financial Services Licensee"

"Jessica provides exceptions risk advisory solutions and we are thrilled with our new risk management dashboard. We have a strong framework in place and Bianca has not only helped us with implementing a new risk framework but also with our ISO compliance. 100% recommend Bianca for all your risk management issues. CEO / Private Fund Management"

"Chloe has provided us with an incredible company secretary service and not only streamlined all our admin processes, dealt with lodgements and monitored our exec calendars but has gone above and beyond providing event management services to us and we’re based in the US!!! Would love to keep her on fulltime please! General Manager / Credit Cache"

"Naomi helped us to incorporate and obtain an off-shore banking license. She offered expert advice and even secured us a correspondence banking relationship in the US. We are now up and running and are very grateful for the 24/7 support she provided. We recommend Co-Counsel because they worked around the clock to assist us. Director / Nevis Bank "

Why Choose Co-Counsel?

01

We assist banks, financial institutions, lenders, tech, foreign financial service providers, private equity, FinTechs, payment service providers, BNPL, aggregators, and finance brokers

02

We are a one stop shop for regulatory, financing, licensing, risk & compliance matters

03

Our staff are top tier trained and have a deep knowledge of issues effecting the banking, credit and financial services industry

04

We have long established relationships with regulators and can negotiate better outcomes for our clients

Trusted & professional
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Our Services

Risk Management

We provide risk management solutions complementing your business needs to deliver innovative, practical and cost effective solutions to a broad range of risk management issues. We develop risk management initiatives proportionate to the level of risk in your organisation aligned with your strategic and operational objectives. We then operationalise effective enterprise risk management processes into your organisation to mitigate risk and non-compliance. The financial services and credit industry is constantly facing legal, regulatory, financial, technological, economic and reputational related risks. Our risk analysts and lawyers can assist you to navigate risks to your business by assessing, managing and mitigating those risks.

Regulatory Compliance

We offer a unique combination of regulatory and compliance advisory and consulting services. As the finance and credit industry faces increasingly complex challenges associated with changing regulations, we assist in assessing and controlling risks and ensuring that regulatory compliance strategies are in place to mitigate compliance risks. We advise on varied and complex issues specific to the financial services and credit industry and provide a range of solutions to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory regimes. We have extensive industry experience advising on compliance issues and have experience in designing and implementing compliance frameworks, operationalising compliance processes and controls and assessing and mitigating organisational compliance risks.

Banking & Finance

We are experts in Australian, UK and Pacific Island banking laws and regularly assist our clients to obtain banking licences and restricted ADIs. We also set up domestic and off-shore banks. Our lawyers are also specialists in leverage and acquisition finance, corporate lending and structured finance, bi-lateral and syndicated loans and real estate finance, and act regularly for both lenders and sponsors in both the Australian and European markets. They have experience working for magic circle and top tier law firms, as well as for investment banks and debt funds. We therefore pride ourselves on being able to provide legal solutions taking into account commercial driving factors, any stage of a deal – from advising on the capital structure/term sheet, through to documentation, deal execution and completion mechanics.

Financial Services

If you have a business providing financial services or financial products to clients, you will need to apply for an AFS License or seek approval to be an authorised representative. We can assist you with both. We can manage the entire AFSL application process for you by streamlining our services to your business requirements including guiding you on ongoing compliance requirements. Together, our lawyers have prepared over 5,000 licence applications nationally and we also provide Responsible Managers if required. We advise wholesale and retail financial services providers on market and regulatory requirements including AML/CTF Act, Corporations Act, the ASIC Act, National Consumer Credit Protection Act, Insurance Act, Life Insurance Act and the Privacy Act. Our expertise covers new product offerings, enforcement and investigations, governance, risk management, compliance, market conduct, complaints handling, financial crime and regulatory advice regarding transactions. We also advise on blockchain and crypto technologies and can help register digital currency exchange businesses with AUSTRAC, and implement an AML/CTF program.

Credit Services

As legal professionals in the credit industry, we regularly advise on consumer and commercial credit regulation and assist our clients in developing regulated and unregulated credit products. We have extensive experience in consumer finance products and services, non-cash payments, advertising and marketing compliance, design and distribution obligations, privacy, AML/CTF regime, credit cards, retail and personal loans and leases. If you have a consumer credit business or want to engage in credit activities you will need to apply for an ACL or receive approval from ASIC to be an authorised credit representative. We can assist with both by assisting you to register as a credit representative or we can manage the ACL application process for you. We can provide Responsible Managers if required. We are confident in navigating the entire licencing process and dealing with ASIC.

AML/CTF

If you need advice on compliance with AML /CFT laws or need to understand whether you provide designated services speak to our consultants. We have extensive experience assisting reporting entities to register with AUSTRAC and comply with AML/CTF laws, rules and regulations. If you provide designated services, we can help you to create an AML/CTF Program ensuring it complies with AML/CTF laws and KYC obligations. Alternatively, we can conduct an independent audit of your current Program to assess your compliance with the AML/CTF Act. We respond to evolving compliance requirements by regularly providing simple but effective compliance solutions to suit the designated services provided by our clients. We have regularly assisted with AUSTRAC investigations and enforcement action and prepared suspicious matter and threshold transaction reports. We regularly undertake annual risk assessments and facilitate AML/CTF courses and workshops.

Corporate Governance

Board members and corporations now face significant reputational risk with the onset of increasing regulatory, risk management and compliance requirements and potential enforcement action from regulators. With boards subject to the requirement to assess and improve corporate governance, effective systems must be in place to mitigate the risk of corporate misconduct. We advise boards, executives, company secretaries and directors in the financial services and credit industry on a full range of corporate governance issues. We also implement effective governance policies and procedures and help boards and executives to discharge their duties and mitigate any risk of misconduct. We have expertise in operationalising corporate governance frameworks and implementing governance structures in compliance with laws, regulations and best practice.

Privacy and Data Protection

Australian privacy laws affect almost every organisation in Australia with the European Union’s GDPR also having far reaching effect for Australian businesses that process personal data relating to individuals in the European Union. We advise on a full range of privacy laws and legislation, data protection, data management, cyber security and security breach notification laws and undertake security postures for both the public and private sectors. Australian organisations are at risk of cyber-attack and many businesses do not have an effective data breach response plan in place. We help you protect, detect and respond to security events by conducting security postures and advising on privacy, data protection, cloud services, risk insurance and transfers of data outside of Australia. We also design and implement full suite privacy and data protection policies to ensure compliance with evolving privacy laws and cross-border transfers of data.

Global Secretariat Services

Outsourcing your secretariat services is a solution to help your company reduce costs, streamline workloads, improve efficiencies and support strategic initiatives. We work with the financial services industry to provide professional corporate and legal secretariat support services for the benefit of cross border teams or other international stakeholders.

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