Michael has over 30 years’ experience in financial services. Michael’s primary area of focus and expertise is on the regulation of retail financial services,
insurance, platforms and products and, in particular, strategic regulatory advice and investigations. He is a recognised expert and thought leader in the
area of financial services regulation, and is regularly nominated a leading practitioner in this space and quoted in the financial press.
Michael is widely recognised as a leader in his field and is regularly at the forefront of debating and developing new law. He is one of two practitioners
recently inducted into the financial services Hall of Fame. His advice is routinely sought in relation to strategic management of regulatory matters,
including liaising with the lead Australian financial services regulators APRA and ASIC and is routinely regarded as the leading Financial Services
practitioner in this space.
Relevant experience:
• Working with the FSC and other industry participants to provide comments on,and seek changes to, the drafting of section 99FA of the SIS Act
• Regulatory engagement including with ASIC in relation to successful negotiations avoiding litigation, successfully defending a banning order,
negotiating the iExtend enforceable undertakings
• AMP and Allianz RetirePlus on the launch of innovative longevity income stream products
• Suncorp Group on its $640 million sale of its life insurance business to TAL Dai-ichi, including negotiation of a 20 year distribution arrangement in
respect of life insurance
• BT on the re-negotiation of its related party administration, custody and cash management services agreements for its superannuation business,
including advice on technology and product migration issues, complex fee structuring and navigating heightened APRA scrutiny
• Colonial First State on restructuring of its superannuation business
• Challenger on various successor fund transfers
• an industry fund on the revocation of APRA license conditions
• an overseas private equity firm on the restructure of ownership in an RSE
• various superannuation fund trustees on the application of the new APRA performance test
