Any sophisticated economy in today’s technologically driven world requires an innovative, creative and entrepreneurial fintech sector. In New Zealand and globally, fintech industries are in a ferment of technological and regulatory change.
This is giving rise to a range of risks and opportunities, requiring an ability to obtain finance, develop new products and markets and to stay ahead of compliance obligations. Backed by a full-service firm, we can help navigate this complex and exciting landscape.
Our multi-disciplinary team of highly experienced lawyers includes finance, financial services regulation, corporate, intellectual property, cyber security and data protection, privacy, consumer law and technology experts. We bring deep expertise in both traditional and innovative banking and financial products, payments and other fintech offerings.
We regularly advise on the full range of regulatory compliance, contractual and other legal aspects of banking and financial products, payment systems and merchant arrangements, including on the legal and commercial aspects of retail banking, credit, debit and pre-paid cards, e-money, wallets, and online and mobile app-based offerings.
We work with a wide variety of domestic and offshore banks and other financial service providers, including banks, payment providers, credit card companies, currency exchange services, security trading platforms, industry bodies and technology providers.
Supporting all types of fintech businesses, from start-ups to established institutions, we can help with:
- Assisted multiple major New Zealand banks to prepare for the introduction of 7-day payments (SBI365) and impacts on treasury documentation.
- Assisted a wide range of international paytech providers on establishing and operating their businesses in New Zealand, including advising on commercial contracts and regulatory requirements.
- Advised a major international financial institution in relation to its global stablecoin project, including solutions-focused New Zealand regulatory advice.
- Regularly providing New Zealand regulatory advice on digital assets, tokens and crypto derivatives to clients including global law firms, fund managers, an international crypto exchange and a major international bank.
- Assisted large domestic and international businesses to analyse and submit on key NZ regulatory reform consultations, including open banking/customer data right (CDR) legislation and cyber-resilience. This has recently included advising a banking industry forum on the draft Customer and Product Data Bill.
- Advised an Australian business in relation to establishing an innovative wholesale financial product market in New Zealand, including engaging with relevant regulators and key exemptions.
- Advised buy-now-pay-later providers on establishing and operating their businesses in New Zealand, including advising on commercial contracts and regulatory requirements.
- Advised share and derivatives brokers on offering their e-trading platforms and digital wallets in New Zealand.
- Advising New Zealand’s largest payments switching provider on overhauling its arrangements with New Zealand’s major banks, and also on its wholesale and aggregation arrangements with other payments service providers.
- Advised a multinational fintech provider on its proposal to launch a digital wallet in New Zealand.
- Advised a large fund manager on the establishment of their robo-advice service.
- Advised a range of entities on fintech-related regulation, including recent financial markets infrastructure and payment system reforms.
- Advised on the regulatory dimensions of app-based payment solutions (both standalone and integrated into other platforms).
