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Prayas Pradhan
Special Counsel, Sydney
I am a financial services regulatory specialist. I focus on the wealth, funds management and fintech sectors, particularly payments and digital assets. I am trusted for my technical expertise, and practical solutions, on the AFSL, ACL and AML/CTF regimes, and payments and digital asset regulation in Australia.

I advise Australian and international corporate clients on a broad spectrum of licensing and regulatory matters. I utilise my expertise to assess the application of our various financial services laws, including payments and digital asset regulation, to client's businesses and different product proposals.

For those falling within Australia's financial services regulatory perimeter, I have extensive experience applying for and maintaining an AFSL and registration with AUSTRAC, securing exemptions, guiding clients through breach reporting protocols, liaison with ASIC and AUSTRAC, compliance with the ban on conflicted remuneration and shelf space fees, negotiating distribution agreements, the preparation and review of AML/CTF programs and bespoke advice on financial crime matters.

In addition, I have strong experience advising major financial services companies on regulatory aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.

Career highlights

  • Alipay, Apple, AMEX eBay, Wirex, Ripple, Swyftx, Binance Australia, Paxos, Circle Mint, Ledn: Advised on the application of Australia’s financial services licensing, credit licensing, AML/CTF and payments legislation to various payments and digital asset-focused business structures and proposals.
  • Ripple: Assisted Ripple with the launch of their new stablecoin, RLUSD, in Australia.
  • Sharesies: Helped Sharesies launch their fractionalised share trading platform in Australia, including to apply for and obtain an AFSL.
  • AMEX, BNY Mellon, CBA, IAG, Mastercard, Mercer, Morgan Stanley, NAB, Suncorp, TAL, Westpac: Advised on application of financial services, credit licensing and prudential requirements to various business structures and proposals.
  • Adara, CBA, Challenger, CHAMP Private Equity, Cromwell Property Group, CUA, Magellan, Metrics, Police Bank, Swiss Re, TAL, Vanguard, Victorian Government and Westpac: Advised on the AML/CTF regime and underlying obligations, assisted with AUSTRAC exemption applications where applicable and developed or reviewed AML/CTF programs.
  • AMP, ANZ/OnePath, Clearview, HUB24, Morgan Stanley, MLC, NAB, Westpac: Advised extensively on FOFA/LIF obligations particularly conflicted remuneration, volume-based shelf-space fees and adviser disclosure.
  • Affiliated Managers Group, Fulcrum, Manulife, Prudential, Swiss Re, Voleon, Wellington Management: Advised extensively on the application of the foreign financial service provider regulatory regime.
  • IAG: Advised IAG on its $1.85bn acquisition of the Australian and New Zealand insurance underwriting business of Wesfarmers Limited.
  • Nomura Research Institute: Advised on their acquisition of AUSIEX, CBA's wholesale sharebroking business (2021) and fixed income trading business FIIG.

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