Samantha Shields

Partner

Samantha is a financial services regulatory partner with over two decades’ experience gained in Sydney and London across private practice, investment banks (on secondment), and consulting. She has a proven track record of advising on highly technical legal issues and leading multidisciplinary regulatory change and remediation projects.

Her background in consulting and in-house secondments gives her a unique perspective on how advice needs to work across the business. She is recognised for combining deep industry expertise with strategic focus, and for building trusted relationships through her collaborative style, commercial approach, and sharp focus on outcomes. Clients value her ability to provide advice that is not only technically strong but clear, practical, and actionable for decision-makers. This approach provides organisations with the regulatory foundations required to support business performance and withstand regulatory scrutiny.

She advises banks, funds, payment providers, brokers, fintechs, and market participants on the full spectrum of regulatory requirements, including licensing, product disclosure & documentation, AML/CTF, derivatives, breach reporting, and engagement with regulators.

Prior to joining Hamilton Locke, Sam was a partner at KPMG as well as working at Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance and HDY.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Financial Services Regulation; Derivates; AML/CTF; Financial Services; Regulatory; Corporate Advisory

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce – University of Sydney
Admitted to practice in New South Wales

SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS

Advised banks, fund managers, payments companies, digital asset providers, brokers, and product issuers on their Australian financial services licensing including licensing and related advice, obligations registers, client monies, breach reporting and relief applications.
Design and implementation of a new disclosure process for a large fund manager including consideration of roles and responsibilities, design of controls and providing all supporting documentation and procedures.
Advised on client agreements, product terms and conditions, disclosure documents, distribution agreements, DDO advice and documentation.
Review and uplift of derivative transaction reporting obligations mapping and supporting processes for multiple large fund managers and foreign banks.
Advice on whether a product is a derivative for the purposes of the Corporations Act, margin implementation, derivatives transaction reporting, ISDA negotiation.
Advised on the interpretation of consumer credit contract terms and related breach report to ASIC.
Advised multiple banks on remediation projects.
Advice on new product structures and ACL requirements.
Assist global exchanges to obtain market licences; advice on licensing and exemptions for platform providers.
Advice on AML/CTF including requirement to be enrolled with AUSTRAC, advice to a foreign bank on IFTI reporting scenarios following communications from the regulator (AUSTRAC) regarding accuracy of reporting. IFTI advice to global payment provider.
Bank licensing and APRA regulatory advice: AFSL, FSSA for foreign banks entering the Australian market; advice on margin implementation for OTC derivatives; advice on resolution and recovery planning.