Sónia has a unique blend of practical financial services and compliance experience based on over 21 years’ experience across a range of financial services sectors. She works with clients applying for credit or financial services licences by navigating the intricacies of licensing and preparing their business to operate in a regulated environment.
Sónia provides licensing and compliance advice to a broad range of financial services and credit businesses, including financial planners, insurers, insurance brokers, underwriting agencies, lenders, mortgage brokers, payment providers, fund/investment managers, participants in the carbon markets, FX businesses and cryptocurrency businesses. She manages the preparation of the documents required for applications, liaises with ASIC on complex licence requisitions, advises applicants on licensing strategy and provides compliance advice. Sónia works closely with the legal team to support clients in finding practical and commercial solutions to operating financial services and credit businesses. Sónia has worked on over 500+ licence applications, licence variations and Responsible Manager appointments.
Sonia routinely provides input to ASIC on the licensing process by participating in the ASIC Licensing Liaison meetings and has been invited to provide detailed feedback on major changes to licensing.
Prior to joining Hamilton Locke, Sónia worked at The Fold Legal, which merged with Hamilton Locke on 1 September 2022. Prior to that, she held roles across a number of multinational organisations encompassing compliance, financial planning and stock broking.
