Licensing & Regulatory Advisory
Bardin advises clients on Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and Australian Credit Licence (ACL) matters across a range of regulated business models, including fund managers, non-bank lenders, insurance intermediaries and professional services firms.
Our licensing advisory services include:
- Assessing proposed activities against AFSL or ACL authorisations
- Advising on licensing pathways, scope and regulatory considerations
- Identifying and documenting Responsible Manager competency requirements
- Assisting with preparation and coordination of licence application materials
- Supporting responses to ASIC information requests during the assessment process
We also advise existing licence holders on:
- Variations to licence conditions or authorisations
- Changes to Responsible Managers
- Licensing considerations arising from changes to business activities or structure
Regulatory Interpretation & Engagement
Bardin provides regulatory advisory support to help licensees interpret and respond to ASIC regulatory guidance and expectations.
Our services include:
- Advisory support on ASIC regulatory guides and policy positions
- Assistance interpreting regulatory obligations in the context of proposed or existing business models
- Support preparing for and responding to regulator engagement and enquiries
- Advisory input on regulatory considerations associated with growth, restructuring or new initiatives
This support is focused on regulatory interpretation and positioning, rather than operational compliance delivery.
Governance & Risk (Licensing Context Only)
Effective governance and risk frameworks are central to licence approval and ongoing regulatory confidence. Bardin provides licensing-focused governance and risk advisory, limited to what is relevant for regulatory assessment and licence sustainability.
This may include:
- Advisory input on governance structures relevant to organisational competence
- Guidance on risk framework design as it relates to licensing expectations
- Identification of governance or risk gaps relevant to licence applications or variations
This advisory work is limited to licensing and regulatory considerations and does not involve implementation, monitoring or ongoing risk management activities.
Policy Advisory (Licensing Scope)
Bardin assists clients with policy advisory work directly connected to licensing and regulatory expectations, including:
- Advising on policy requirements relevant to AFSL or ACL applications
- Reviewing draft policies for licensing suitability and regulatory alignment
- Identifying policy gaps that may impact licence approval or regulatory standing
Policy implementation, maintenance and ongoing compliance support are provided separately under Bardin’s Compliance & Risk Services.
Our Approach
Bardin’s licensing and regulatory advisory services are designed to:
Clarify regulatory expectations
Support informed decision-making
Assist clients to engage confidently with regulators
Establish defensible licensing arrangements
We work collaboratively with boards, Responsible Managers and senior leadership, providing clear, proportionate and well-reasoned advice without assuming governance or compliance responsibility.
Important Information
Licensing and regulatory advisory services are advisory in nature and do not transfer regulatory accountability from the client.
Responsibility for compliance, governance and regulatory reporting remains with the licence holder and its Responsible Managers.
Bardin does not provide legal advice. Independent legal advice should be obtained where required.