Financial Services is the fastest growing sector of the economy and has profound implications for individuals, corporations and government. Financial services include: deposit taking, superannuation, insurance, financial advice, investments, the provision of credit and payment systems. This course is being offered at a time of great change in financial services law with the introduction of the Financial Services Reform legislation; the impact of globalisation on Australian financial institutions; and a growth of litigation and regulatory activity in the area.
The course offers the student a comprehensive overview of the legal and regulatory structure of financial services; commentary on recent case law; and a detailed study of legislative reform. The course considers compliance issues in financial services including licensing, codes of conduct and disclosure. Further issues for consideration include the importance of quasi law in driving industry practice; the effectiveness of regulatory neutrality for diverse financial products and the characterisation of wholesale and retail markets for financial products.