Norton Rose Fulbright offices. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has moved financial services regulatory partner Charlotte Henry from London to Sydney, as Australian banks, investment funds and insurers grapple with tougher regulation.

The firm described the move as "strategic" and said Henry adds significant strength to its Australian financial services regulatory practice.

"Charlotte brings to our Australian financial services team a unique exposure to the full spectrum of retail banking products and services, and a wide breadth of transactional and advisory experience," Norton Rose's Australia managing partner Wayne Spanner said in a statement.

Spanner noted that Henry has made the move to Sydney at a time of heightened interest in financial services regulation in Australia, following a government investigation that found gross misconduct and dishonesty in many parts of the financial sector, including in Australia's major banks.

The government has since agreed to a wide range of changes to regulations governing consumer and small business lending, the provision of financial advice, insurance and investment management, and a strengthening of the regulation and supervision of financial institutions.

Henry brings experience in retail banking, advisory business lines, wealth management, consumer products and services, corporate governance, and payments (including open banking), both as a partner and as a former regulator at the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority, Norton Rose said.

The report from Australia's government-initiated inquiry provided details of unethical and improper behavior in the financial sector, including that financial institutions charged clients for financial advice they did not receive, even charging dead customers; lent to customers without verifying their ability to repay; and charged commissions without informing customers.

It recommended a wide range of changes to regulations governing consumer and small business lending, the provision of financial advice, insurance and investment management, the majority of which the government has accepted. The report also recommended that the regulation and supervision of financial institutions should be strengthened in some areas.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the country's corporate regulator, has also stated that it expects to take more legal action as part of its enforcement activities.

Last year, Australia has also introduced the Banking Executive Accountability Regime, which established heightened expectations of accountability for authorised deposit-taking institutions, their directors and senior executives.

Law firms have been busy advising clients on these changes.

The Australian arm of Norton Rose has been bolstering its ranks of partners this year, hiring Jessica Davies from Clifford Chance and David Jewkes from King & Wood Mallesons, both joining the corporate M&A team.

It also hired Holly McAdam, Richard Morrison and Martin Taylor from the national firm Sparke Helmore Lawyers, and Catherine Whitby from Clayton Utz, another national firm, to join its Canberra national government team.