Fiona Smedley
Fiona helps clients in relation to financial services regulatory issues and all aspects of funds management.
Fiona works with leading Australian and international clients in the financial services sector on a broad range of financial services regulatory and funds matters, including regulatory advice (including design and distribution obligations (DDO) and foreign financial service provider (FFSP) AFSL exemptions), capital management, acquisitions and disposals, retail and wholesale public offerings and the structuring and establishment of retail and wholesale funds.
Fiona has worked with Treasury, ASIC and industry bodies in relation to financial services reform and developments including DDO, product intervention powers, FFSP AFSL exemptions, employee share plan exemptions, shorter PDSs and corporate collective investment vehicles and participated in Treasury and Senate managed investment scheme and wholesale client consultations.
Fiona is recognised as a leading investment funds lawyer and as a leading financial services regulation lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific.
Fiona has also been named as one of Australia’s best funds management lawyers in the Best Lawyers peer review surveys each year since 2010 and as Best Lawyers’ “Sydney Investment Law Lawyer of the Year” in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- HMC Capital on the launch and listing of DigiCo Infrastructure REIT in December 2024, the largest ASX float since 2018, with a market capitalisation of A$2.75 billion on listing
- MA Financial on its first listed private credit investment trust, MA Credit Income Trust (MA1) and the launch of an unlisted registered managed investment scheme
- a range of overseas banks, fund managers and asset managers in relation to accessing the foreign financial service provider (FFSP) AFSL exemptions
- Blackrock on the Australian aspects of its acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners to create an infrastructure investing platform with combined client AUM of approximately $170 billion
- AMP Capital Funds Management on responding to a range of management control proposals including advising on the stapling merger of the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund and Dexus Wholesale Property Fund to create a diversified wholesale property fund with A$13.4bn in core real estate assets
- AXA on its acquisition of Eureka Funds Management with $4.2 billion+ of assets under management
- Citi in relation to its range of ASX listed and Cboe listed warrants
- a range of Australian and international groups in relation to offering equity employee incentives including FCPE and phantom unit offers
- a range of platforms, fund managers and banks in relation to the impact of, and responding to, regulatory reforms including design and distribution obligations and conflicted remuneration reforms
Background
Fiona joined the firm in 1998, co-chairs the Sydney graduate recruitment program and participates in the firm’s pro bono program.
