Sophie Anne Clark

Senior Advisor - Risk Advisory
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

Sydney
Australia
T:+61 2 9330 8178
Sydney
Australia
T:+61 2 9330 8178
Sophie Anne Clark

Sophie Anne Clark

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Biography

Sophie is a Senior Advisor in the Risk Advisory team based in Sydney.

Sophie is a payments and financial services lawyer with over 10 years' experience in the legal industry. She has held senior in-house positions at leading payments and fintech companies in both Australia and Singapore.

Sophie spent over 5 years working at leading payments provider, PayPal, where she gained extensive cross-border payments and regulatory experience. In her time at PayPal Singapore, she was responsible for the Hong Kong SAR China, South Korea, Taiwan markets and provided product and financial services advice, general commercial advice as well as strategic regulatory advice with respect to data and privacy.

Sophie also has a strong anti-money laundering background, having worked on one of the most significant financial crimes-related audits ever undertaken by Australia's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC. During which, she dedicated her time to clarifying how various payment technology and services are regulated under Australian law.

Prior to joining the firm, Sophie led the legal, risk and compliance function at Slyp, where she sharpened her skills as general counsel for one of Australia's growing FinTech's, a digital receipts provider backed by Australia's big four banks.

Sophie's practice focuses on regulatory advice and navigating complex legal challenges posed by evolving technology.


Professional experience

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·       Bachelor of Law, University of Technology, Sydney (2013)

·       Bachelor of International Studies (China), University of Technology, Sydney (2013)

  • Supreme Court of New South Wales 2014
  • High Court of Australia 2023

Payments

·       PayPal Australia – advised on compliance with local laws and regulations with respect to the company's new and existing services, including engagement with regulators (such as ASIC, APRA and AUSTRAC) to address clarify any potential challenges raised by way of evolving technology.

·       PayPal Singapore – responsible for the Hong Kong SAR China, South Korea and Taiwan markets. Sophie provided general commercial advice with respect to sales and marketing activity, as well as significant time establishing regulatory strategies with respect to compliance with local law in those markets with respect to cross-border payments and consumer privacy / data concerns.

FinTech

·       Slyp – led the legal, risk and compliance function for an Australian Fintech, Slyp. Slyp is ISO 27001 certified, and Sophie's role included providing product, governance and regulatory advice, as well as advising on the implications and requirements when collecting, holding and using consumer data. Further, Slyp's board is comprised of representative directors from each of Australia's big four banks and Sophie provides company secretary duties on an ongoing basis. Confidential experience

·       New South Wales Law Society (2014)

  • English