Sonja Marsic
Biography
Sonja is a partner in our risk advisory team and a leading expert in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing law (AML/CTF), with over 30 years’ experience.
Sonja acted for the AUSTRAC CEO in each of the landmark cases under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) resulting in significant civil penalties.
In 2005 Sonja advised government on the development, drafting and implementation of the AML/CTF Act and Rules in Australia. More recently, she has facilitated consultations between Government and industry on the current AML/CTF reforms.
Since moving to private practice in 2023, Sonja has been advising regulated entities on how to navigate the risk-based obligations in the AML/CTF Act. Having acted for both the regulator and industry, Sonja has unique insights into balancing regulatory risk and operationalising compliance.
Sonja has deep perspectives on regulatory risk and corporate governance, having acted for a broad range of Commonwealth regulators in relation to investigations, enforcement and civil penalties. She was also on the solicitor assisting team of the Financial Services and HIH Royal Commissions.
Sonja was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for her services to the law.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
- AML/CTF advisory – Sonja has advised financial institutions and other regulated entities on a broad range of matters including:
- the application of the AML/CTF reforms - including strategic advice to management
- rationalising AML/CTF programs to better reflect risk-based approaches whilst safely managing regulatory risk
- independent reviews of AML/CTF programs
- regulatory investigations
- IFTI requirements and conducting IFTI compliance reviews
- the scope of designated services under the AML/CTF Act
- Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre - Sonja led AUSTRAC’s landmark civil penalty proceedings for contraventions of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, including most recently in civil penalty proceedings against the operator of online betting sites.
- Royal Commissions – assisted the Financial Services Royal Commission and the HIH Royal Commission with the examination of a range of financial market, corporate governance, and regulatory issues.
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and Australian Investments and Securities Commission - Sonja has advised and represented APRA and ASIC in regulatory matters, including civil penalties and disciplinary matters.
- Integrity - Sonja advised a Commonwealth entity in relation to the corrupt conduct by an employee, which resulted in the first arrest and charging of a public official under the National-Anti-Corruption Act 2022
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – assisted the Commissioner in Australian Information Commissioner v Facebook (Inc) and Facebook Ireland – relating to alleged serious and repeated breaches of the Privacy Act 1988 relating to Cambridge Analytica.
- Law reform – Sonja has decades of experience advising on law reform, particularly with respect to AML/CTF. She also advised the Therapeutic Goods Administration on the development and implementation of reforms to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 prohibiting the import, manufacture, advertising, supply and commercial possession of unlawful vaping goods.
Rankings and recognitions
Rankings and recognitions
- Awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for services to the law.
Education
Education
- Bachelor of Commerce/Law, University of New South Wales (1992)
Admissions
Admissions
- Supreme Court of New South Wales 1994
Languages
Languages
- English
Insights and news
Insights
