A compliance lawyer or compliance adviser can help your business understand what laws, policies and regulations are relevant to your company and how your company can meet these requirements. In particular a lawyer will be able to advise you on how to meet your obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and any other applicable written law.

This may be as simple as lodging the correct form with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and at other times it may mean writing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing a compliance program. The complexity of the compliance program will depend on:

• the type of business you are in;
• the size of your business;
• the nature of your business;
• the structure of your business; and
• the risk profile of your business.

A compliance lawyer or adviser will help you to understand how each of these characteristics will affect your compliance obligations under Commonwealth corporations law. They will understand the specific nature of your business and its risk profile and can guide you through the maze of compliance requirements in order to ensure your business will comply with the relevant laws, regulations and guidance without it being an unnecessary burden to your company.