Michael Bracken

Michael Bracken is a highly regarded expert in financial services including financial markets, financial institutions, insurance, banking, payments and funds. He has specialist expertise in prudential regulation, governance and the mutual sector.

Michael has extensive experience advising insurers, reinsurers, banks, mutual banks, financial service providers and corporate organisations on complex regulatory, governance, mergers, corporate, transactional and commercial matters including regulatory compliance, prudential and corporate governance, licensing, disclosure, product development, distribution and marketing.

Michael has a particular interest in fintech, platforms and the digital economy and advises clients on the development and launch of innovative financial products and solutions.

Michael has been practising for approximately four decades and has a broad corporate and practice focussing on the financial services sector. He is also highly experienced in advising boards and senior executives of regulated financial institutions on directors' duties, governance obligations and prudential risk management.

Michael's practice has broad coverage of the full life cycle of a financial services business. He advises on the development and distribution of financial products, licensing and authorisation frameworks, credit compliance, governance for regulated entities, strategic alliances, digital banking and payment systems, agency and broker arrangements, commission and settlement agreements, and complex risk transfer structures.

Michael has a commercial aptitude in assisting his clients to navigate the financial services regulatory frameworks which apply to each industry sector and to achieve solutions to legal, regulatory, commercial and financial challenges. He provides strategic, pragmatic, and solutions-focused advice, and takes a collaborative and commercial approach when working with his clients.

His extensive industry knowledge, regulator relationships with ASIC and APRA, deep understanding of regulatory and policy reform and focus on insurance, customer-owned banking and financial services sectors enables him to provide clear, commercially driven advice in highly regulated environments.

Michael prioritises clear communication, proactive risk management, and tailored guidance to support sustainable business growth and regulatory compliance.

Michael’s depth of expertise spans the and the operations of financial sector participants, including corporate advisory, transactional, corporate governance, regulatory and prudential compliance. He advises Boards and directors on risk and liability associated with the financial services business, product offering, transactions and operations.

Michael's expertise has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia for Commercial Law every year since 2017 and Insurance Law in 2026.  In 2021, he was also named a Finalist for Banking and Finance Partner of the Year in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards.