We're delighted to announce that Patrick Dwyer will be joining Langes, as a partner, in early July. He will be based in our Sydney office.

Patrick was previously General Counsel Home Lending with GE Money. He's been with GE for 6 years. Prior to that he was with Coudert Brothers LLP (including almost 5 years in New York) and Baker & McKenzie, and in the early 90s he spent 4 years at Cuscal as a Compliance Manager where he got to know many people still involved in the credit union industry.

He has also had stints working as an adviser in government and for the Commonwealth Bank Officers Association.

Patrick will bring to the firm a wealth of experience in relation to financial services law and other areas of practice, and his presence will further enhance the enviable reputation Langes already enjoys in the financial services sector.

Treasury has issued a Consultation Paper on Proposed Financial Sector Levies for 2009-10 .

Citing the increase in APRA staff due to increased supervisory requirements as well as a shared increase in ASIC and ATO costs, the proposed ADI increase in levies is 12.1% with the maximum going up to $1.6M.

The Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2008 passed by the Queensland Parliament on October 7, 2008, amending the Consumer Credit Code were given effect on Monday, June 1, by gazettal in Queensland.

The amendments ensured that “terms sale of land”, “conditional sale agreements” and “tiny terms contracts” were brought within the scope of the code. These practices were, arguably, already covered by the code. However, due to doubts raised in the Post Implementation and National Competition Policy Reviews, it was recommended the code be amended, through technical redrafting, to put the situation beyond doubt.