Sonja Marsic
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia
Related services and key industries
Biography
Sonja is a partner in our risk advisory team and is among the most successful solicitor prosecutors of financial crime and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) cases in Australia. She has over 25 years' experience in civil enforcement, civil investigations and statutory interpretation.
Sonja was previously a senior executive lawyer with the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) conducting litigation and advising on anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulation, financial regulation, consumer law and other civil regulation for a broad range of Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Sonja acted for the AUSTRAC CEO in each of the landmark cases under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 resulting in significant civil penalties.
Sonja advised AUSTRAC on the development, drafting and implementation of the AML/CTF Act and Rules in Australia. She also assisted AUSTRAC with industry consultation.
Sonja also has a strong background in statutory interpretation, having worked in the Office of General Counsel at AGS. In January 2022, she was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for her services to the law.
Sonja has presented on AML/CTF at numerous forums, including for ACAMs.
Professional experience
Collapse all- Bachelor of Commerce/Law, University of New South Wales (1992)
- Supreme Court of New South Wales 1994
- 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 Investments and Securities Commission – Sonja was part of the Australian Government Solicitor team representing ASIC in the ASIC v NAB misleading fee disclosure matter. The Federal Court recently ordered NAB to pay a civil penalty of $18.5 million.
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – Sonja assisted the Commissioner in relation to litigation involving Facebook.
- APRA – following the HIH Commission's report, Sonja assisted APRA with its disqualification decisions and subsequent litigation. She acted on behalf of APRA in disciplinary matters under the Insurance Act 1973, including litigation before both the Federal Court in the matter of Kamha and before the AAT in the matter of Slee.
- Other civil penalties and regulatory enforcement – conducted several civil penalty prosecutions for other Australian Government agencies, including consumer protection matters for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (including the Origin Energy door-to-door sales matter), an environmental matter under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (Minister v Greentree) and prosecutions under the Customs Act 1901 on illegal cigarette importations.
- Other significant Commonwealth litigation – Sonja assisted with the various Spencer v Commonwealth matters relating to the validity of intergovernmental schemes involving the acquisition of property.
- Administrative law – acted in numerous administrative law matters both before the Federal Court and the AAT, including matters under the Insurance Act 1973, the EPBC Act, the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, the Classification (Publications, Films, and Computer Games) Act 1995 and the Safety, Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1988.
- General advice and statutory interpretation – provided advice on statutory interpretation matters for a broad range of Commonwealth entities. Acted for Commonwealth agencies on several complex employment disputes involving consideration of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. Also advised the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority on National Quality Standards.
- Awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for services to the law.
- English