The Legal 500

Ashurst LLP’s ‘extremely responsive’ team of ‘high performers’ provides ‘stellar advice’ to IT suppliers, corporates and media companies. Robert Todd advised Foxtel on the regulatory aspects of media reform, and ‘trusted adviser’ Gordon Hughes’ clients include National E-Conveyancing Development. Tim Brookes advised NBN Co on implementing the National Broadband Network (NBN). Maria Marinelli provides ‘no nonsense’ advice.

The ‘client-focused’ team at Herbert Smith Freehills provides an ‘outstanding service’ across the full gamut of TMT, with clients including BHP Biliton and the Western Australian Government. Damien Bailey advises Asian telecoms firms, and Julian Lincoln demonstrates ‘excellent relationship skills’. James Crowe advised Telstra on inter-carrier supply agreements, and Fiona Gardiner-Hill advised on the formation of Seven West Media.The ‘very experienced’ Lesley Sutton provides ‘on point advice’. Defamation expert Leanne Norman departed for Banki Haddock Fiora.

Gilbert + Tobin advises on regulatory matters and IT outsourcing and service agreements. Bill Spain and Peter Waters assisted Telstra with its full structural separation; Peter Leonard has an ‘astute understanding of public policy issues clients should consider’; Sheila McGregor handles transformation projects; and Bernadette Jew goes ‘the extra mile’. Team head Peter Jones is particularly active in Indonesia.

King & Wood Mallesons demonstrates ‘strong industry knowledge’, advising on business processing and large-scale IT outsourcing. Neil Carabine and ‘strong performer’ Cheng Lim advised Telstra on subscriber agreements for the migration of customers to the NBN, while Renae Lattey and Nicole Heller handled the infrastructure services agreement. Katrina Rathie continues to defend LG Electronics in a Federal Court claim brought by Samsung. Mark Weber takes a ‘practical approach to finding workable solutions’.

Anthony Lloyd leads the ‘great team’ at Minter Ellison, which is ‘second to none’. It provides transactional IT advice to clients including SingTel Optus, and Richard Dammery recently acted for NBN Co on contractual arrangements for interim satellite services. Debra Tippett advises public sector clients on ICT procurement, contract management and strategy. Peter Bartlett shows ‘excellent judgement’ and an ‘appreciation of the client’s aims’. Anthony Borgese joined in April 2012 from King & Wood Mallesons.

Allens’ group is led by IT specialist Michael Pattison, and clients include Westpac and Vodafone Hutchison. Ian McGill provides ‘very good’ M&A advice to media clients, and Gavin Smith handles offshore matters and platform development. Niranjan Arasaratnam has a strong China practice and handles cross-border mobile licensing and procurement agreements.

Clayton Utz recently advised Seven Network on acquiring free-to-air television rights for programmes including the AFL. The group’s appointment to NBN Co’s panel provides a steady flow of instructions concerning migration agreements and relationships with contractors. Kate Jordan and e-commerce specialist Jim Fitzsimons head the team.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s ‘multi-faceted approach’ and ‘breadth of resources’, enable it to ‘consistently provide comprehensive’ advice. Andrew Messenger acted for the Commonwealth Government on the NBN project, and Philip Catania is advising the Australian Water Corporation on technology outsourcing. James North and the ‘highly rated’ Peter Ickeringill are other names to note.

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘efficient’ Sydney-based team ‘demonstrates a keen desire to complete projects rapidly without compromising quality’. Clients include various ICT suppliers and telecoms companies including Singtel Optus. ‘Superb negotiator’ Anthony Foley advised Hewlett-Packard on its IT and telecoms agreement with Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Ann-Marie Allgrove and Andrew Stewart are also recommended.

DLA Piper Australia provides an ‘excellent service’ coupled with ‘practical commercial guidance’. ‘Exceptional star’ Caroline Atkins advises government bodies, including the Department of Finance, on large IT projects. Anthony Willis advises a number of construction clients on outsourcing and regulatory matters. Judith Miller is also recommended.

Henry Davis York advises financial services, technology and public sector clients on strategic IT projects and technology procurement. The ‘commercially sound’ Peter Mulligan advised Global Television on an outsourcing agreement with Premier Media Group to provide studios for Fox Sports. Team head Robert Neely has ‘broad expertise’ and ‘excellent industry knowledge’.

Norton Rose Australia’s ‘very responsive’ transactional practice advises a number of government bodies, and won appointments to the panels of Microsoft and Vodafone Hutchison. ‘Commercially astute’ team head Nick Abrahams acted for Sensis on its digital transformation project, and is advising Microsoft on its cloud computing service. Recent arrival Martyn Taylor has regulatory expertise.

Webb Henderson’s Angus Henderson is ‘one of Australia’s best’ for regulatory advice, and recently advised NBN Co and Singtel on national broadband projects. Ara Margossian is also recommended.

Banki Haddock Fiora’s Bruce Burke acts for insurers, television networks and print publishers in defamation proceedings, while Peter Knight advises suppliers and corporates on IT matters. Leanne Norman joined from Herbert Smith Freehills in 2012.

HWL Ebsworth recruited venerated government contract expert Angela Summersby from Ashurst LLP to help build its new Canberra office.

Maddocks provides ‘value for money’ advice in a ‘prompt and timely’ fashion. Telecoms-focused Brendan Coady counts Samsung and Nintendo as clients. Special counsel Michael Argy joined in 2011.

Tim Clark heads up the small group at Piper Alderman where expertise includes cloud computing. Richard Chew joined from King & Wood Mallesons in 2012.

Truman Hoyle’s Shane Barber provides ‘excellent advice’ based on ‘very good industry knowledge’. Clients include Vodafone Hutchison.