Located in Sydney, the team at Allens is noted for its ‘strategic insight on commercial transactions and deep understanding of the market’, managing a workload which notably consists of cybersecurity strategic advice, complex procurement matters, and digital transformation projects. In recent months, practice head Gavin Smith has increasingly provided clients with complex advisory support related to digital transformation and the use of technology and data in business strategy. ‘Practical and business focused’ Jessica Mottau works with both public and private companies, as well as private equity firms, on in multi-jurisdictional transactions across a wide range of industries. Valeska Bloch – noted for her extensive knowledge of new technologies – is heavily involved in digital transformation projects.

Working across multiple offices on the East Coast, Ashurst is sought out by numerous technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) companies, as well as various public bodies, for its wide-ranging capabilities in digital infrastructure, digital services, and digital transformation projects. The team is headed up by Amanda Ludlow, a Brisbane-based practitioner who counts some of the market’s foremost tech multinationals among her client base. Public sector projects are a key area of expertise for the Canberra-based Angela Summersby, a seasoned advisor who anchors the team’s relationship with the commonwealth government. Sydney-based Tim Brookes possesses significant commercial and regulatory credentials, drawing praise from clients for ‘an encyclopedic understanding of the IT regulatory environment.’ Clare Doneley is the name to note in relation to privacy-related issues.

Praised for its ‘deep knowledge and expertise of the technology and digital subjects’, Clayton Utz fields a sizeable team of experts in this space, headed up by TMT chief Bruce Lloyd. Ken Saurajen, who chairs the IT transactional practice, is commended by clients for his commercial expertise, leading sizeable cross-disciplinary teams on multi-billion-dollar transactions. Senior associate Monique Azzopardi, whose workload spans across a range of IT procurements and transactions, is also recommended. Walid Sukari is also a notable practitioner when it comes to transactions, such as commercial contracting and information technology contracting. All lawyers mentioned are based in Sydney.

The ‘well resourced‘ team at Gilbert + Tobin is underpinned by strong, interdisciplinary relationships with the corporate and competition practices. On the telecoms side, the group is noted for its expertise in establishing joint ventures and alliances to commercialise data assets, routinely advising on multi-jurisdictional restructurings and reforming issues for key telecoms players. On the IT side, the Sydney-based Sheila McGregor boasts a vast knowledge of information technology law, while Simon Burns, also in Sydney, is regarded as ‘excellent with complex and novel technology projects’. With expertise spanning both sectors, Tim Gole is particularly recommended for his capabilities in contracting and regulatory work.

The practice at Herbert Smith Freehills regularly advises on a high volume of technology and communications transactions taking place in the Australian market, advising on the full life cycle of deals and other corporate matters. The practice is jointly led by the Melbourne-based Julian Lincoln and the Perth-based Tony Joyner, who head up the firm’s TMT & digital practice and the global tech team, respectively. Sydney-based Kwok Tang is noted for his expertise in emerging technologies, automation, and artificial intelligence, advising a range of clients in the financial services and media sectors, among others. Peter Jones has over 25 years’ experience in the technology and telecommunications field.

King & Wood Mallesons‘ dedicated ‘TechLaw’ team utilises an ‘in-depth knowledge of the telecommunications industry and regulatory framework(s)’ to assist a litany of clients – ranging from Australian startups to major global technology companies – with a host of technology, telecoms, data, and cybersecurity issues. Melbourne-based Cheng Lim, who became the practice group head for the firm in Australia in 2022, serves as the relationship partner for some of the group’s biggest clients. Renae Lattey, also in Melbourne, is a specialist in telecommunications law, commercial projects, and regulated access. Elsewhere, the Sydney-based Patrick Gunning has vast knowledge of the regulatory issues affecting the health and gaming industries. John Swinson has now left the firm.

The team at Baker McKenzie LLP, which displays a ‘nuanced reading of market forces and innovations‘, is instructed in the full spectrum of TMT work, encompassing business transformation, data protection, cybersecurity, blockchain, digital disruption, regulatory compliance and corporate transactions. On the transactional side, recent highlights have included application development issues and transformational corporate deals. Sydney-based practice head Andrew Stewart has a vast knowledge of copyright, defamation, and media regulation. Other key names to note include the Sydney-based Anne-Marie Allgrove, an expert in privacy, information governance, and security matters who also chairs the firm’s IP, data and technology practice, globally. Anne Petterd, who previously led the technology and telecommunications practice in the firm’s Singapore office, is a standout practitioner.

Maddocks advises a host of domestic and international blue-chip TMT clients on various transactions, including M&A deals, IPOs and ASX listings, and capital raises. The 'expert' Caroline Atkins leads the group from the Canberra office, alongside the Sydney-based Brendan Coady and the Melbourne-based Robert Gregory. Atkins is especially knowledgeable with regard to government matters, working on multiple public sector IT contracts. The Sydney-based Brendan Tomlinson is also recommended for the breadth of his transactional capabilities.

Allen & Overy LLP‘s team draws on the breadth of its ‘market knowledge, both locally and internationally’ to advise a range of telecoms carriers, developers, distributors, and suppliers on various transactional and regulatory matters, including cross-border corporate deals, joint ventures, and equity raisings. Michael Reede heads up the team, specialises in large corporate transactions in the TMT sector. Reede is well-supported by Saranpaal Calais, technology, IP and digitalisation matters who was promoted to partner in May 2022. All named lawyers are based in Sydney.

Lander & Rogers‘ team has rapidly expanded in recent years, with the team now fielding close to a dozen practitioners. Lisa Fitzgerald co-heads the group alongside Robert Neely, based out of the firm’s Melbourne and Sydney offices, respectively. Neely works with private and public sector businesses on complex technology procurement projects and digital services provision issues, while Fitzgerald’s wide-ranging capabilities are most keenly concentrated in emerging technologies, data services, and cyber security. The pair are well supported by the Melbourne-based Keely O'Dowd, whose practice mainly involves technology projects, privacy, and cybersecurity matters.

McCullough Robertson operates ‘seamlessly across both the Brisbane and Sydney offices’, working with a mix of rapidly growing life sciences, biotechnology and information technology companies – including a number of start-ups. Alex Hutchens, who heads up the team from the firm’s Sydney office, is praised for his ‘detailed but also very commercial‘ capabilities across large transactions as well as data protection and cybersecurity projects. Matthew McMillan is another key name to note for big-ticket commercial matters, with recent engagements seeing him advising market-leading payment service providers on innovative digital ventures.

Webb Henderson deals with the full range of TMT projects for large telecoms operators and technology and media companies, and is particularly noted for its strength in fibre projects. The Sydney-based offering is steered by Angus Henderson, a seasoned regulatory expert who counts some of the nation's leading digital infrastructure companies among his client base. Henderson regularly works in conjunction with Ish Omar, another experienced practitioner who advises publicly owned corporations on a range of ventures.

The group at Gadens Lawyers is capable in a broad spectrum of technology-related work, particularly in relation to privacy compliance matters and, increasingly, issues related to cyber breaches. The team is led by Dudley Kneller, a 'deeply knowledgeable, responsive, and precise' lawyer with extensive domestic and international experience in technology arrangements. Antoine Pace is noted by clients for his ‘great grasp of complex and emerging technologies such as AI and machine vision’, while David Smith  is noted for his expertise in marketing, privacy, and technology law. Former practice head Donna Bartlett left for Deloitte Lawyers in December 2021. All named team members are based in Melbourne