Bird & Bird‘s TMT expertise encompasses the full range of commercial, regulatory and data protection work, with core strengths in cloud, IT and telecoms. Recent activity includes advising on compliance, data localisation and transfer matters, further to the 2021 implementation of China’s Personal Information Protection Law and Data Security Law. The practice has also experienced an uptick in instructions involving new technologies, particularly in the fintech/payments and blockchain/non-fungible token spaces; and it continues to develop its mid-market technology and venture capital credentials. Greater China managing partner Ted Chwu is increasingly active in the data regulatory and commercial aspects of cross-border investments and project expansions within the internet and mobile economies; Hank Leung handles brand protection and transactional IP work; and counsel Clarice Yue advises on IT, telecoms and data protection issues. In late 2021, former practice head Michelle Chan retired from the partnership, relocating to the firm’s London office as of counsel.

Hogan Lovells‘ contentious and non-contentious Greater China practice assists TMT clients with a wide range of matters throughout their life cycles. In addition to advising major TMT industry players, the practice acts for non-TMT organisations in their use of technology, particularly financial institutions, financial services providers, retailers, consumer brands, life sciences businesses and automotive sector clients. ‘In the top band of TMT transactional lawyers‘, Mark Parsons‘ practice covers the full range of technology and telecoms-related commercial and regulatory work; Eugene Low heads the IPMT group in Hong Kong, along with co-leading the firm’s esports and video gaming practice; and Andrew McGinty‘s wide sectoral includes TMT work. Experienced counsel Tommy Liu specialises in the transactional structuring and contractual arrangements of TMT-related projects. Don Williams and Liang Xu, along with Tony Mou, Katie Feng , Helen Xia and Adrian Emch, are key mainland China contacts.

DLA Piper‘s Greater China team covers clients’ day-to-day TMT issues, in addition to advising on technology procurement, outsourcing, and data protection and cybersecurity work. Other areas of strength include novel, disruptive technologies and digital transformation projects, in relation to blockchain, digital assets, fintech and AI. Carolyn Bigg has longstanding experience in data privacy and technology-related matters; and senior associate Yue Lin Lee acts as the firm’s Singapore and South East Asia lead for regional TMT projects. In May 2022, Lauren Hurcombe, who advises e-commerce and technology sector clients on market entry strategies and expansion projects, was made partner, while of counsel Alice Li, an expert in emerging and disruptive technologies, joined from Deacons. Further recent developments within the practice included the late 2021 hire of Kristi Swartz as fintech head from now-closed Swartz, Binnersley & Associates, while former practice head Scott Thiel moved to lead TOKO, the firm’s digital asset creation engine.

Mayer Brown‘s Asia TMT group routinely advises on cutting-edge mainstream technology projects involving fintech, regtech, AI, P2P, emerging payment technologies, merchant solutions and mobile payments deals. It assists with technology and data protection issues in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. The group is also sought out to advise on the issues surrounding the regulation of the media and telecoms sector, including broadcasting and telecoms licensing, anti-competition issues, and digital media copyright disputes. Practice leader Gabriela Kennedy advises on major technology projects and media transactions, and has substantive experience in regulatory and telecoms matters across the region. Kennedy’s experience further includes longstanding involvement with broadcasting industry association AVIA. Also integral to the group, Amita Haylock focuses on complex litigation and ADR, in relation to telecoms, broadcasting, IP and competition law; and TL Lim is a key partner in the insurance, reinsurance, cybersecurity and data privacy practices.

Morrison Foerster‘s ‘exceptional team‘ acts for an impressive list of industry-leading companies, such as Alibaba, SoftBank, Airbnb and Dairy Farm. It is also highly experienced in advising start-ups that commercialise cutting-edge technologies. The Asia technology practice is led by ‘great negotiator‘ Gordon Milner, whose broad expertise covers innovative services, e-commerce, payments systems, block chain and digital currencies. Hong Kong-based Milner also assists with IP matters, licensing, technology transactions, and data and cloud issues; Thomas Chou has extensive experience in both Silicon Valley and throughout Asia; and Marcia Ellis is a widely respected private equity practitioner. Over in Shanghai, Chuan Sun focuses on sophisticated TMT transactions, as well as complex IP/commercial matters across Greater China; and Paul McKenzie in Beijing consistently acts for US and other international TMT companies. Gigi Yuen and Tyler Xiu are the associates to note in Hong Kong.

Regularly advising on delicate and complex TMT-related matters, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s sector specialisms cover financial services, fintech, retail, technology, transportation, and hotels and leisure. Financial institutions particularly benefit from the Hong Kong group’s ability to advise on the technology and regulatory aspects of transactions and projects. The Asia-Pacific data protection, privacy and cybersecurity practice is led by Anna Gamvros, whose practice ranges from technology agreements and outsourcing transactions, to privacy, data protection, cybersecurity and breach response, and telecoms and internet regulatory issues. Additional partner-level support is provided by Justin Davidson, who advises multinational and Asian technology firms on IP and technology law issues across Asia; and fintech and financial services regulatory expert, Etelka Bogardi. At senior associate level, Ruby Kwok focuses on TMT-related regulatory issues.

Housing practitioners with technology and science backgrounds, Deacons‘ TMT practice is particularly active in relation to digital assets. Its experience covers cryptocurrencies and the tokenisation of assets, blockchains, smart contracts and the metaverse. The team can also draw upon the expertise of the firm’s experienced IP, corporate and commercial practices. Charmaine Koo‘s practice covers IP litigation, data privacy and entertainment; and Machiuanna Chu regularly advises new economy clients and emerging businesses, including technology companies, cryptocurrency issuers and fintech companies (among others). On the IP side, Ian Liu, Kelley Loo and Amy Chung are also active partners.

Further to its growth in technology-related work in the region, US-headquartered firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP hired Hong Kong-based TMT partner Paul Haswell from Pinsent Masons in January 2022 for its technology, mobility and connectivity industry team. Haswell provides multinational organisations and businesses in Hong Kong (and across the region) with cross-border advice (both non-contentious and contentious) on large-scale, technology and telecoms-related transactions and projects. His representative experience covers commercial contracts, outsourcing arrangements, cybersecurity and data protection, and the use of new tech such as AI, facial recognition and blockchain.

Fielding ‘a very robust TMT practice‘, Tanner De Witt is consistently selected as Hong Kong co-counsel on major international technology transactions. Focused on founder representation, the firm’s domestic technology practice in Hong Kong routinely partners with government bodies, accelerator and incubation programmes, and other technology sector intermediaries. The practice of technology team leader and ‘standout lawyer‘ Pàdraig Walsh covers issues arising from new technologies, such as cloud, blockchain and AI. Foreign legal consultant Nigel Stamp, a commercial TMT law and outsourcing specialist, is a 2021 hire from K&L Gates, while Tara Chan and Alan Wong are the associates to note.