TMT in Hong Kong

Bird & Bird's Hong Kong office has a strong track record in the TMT arena, including work that has an interplay with corporate transactions, as well as commercial and regulatory issues. Led by Michelle Chan, who combines 'fantastic telecoms' expertise with data protection knowledge, the team excels in advising local and multinational clients on domestic and multijurisdictional projects. Counsel Clarice Yue (who has Cantonese and Mandarin language skills) is a key contact for the firm's data privacy work across Asia Pacific, including mainland China. Justin Walkey leads on sports-related mandates across Asia Pacific.

Hogan Lovells provides ‘pragmatic and commercial advice’ to local and international clients across a range of TMT-related regulatory, corporate/commercial and litigation mandates. Recognised as ‘a clear stand out practitioner for commercial TMT transactions and advisory’, practice head Mark Parsons is often at the forefront of the most significant mandates handled by the team, which includes acting for financial services clients on IT outsourcings, as well as advising on the adoption of fintech-related products. Andrew McGinty has a broad offering in the space that includes advice on standalone TMT regulatory issues, as well as telecoms licensing matters and advice on corporate transactions in the sector. Tommy Liu, who was recently promoted to counsel, is praised for his ability to 'provide practical solutions' on outsourcings, technology licensing and TMT-related corporate transactions.

Scott Thiel leads DLA Piper's team, which advises regional and international clients on a full spectrum of strategically significant and complex projects. Thiel's private practice experience is complemented by his computer science background, making him a popular choice for advice on a wide range of IT and outsourcing projects. His recent work included advising gaming app developers on the launch, publishing and distribution of their games throughout Asia Pacific. Thiel is also at the leading edge of fintech-related work and was one of the key partners behind the development of the firm's own foray into the blockchain market with the launch of its TOKO product - a unique tokenisation engine which facilitates the buying and selling of high value assets using blockchain technology. Carolyn Bigg is a name to note for advice on data protection matters, particularly multijurisdictional compliance projects across the Asia Pacific region.

Mayer Brown's 'knowledgeable and responsive' team is a strong choice for advice on transactional, regulatory and contentious matters in the TMT space. Team head Gabriela Kennedy, who provides 'sound and balanced advice', demonstrates prowess in relation to privacy and data security (including in the aftermath of cyber security incidents), as well as media and telecoms regulatory matters. Amita Haycock is 'responsive, commercial and extremely smart'; she stands out for her aptitude at handling telecoms and broadcasting litigation for clients, including in the context of judicial reviews. Elsewhere, the firm is notably active in innovative fintech projects and technology outsourcings, and it is at the forefront of advice to clients on the fast-evolving telecoms industry in Hong Kong.

Benefiting from its team's 'in-depth industry and local practice knowledge' across Greater China, Morrison Foerster provides 'responsive and practical' advice on the gamut of inbound and outbound TMT-related mandates. Its varied workload includes technology transfer matters, data privacy/cyber security regulatory issues, software licensing and cloud-related advice. 'Outstanding' team head Gordon Milner provides 'legal advice that is of strategic value', including in the context of sophisticated cross-border commercial technology projects. Leveraging the firm's strong private equity/venture capital offering, the team also provides vital IP/tech input in relation to TMT-related M&A, where it acts for both investors and investees. Thomas Chou and the 'insightful' Marcia Ellis are key contacts for private equity/venture capital-related TMT work.

Anna Gamvros leads Norton Rose Fulbright's practice, which handles a full range of commercial, technological and regulatory issues arising from projects and transactions. The team is highlighted for its data privacy prowess, which ranges from compliance/risk management advice to representation in the event of a data breach. Gamvros is 'extremely knowledgeable of laws/requirements across the region' and regularly advises on data privacy matters in a multijurisdictional context. The head of the firm's global payment practice is Etelka Bogardi, who is at the forefront of its most significant fintech-related work. Associate Ruby Kwok is a 'solid and reliable performer' in the data privacy and breach response arena.

Ashurst‘s digital economy practice excels in large-scale multijurisdictional projects, where it is able to leverage its global network. The firm has strong relationships with numerous large global technology platforms, including Facebook and Tencent, and it also generates mandates from financial service entities and service providers. The practice is led by Joshua Cole, who is leading the advice to Tyme Group on its joint venture with JG Group to create one of the first digital banks in the Philippines. Cole is also noted for his telecoms-related work, particularly as it relates to major infrastructure projects. Counsel Hoi Tak Leung handles TMT-related commercial contracts and strategic corporate transactions, and he is also noted for his ‘knowledge and understanding of the AI and data privacy issues on hand in the banking industry’.

Deacons is highly reputed for M&A, IPOs and investments in the TMT space. In addition, the firm is a go-to for advice on a wide ambit of commercial matters, including those relating to advertising, sponsorship agreements, licensing and distribution. With numerous qualified patent attorneys among its ranks, the team is conversant with a range of new technologies, including blockchain and digital non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Machiuanna Chu, who focuses on the new economies tech sector, co-heads the practice with Charmaine Koo.

Led by the 'responsive and pragmatic' Pàdraig Walsh, Tanner De Witt provides 'practical advice' to investors, strategics and founders on a range of transactional, procurement, data protection and commercial contracts matters. Walsh acts for clients in a wide variety of industries, such as fintech, regtech, healthtech and cleantech, among many others. He is knowledgeable about issues associated with new technologies, including AI, blockchain and cloud. Consultant Nigel Stamp  is a recent arrival from K&L Gates.