The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > New Zealand > TMT

“I have respect for the knowledge of the individuals who I have worked with and the way they work with me as the client.”

“They and have put in effort to build the trust of our in-house legal team and are respectful of the skills our lawyers have.”

“They work with our in-house team rather than imposing their view over those of the in-house team. They also try their best to accommodate our needs. Amy Ryburn, Damien Steel-Baker and Renee Stiles have been particularly good to work with.”

“The firm shows willingness to find solutions to challenging issues and provides strategic advice.”

“The team is passionate about technology and has deep expertise in technology contracting, addressing issues that arise in practice with pragmatic solutions.”

“You know that Tom Maasland has done his homework and is a ‘go-to’ lawyer for new and complex issues as they arise.”

“Minter Ellison has experienced solicitors of all levels who are available to assist our business with TMT-related matters in a prompt and practical manner. They know all areas of our business after being trusted advisers for many years. We therefore know that advice is well rounded and has the benefit of being considered in a context of our business as a whole.”

“It provides practical and commercially-focused advice. Individuals seek feedback from us as to what style or advice we need and tailor their advice to our needs.”

“The advice is prompt and we are kept informed of progress.”

“We only use Dr Ross Patterson for his expertise on regulation and competition law in the telecommunications industry. He is a dedicated, professional and a knowledgeable partner who always has time for our questions and makes us feel as we are a priority.”

“I have confidence in the people that I have worked with and like how they work with our team. Mei Fern Johnson has been excellent to deal with in terms of the quality of work and responsiveness to our needs.”

“The key strength for us is Joe Edwards. He knows our business so well and is a specialist in his field. Consumer law issues in telecommunications is a very specialist area and I don’t know that other firms have the expertise that he does.”

“We really value Joe Edwards due to his expertise in this area, his knowledge of the Commerce Commission and his availability. He is always available for us at short notice and can turn around work urgently.”

“An all-rounded A-team that does not focus solely on the academic application of the law but is able to understand the technical solutions to ensure there are able to assist the business get deals across the line.”

“They are not afraid to put themselves on the line – the area that this team operates in is often very risky and this team has always worked hard to be as pragmatic and commercial as they possibly can. They are 100% solution-orientated and are not afraid to push the boundaries of the law.”

“Definitely not a traditional private practice law firm and the reason why they are able to do so is because they are incredible strong in the law and therefore able to navigate solutions to provide solutions that matches the risk appetite of the organisation. They are able to write their opinions in a way that is easily palatable by the executive team who are time poor.”

“I would describe them as an extension of our in-house legal team and would 100% recommend their expertise in this area.”

“Liz Blythe is a superstar in the legal technology field – NZ is lucky to have such an amazing lawyer. She is a super-smart, creative, easy to work with and a trusted legal advisor!”

“The team brings a deep understanding of technology and IP to New Zealand. The team has unrivalled expertise in infrastructure-as-a-service.”

“Liz Blythe leads the team and delivers exceptional and practical legal advice. Her knowledge of the industry and the major players has proven invaluable to a number of large IT projects.”

“The Russell McVeagh TMT practice has a unique understanding of modern app-based marketplaces which allows them to provide pragmatic and commercially savvy advice that takes into account the complex environment in which our business works.”

“Liz Blyth has taken a level of ownership and care in the output of complex projects that we have undertaken that ensures their success.”

“His breadth of expertise across TMT issues allows Joe Edwards to expertly stay one step ahead of issues that may arise.”

“In comparison with other firms/lawyers I have worked with, the distinguishing factors in dealing with this firm have been the speed with which our business and its needs were understood, that the advice given directly facilitated progress on the project for which the firm was instructed, the ability to document difficult concepts quickly and clearly using few words, that the confidence of the business was secured early by the demonstration of knowledge and experience in the field, and the fast turnaround in providing advice and drafting difficult documents.”

“They always have my best interests at heart and provide invaluable support and guidance. Due to the way they work I have found myself going to them more often than I normally use legal advice just because of the benefit it provides.”

“Hayley Miller is personable and dedicated. She turns things around quickly and is pragmatic in her approach.”

“DLA is unique in its genuine interest in what we are trying to achieve and adapting its style and approach to help us achieve our outcomes. They take the time to embed themselves in our work environment and understand our goals.”

“Finance partner Katie Carson is a brilliant thinker with a wealth of experience in fintechs and banking. She is able to share real world examples of what we are trying to achieve and create pathways for how we might achieve it.”

“The firm goes out of its way to understand our strategy and the issues we are managing. They possess and can access, via their global network, unique skills in dealing with fintech and emerging technologies that have been very beneficial to us.”

“Corporate partner Rachel Taylor is commercially astute and pragmatic, and available to respond to the challenges and opportunities we face. Nick Valentine’s skills and experience in dealing with fintech and emerging technologies has been invaluable to us.”

“Nick Valentine is a highly regarded practitioner with extensive experience in technology, IP and telecommunications transactions.”

“Nick Valentine is technically strong combined with a very commercial and results-focused approach.”

“I have direct Access to Mark Lowndes, the company founder. He employs good people to undertake the detailed work. They are effective with a low level of bureaucracy.”

“It is vital for me to have access to accurate advice, on what is sometimes a very urgent basis. This is where Lowndes delivers. They are extremely client-focused and have a breadth of experience amongst the practitioners which makes them stand out from the crowd. They consistently deliver.”

“Mark Lowndes is an outstanding legal practitioner who is extremely client-focused. He is an absolute professional who takes the time to understand your business, resulting in practical and commercial advice which will work for your firm. He is a calming presence, approachable, ethical, and one of the top legal minds in New Zealand.”