Data Protection and Cyber Security
Simon Martin
Simon has been immersed in the Tech Media and IP sector since 1990. His expertise lies in guiding companies within these industries as they navigate the challenges of business operation growth and advancing their purpose. His deep involvement in the sector allows him to understand the current issues but also allows him to comprehend the core functions of these businesses, the challenges they encounter, and the expectations of their stakeholders. This knowledge enables him to support his clients and work with them to build deals that meet their specific needs most effectively.
Simon adopts a holistic approach to his work, appreciating both the broader perspective and finer details. His portfolio includes facilitating joint ventures based around new IP and/or technology, commercialising technology, media, and data, managing technology and media business acquisitions, and overseeing telecommunications transactions. Being a founding partner of Hudson Gavin Martin, has given Simon a unique perspective. Setting up and running his own business means that he has in-depth understanding of the obstacles business owners and executives face. He understands only too well the need to transform challenges into opportunities.
Edwin Lim
The real point of difference that Ed brings to his clients and their businesses is his ability to really understand the nature of their technology environment, their purpose, and their ideal outcome. In recent Chambers editions, it is quoted “Edwin Lim attracts praise for a variety of enviable qualities, interviewees variously identifying him as “strong on technology”, “warm and approachable, with an easy confidence and commercial wisdom” and “a fabulous and talented lawyer who negotiates on pragmatic business principles, not ego or emotion”.
Ed is one of the rare lawyers who is in the unique position of having a tertiary under and post-graduate degree in the design and development of Information Systems. Highly experienced both legally and technically to advise on business technology issues, he offers experience in advising any organisation dealing with technology matters, whether large enterprises developing major systems or start-ups establishing themselves in the market. With over 25 years’ experience in the TMT field, Ed is constantly in demand to assist current and new clients in deals of all sizes for commercial and corporate matters. He is involved in various transactions, including large scale technology implementation, IP commercialisation, cyber-risk (including ISO27001 and ISMS), corporate structuring, shareholder arrangements, capital raising and M&A.
Other legal directories have placed Ed in top bands. For example, Ed is ranked in: Who’s Who Legal – Data-IT 2023; Global Leader (Recommended) & Data 2022 Australia/NZ Leader (Recommended); Doyles Guide – TMT (NZ) 2020 – Pre-eminent lawyer; Legal 500 – TMT (2023) – Leading Individual.
Tim Mahood
Tim is a prominent commercial litigator with more than two decades of experience advising clients on Tech, Media, and IP disputes. He navigates issues crucial to their business strategies, operations, and transformative projects with expertise and insight.
In addition to being a highly sought-after litigator, Tim's clients frequently turn to him for counsel on a range of Tech, Media, and IP matters. These include privacy and confidentiality issues, data advisory, media law (covering defamation and broadcasting standards complaints), passing off, and consumer law (especially under the Fair Trading Act and Australian Commercial Law).
Tim has significant experience in trans-Tasman commercial litigation and Tech, Media, and IP sectors, mainly within senior courts and arbitral bodies. He is a qualified practitioner in both New Zealand and Australia. Tim previously attained a ranking in Chambers during his tenure as a partner at Griffith Hack in Sydney, achieving a Band 3 status in IP within two years of relocating from New Zealand to Australia.
Chambers recognises Tim as a Band 3 lawyer for Intellectual Property. Legal 500 recognises Tim as a ‘Leading Partner’ in IP, and Tim’s clients say “Tim Mahood is an outstanding litigator. Pragmatic, solution-focused and highly skilled. Top of his field.” and “He strikes an excellent balance between commercial viability and legal robustness. He thinks through all the angles, but isn't afraid to land on an opinion or think outside the square to get to the outcome we're seeking”. Tim is ranked as Silver in WTR 1000 for litigation and enforcement. Doyle’s Guide recommends Tim as a TMT lawyer, and ranks Tim as a leading lawyer for Intellectual Property, he is also recognised in Best Lawyers.
Atypically for a litigator, Tim brings substantial practical commercial expertise, having served as General Counsel of NIWA for six years, a prominent environmental research organisation in Australasia. This background underscores his focus on aligning clients' commercial strategies, considering dispute resolution tactics merely as one means to achieve favourable commercial results. Tim is one of the rare lawyers in the field who has technical qualifications, holding an undergraduate science degree and being a registered patent attorney.
Anchali Anandanayagam
Anchali is an expert in all legal aspects of tech, media and telecommunications (TMT). Over the last 20+ years Anchali has advised both public and private sector customers and their suppliers alike on corporate and commercial transactions where TMT assets and infrastructure are at the core. Notably, Anchali has significant expertise and experience in privacy and data protection, biometrics and emerging technology procurement and implementation, and content development and commercialisation.
Anchali has received global recognition for her work and expertise from internationally renowned legal directories, Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Media Law International. Her open and measured approach means that she is often sought out by clients to work on complex transactions and to represent them in difficult negotiations. She is noted as being not only “an experienced lawyer with amazing technical skills,” but also “a relationship builder who can deal with people at all levels both within and between organisations”. They go on to say: “There’s a real benefit having her on our side”.
Tuned into this industry with her proactive external interests and board memberships, Anchali has a comprehensive understanding of the market and can therefore respond to her clients’ needs from an informed position.
Andrew Dentice
Specialising in technology, data and commercial law, Andrew works with all sizes of clients (challengers and incumbents, customers and providers) at the cutting-edge of innovation. He is an expert in technology transactions, data protection and commercialisation, and regulatory issues applying to technology products and services. With technology developing faster than traditional legal frameworks, clients turn to Andrew for his specialist expertise in areas like fintech, AI crypto assets, SaaS and platform business models. Andrew relishes situations where complex regulation meets new technology and working with clients to navigate a way through those challenges.
Andrew regularly on data protection matters – including data breach responses, data privacy advisory projects and data protection and commercialisation issues in the context of technology transactions.
Andrew is recognised as a Next Generation Partner in TMT by Legal500, where he has been praised as “a standout commercial lawyer with exceptional market knowledge”. Since his return to New Zealand in 2017, he has solidified his position as a leading authority in fintech, collaborating with banks and fintech firms on diverse initiatives ranging from open banking agreements to the rollout of crypto and payment products. Andrew also advises on regulatory challenges faced by fintech providers in New Zealand.
Beyond fintech, his practice extends to advising clients across various sectors on technology transactions, IP, data privacy, data breach/cyber security matters, commercialisation, and regulatory compliance.
Before joining HGM in 2017, Andrew spent 6 years practising in the UK, including 4 with Barclays Bank. Before that, he spent 6 years in the Government team at Bell Gully in Wellington, focused on public sector procurement and public law matters.
Caitlin Hadlee
Caitlin is a litigator specialising in entertainment law and intellectual property law, together with technology disputes. She has particular expertise in disputes relating to copyright infringement, trade mark infringement, defamation, consumer protection law, negligence, competition and contractual disputes. She prides herself on making litigation as smooth, efficient and stress free as possible for her clients and she is frequently praised for her careful yet commercially workable advice and clear communication style.
Caitlin represents significant rights holders, as well as individual authors, artists and start-ups, across the music, art, fashion, gaming, software and film industries. She also frequently advises technology, telecommunications and television /film industry clients, who need to use the rights of content creators as part of their products or projects. She regularly appears for clients in Courts ranging from the District Court to the Court of Appeal and she also appears as counsel at hearings before specialist trade mark tribunals such as IPONZ and IP Australia.
Rachel Moylan
Rachel is a senior technology and commercial lawyer with a focus on procurement matters. Prior to joining in 2022, Rachel spent over 10 years in the United Arab Emirates working in house, including for telecommunications and technology companies and for international law firms.
Rachel was the primary technology lawyer at the UAE’s first challenger telecoms provider and was responsible for providing legal support to facilitate the roll out of telecoms networks and the purchase of mobile infrastructure from several key multinational network vendors. She also held a senior role with an Abu Dhabi based technology supplier (at that time a joint venture between an Abu Dhabi state owned investment fund and a multinational information technology company) which was operating the region’s first tier 4 data centre and providing cloud based and other technology services to regional clients. In her roles at international law firms in the UAE, Rachel assisted international and regional clients by providing legal support for all their technology requirements, including software development, licensing and implementation and support services projects across multiple jurisdictions.
Since returning to New Zealand and starting at HGM in 2022, Rachel has continued to support customers and suppliers by helping to resolve complex legal issues to successfully complete the purchase and delivery of technology products and services for businesses operating within and outside of the technology sector.
Kyra Vince
Kyra is an experienced regulatory lawyer, who advises clients at the intersection of innovation and legal compliance.
Kyra specialises in advising on the complex regulatory issues that arise with emerging technologies, such as privacy, information security, professional standards, consumer protection and AML. She has particular expertise in advising on the evolving regulation of AI, consumer data, payments, and biometric processing, and the tech and IP issues that arise in insolvency. Kyra is an expert at advising and training in-house legal and business teams on practical compliance with emerging law and regularly assists clients to submit on regulatory change.
Lisa Paz
Lisa is a seasoned TMT expert with a focus on telecommunications, media, advertising, data protection and the procurement, licensing, IP commercialisation and development of technology solutions.
Her extensive experience spans New Zealand and the UK, including broad in-house roles and secondments. Lisa's deep industry knowledge, pragmatic commercial approach and passion for problem-solving make her an invaluable asset for navigating the complex TMT landscape and associated IP challenges. Whether working with a pioneering start-up, national player or established global brand, she delivers tailored solutions to help clients thrive in the rapidly evolving digital world.
Samuel Choi
Sam brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to helping clients navigate technology, data, and commercial challenges. Known for his ability to quickly understand complex technology environments and deliver clear, commercially practical advice, he works with a broad range of clients, from early-stage start-ups to global corporates, across sectors including financial services, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
He has particular expertise in software licensing and implementation, IT procurement, regulatory compliance, data protection, and IP commercialisation. Sam often operates as an extension of in-house legal and procurement teams, helping clients manage legal and commercial risk and support effective, commercially aligned contracting on both the customer and supplier side.
Samuel started his career at HGM and rejoined in 2022 after several years in the UK, where he served as Technology and Innovation Counsel at Tesco PLC. There, he provided legal support for a number of the retailer’s most high-profile and innovative technology projects.
Sarah Pearce
Sarah is a senior commercial and intellectual property lawyer with over 10 years’ experience advising clients on brand protection, commercial transactions, and regulatory compliance. She specialises in trade mark strategy, portfolio management and enforcement, and has acted for leading domestic and international clients in the FMCG, fashion, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, technology, and payment processing industries.
Sarah’s expertise extends to all aspects of trade mark filing and prosecution before IPONZ and IP Australia. Her background in consumer law includes guiding clients through New Zealand’s regulatory landscape, with practical advice on data protection and privacy, product safety and labelling, advertising standards, and gambling and promotional regulations.
Her broader commercial practice includes advising on general commercial agreements, including intellectual property licensing and commercialisation. Sarah is recognised for her pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and her commitment to helping clients protect and maximise the value of their IP in competitive markets.
Deals
- Advised a local authority in relation to the implementation and licensing of a real time passenger information system and the outsourcing of the management of the system.
- We have advised clients purchasing technology companies on the use of AI within the target companies as part of due diligence, through to ensuring appropriate warranties are in place in the Sale and Purchase agreements. As AI technology is increasingly being used in the creation of, and use of, software it is important to understand what risks exists for those businesses that use AI to develop their own technology products (e.g. IP ownership, use of customer data to train AI large language models).
- Advised a New Zealand business specialising in recruitment services to the healthcare sector on a data breach incident resulting from the unauthorised disclosure of personal information.
- Advised a large international truck manufacturer and luxury motor vehicle manufacturer, various international software developers and licensors, and various communications infrastructure suppliers on issues as varied as compliance with the Privacy Act, Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act, Crimes Act, Telecommunications Act, Telecommunications (Intercept Capability and Security) Act, Copyright Act, Spectrum Management, NZ’s space regulations, financial services regulation, fair trading and consumer laws etc.
- Advised a start up business on an overhaul of their customer terms, privacy policy and data processing agreement. The work involved balancing data protection law risk in multiple jurisdictions with commercial imperatives, to make sure the terms and processes we put in place were both compliant and workable.
- Assisted a ride share business with the establishment of its New Zealand business and the ongoing operation of that business including compliance with local laws, management of personal information collected about the drivers and the passengers.
- Assisted a Health Technology Provider, with the licensing of a platform that enabled e-prescriptions and the management of very sensitive personal information as part of that platform.
- Advised New Zealand's biggest grocery distributor and one of the country's largest organisations on its agreement for the implementation and use of machine learning technology at its stores.
- Advised an international air carrier on various technology and telecommunications projects, including the outsourcing of the management of its telecommunications services; the integration of its systems with another airline; the outsourcing of the management of its mainframe and mid-range computer systems; the outsourcing of the management of its desk top systems; the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System; and the outsourcing of its passenger reservation and passenger name record systems.
- Advising a global tech company on a device that they sell and the applications that are available through it that might be considered a medical device. This included guidance around registration requirements and compliance with consumer and privacy laws.
- Advised a large FMCG client on their use of customer data across multiple banners.
Team Services
Our expertise
We are a leading corporate and commercial law firm specialising in technology, media, and IP. With one of the largest specialist teams in New Zealand, we are deeply embedded in sectors such as telecommunications, fintech, digital health, e-commerce, and gaming. We are sought out by both providers and users of technology and data solutions for our understanding of the New Zealand market and our practical, industry-informed advice.
Point of difference
Data sits at the heart of modern business. Within our partnership alone, we bring over 100 years of combined experience advising on technology, media, and IP. This depth and scale mean we are engaged on data issues more than any other firm in New Zealand.
Our frequent involvement gives us unique insight into the challenges and opportunities businesses face in managing, protecting, and commercialising data. We recognise patterns across industries, anticipate risks, and apply proven strategies to help clients safeguard their data, prevent misuse and leakage, and unlock value. Our advice is clear, practical, and focused on giving clients confidence to navigate an increasingly complex data environment.
Clients and community
Our clients range from start-ups and SMEs through to multinationals and public sector agencies. As data and AI become central to every sector, we are often engaged on matters that influence how industries evolve. This exposure strengthens our expertise and attracts more clients seeking guidance in data protection, privacy, and cyber security.
We also contribute beyond client work (through pro bono support, mentoring, board representation, and sponsorships) reflecting our commitment to community and industry development.
Industry sector expertise
Our expertise covers the full data lifecycle: collection, use, storage, transfer, compliance, commercialisation, and enforcement. We advise on privacy frameworks, cybersecurity risks, regulatory requirements, contractual protections, and incident response strategies.
Our lawyers are deeply involved in the TMT ecosystem, serving on boards and advisory groups including NZTech, Screen Music and Sound Guild of NZ, NZ Game Developers Association, NZ EdTech Council, Women in Film and Television NZ, FinTechNZ, Digital Health Association, Telecommunication Carriers Forum, Health Navigator, TUANZ, InternetNZ, the Numbering Administrator, and the Law Association’s Technology Law Committee. We are regularly invited to speak at industry events, conferences, and forums.