Shane Barber > Bird & Bird > Sydney, Australia > Lawyer Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
Level 22
25 Martin Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
- Firm Profile
- Go to...
Shane Barber
Work Department
Corporate
Position
Partner
Career
In addition to my role as the Managing Partner of our Australian operations, I’m a corporate, communications and media lawyer looking after innovative clients operating both regionally and internationally. At Bird & Bird in Australia, we conduct a busy corporate practice focussed on the key industry sectors we serve globally.
With over 30 years’ experience acting for some of Australia’s major corporations in the knowledge economy, I am a key adviser to one of the country’s four leading telecommunications carriers, along with numerous carriage service providers, network infrastructure owners and technology suppliers. Over the years, I have also advised many media, communications and technology industry groups around the world, including in Europe, South Africa, Israel and New Zealand, on complex issues such as telecommunications interception, data storage and convergence. Increasingly, I am advising clients on regulatory issues arising in relation to emerging technology applications, including payments and Fintech.
Today I’m also one of the region’s network rollout legal and regulatory specialists and advise on two of the most significant telecommunications network rollout projects in Australia – including acting for Vodafone in its joint venture with Optus.
A significant part of my practice is conducting corporate transactions regarding mergers and acquisitions, fundraising (including IPOs), capital markets regulation and providing corporate law advice for leading national and international organisations immersed in the new economy, particularly for enterprises in the advertising and media industries.
Before joining Bird & Bird, in addition to my role as a partner with another global law firm, I was Corporate Counsel to the Optus Group. I’ve served as President of Australia’s Communications and Media Law Association on two occasions and am a former editor of the Communications Law Bulletin. You’ll find more about me in Who’s Who Legal, Best Lawyers, Chambers Asia Pacific, Doyle’s Guide to the Legal Profession and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
Admissions
- Supreme Court of New South Wales, 1990
- High Court of Australia, 1990
Education
- UNSW Australia, LLB
- UNSW Australia, BCom (Accounting, Finance and Information Systems)
- UTS, Grad. Dip. Leg. Prac.
Lawyer Rankings
Australia > IT and telecoms
Bird & Bird is a key player in the TMT space and is sought out for its advice, which not only covers data protection and privacy, but also extends to the law covering space, satellites and autonomous vehicles. The team is co-headed by Hamish Fraser, who is active in commercial and regulatory matters in tech, and Thomas Jones, who is well equipped to handle licensing, procurement, distribution and IP issues. Shane Barber is another key partner, specialising in media and communications. All named practitioners are based in Sydney.
Australia > Media and entertainment
With its expert knowledge of the industry, coupled with a capacity for ‘lateral and strategic thought’, the team at Bird & Bird attracts a broad spectrum of global and domestic clients. While it is well-equipped to deal with traditional media matters, the group particularly leverages its strong presence in the computer games industry and knowledge of sports media rights sales and acquisitions, the latter of which has been further cemented following the recent addition of sports law expert Brianna Quinn. The team is co-headed by Sophie Dawson, who has extensive experience in privacy, copyright and defamation law; and media lawyer Shane Barber, who is highly sought after by gaming businesses seeking regulatory aid.