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Asia Pacific 2014

Paul Abfalter

General counsel | Telstra Global

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Asia Pacific 2014

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Paul Abfalter

General counsel | Telstra Global

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During his decade-long career at global telecommunications company Telstra, Paul Abfalter has handled some of its most significant transactions. In his current role, he takes a deep involvement in strategic business decisions affecting its Asia operations, and has more than doubled the continent’s legal team, to create what he dubs ‘the best legal team in Asia’. Originally joining Telstra’s Sydney office in 2005, Abfalter headed all M&A activity, including divestment of Australian Administration Services and its KPN (Xantic) satellite joint venture. From 2008 to 2010, Abfalter acted as general counsel for leading Hong Kong mobile phone provider, CSL (a Telstra subsidiary), during a period of seismic change for the company. This included its rebranding and the roll out of turnkey 3G & 4G networks, not to mention responding to significant regulatory developments. Abfalter’s 24-strong team across Asia Pacific, New York and London handles all legal and regulatory aspects of the company’s investments outside Australia, including Telstra’s $2.425bn sale of its 76.4% stake in CSL in 2014. In Abfalter’s view, outside counsel should move towards more of a ‘partnering mentality’, through measures such as fixed fees, risk sharing and secondee availability.

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