TMT: IT & Telecommunications
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9258 6000Chambers Review
Ashurst is regularly entrusted with high-profile transactional, contentious and regulatory mandates from major telecommunications, technology and media clients in both the domestic and international markets. It acts for IT providers on the negotiation and implementation of complex outsourcing agreements, and is sought after by global technology giants to advise on multi-jurisdictional regulatory issues including privacy and data protection obligations. The law firm has a proven track record of advising on large-scale digital transformation projects and the development of telecommunications infrastructure. In media, it advises online, broadcasting and print media publishers on the full range of commercial and litigation matters regarding content, advertising and data, and adeptly handles regulatory and pre-publication issues, with notably strong ability and experience in defamation cases. The team also works closely with corporate colleagues to advise its blue-chip clientele on M&A transactions in the sector.
Work Highlights
- Ashurst advised ANZ Bank on its acquisition of 100% of Suncorp Bank from Suncorp Group, via the acquisition of 100% of the shares in SBGH.
- Ashurst represented Disney in the Australian Copyright Tribunal in a case concerning the royalty fees that streaming video-on-demand services should pay for the use of music in their streaming content in Australia.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ashurst have the ability to think commercially and pragmatically while being grounded in excellent legal knowledge. They take the time to understand the business drivers of a transaction."
"They provide very pragmatic and practical advice, often at very short notice to very tight timelines."
"Ashurst are very commercially focused and very available, even at partnership level, which has been excellent. They have also taken the time to get to know our business; that has been invaluable."
"Ashurst have the ability to think commercially and pragmatically while being grounded in excellent legal knowledge. They take the time to understand the business drivers of a transaction."
"They provide very pragmatic and practical advice, often at very short notice to very tight timelines."
"Ashurst are very commercially focused and very available, even at partnership level, which has been excellent. They have also taken the time to get to know our business; that has been invaluable."
Notable Practitioners
Anthony Lloyd advises clients, often including multinational companies at a strategic level, on a comprehensive range of practice area issues, including transactional, commercialisation and transformational technology implementation matters. He also acts on contentious and cybersecurity issues. He is based in Sydney.
Robert Todd is a Sydney-based veteran of the media litigation scene, with a particularly strong track record where defamation cases and the representation of major news organisations are concerned.
"Robert Todd is one of the safest pairs of hands for defamation cases. He has incredible knowledge and is a formidable solicitor. He is fabulous."
"Robert is incredibly knowledgeable and practical."
"If i was being sued, there are only two people I'd go to in the country and one of those is Robert Todd."
Anita Cade is an experienced intellectual property and media lawyer based in Sydney. She regularly advises clients on trade mark infringement disputes and provides regulatory compliance advice to some of Australia's most notable media outlets.
"Anita Cade is a highly organised and intelligent operator who is a real team player. She also runs a very happy team and puts them to work in an effective way."
Emma Butler centres her practice on advising clients on various technology-related transactions. Her clients operate in industries such as insurance, energy and telecommunications. She is based in Melbourne.
"Emma Butler is an absolutely fantastic client relationship partner. She's an excellent lawyer and a great cultural fit for our organisation."