About Me

I am Of Counsel to our Commercial and IT Groups in Sydney, where I use my extensive experience to provide advice on commercial and corporate law, particularly as it applies to intellectual property and other intangible assets. I also assist start-ups to get off on the right foot.

With dual qualifications in law and computer science, I specialise in technology and telecoms law, outsourcing and systems integration contracts, IP ownership and licensing and e-commerce with a particular emphasis on start-ups. I act for both the users and suppliers of TMT and related services in the public and private sectors.

I am a former President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, the leading organisation for commercial lawyers in Asia Pacific, and regularly work with its members throughout Asia-Pac and globally to provide relevant expertise. Before joining the team at Bird & Bird, I was the head of the Corporate Technology and IP Groups at one of Australia's largest firms.

The intersection of technology, innovation and law inspires me. I enjoy collaborating with clients to find legal and commercial solutions in novel areas, including for start-ups and inventors keen to grow and scale up their businesses. Equally, I am comfortable working with large and complex organisations, especially on technology and telecommunications issues.

As a senior lawyer for over 30 years, I have been involved in some of Australia's largest and most complex IT and Telco deals. I was a pioneer of outsourcing contracts in Australia, and worked as principal adviser to one of the main telecommunication companies in Australia, assisting with some of the most complex roll-outs of government projects, involving vast amounts of complex contractual documentation and protracted negotiations.

I have learnt to be nimble, versatile and timely to adjust my work to a rapidly changing landscape. With such a diverse range of innovative, inventive and technologically-driven clients, I am consistently using my many years of legal experience in dynamic and creative ways.
Experience
  • One rapidly evolving area is Blockchain, and I've helped clients on Blockchain-related matters relating to cryptocurrency and regulatory registry services, as well as to proof of provenance and supply chain integrity for products as diverse as wine and fish.
  • Similarly, I worked with an inventor client to help him develop an innovative funding method for his unique anti-malware system; the result is, we believe, a breakthrough method of securing funding for innovation.
  • Another client regularly seeks my advice on legal issues relating to its invention for revolutionising the container shipping sector. I also advise a financial venture capitalist tapping into China's vast e-commerce ecosystems and related start-ups.
Cases
  • Idaps v People Bank
Education

Studied

  • University of Sydney, LLB,
  • University of Sydney, BA, Major in Computer Science

Admissions

  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • Australian Capital Territory
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Recognised for outstanding work in the data industry including privacy and protection, security, information technology and telecoms and media law.

Who's Who Legal 2018 Australia

Ranked for commercial law, information technology law and telecommunications law

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