Technology, Media & Telecommunications
From disruptive emerging companies to established global players, Allens goes beyond traditional legal services to embrace innovation and engage with the challenges and opportunities presented by technology, media, entertainment and telecommunications.
These days, every company is a data company, which is why our wealth of knowledge and experience spans a vast array of disciplines, from M&A and litigation through to IP, technology and regulatory corporate advisory. Our clients come to us for comprehensive, strategic and forward-thinking legal counsel that empowers them to thrive in the digital age.
Our team excels in navigating the complexities of major digital infrastructure transactions, as well as handling intricate telecommunications regulatory matters and investigations. We partner with media companies to offer guidance across all facets of their business operations, and our clients include the largest global and domestic entertainment providers, spanning both traditional and interactive entertainment sub-sectors. We are particularly proud to represent an ever-growing list of high-growth Australian scaleup and startup companies, and our sports practice is renowned as a top-tier service.
Technology: where innovation and legal expertise converge
In such a dynamic landscape, adept legal guidance is vital for ensuring regulatory compliance, risk mitigation and opportunity capture. From fortifying cyber preparedness and implementing incident response programs to managing intricate digital transformation initiatives and facilitating technology procurement projects, our team delivers strategic counsel tailored to your specific needs.
We advise clients on:
- major overhauls and developments of digital transformation projects
- business-critical cybersecurity strategies and responses to cyber attacks
- a range of data issues, from the handling and sharing of datasets, through to the development of new business streams to commercialise data
- complex and deeply technical procurement projects for technology and business process services
- investments in emerging technologies to drive innovation
- incredible advancements in the medical and biosecurity sectors, including in response to COVID19
- the adoption of emerging technology such as generative artificial intelligence.
Media: unravelling complexity, delivering results
As the go-to firm for media matters in the Australian market, we boast unrivalled experience advising media players on all aspects of their business, including on commercial and corporate matters and regulatory issues.
At the heart of our media practice is a collaborative team of professionals with deep technical capability and industry knowledge. Our corporate and commercial lawyers, competition and regulatory specialists, banking and finance experts, litigators and intellectual property lawyers, along with our in-house patent and trademark attorneys, work in unison to provide comprehensive support, and keep our clients informed and equip them to navigate the ever-changing media landscape with confidence.
We advise clients on:
- compliance with their obligations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth)
- broadcasting rights agreements in media and sport
- inquiries into the impact of digital platforms on online advertising markets
- significant transactions shaping the evolving media landscape in Australia
- collective licensing of news content to media monitoring organisations.
Entertainment: advancing the industry
We are a multi-disciplinary team spanning a number of areas in the firm. Our combined expertise is unique for an entertainment practice in the Australian market and enables us to seamlessly service our clients across the full spectrum of matters.
In entertainment, the calibre and broad range of our clients mean that we sit in the heart of the media and entertainment landscape in Australia. We work on some of the biggest deals in the industry and help our clients navigate complexities to achieve the best outcomes.
We advise clients on:
- the biggest broadcasting rights agreements in Australian sport
- the Government's review of the 'Anti-Siphoning' protected sporting events scheme
- new intellectual property rights to support Indigenous art and culture
- litigation proceedings in the gaming industry.
Telecommunications: setting the standard in digital infrastructure
Allens has an unparalleled presence in the Australian telecommunications market. We have played a lead role in every recent major telecommunications tower transaction in the domestic market and have been instrumental in significant telecommunications fibre transactions. Our expertise in digital infrastructure assets sets us apart, allowing us to guide our clients through the ever-evolving landscape of this dynamic industry.
We advise on:
- major investments into digital infrastructure assets, including telco towers and fibre networks
- complex telecommunications regulatory matters and investigations
- sale processes and strategic reviews for digital infrastructure asset selloffs.
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Experience
Sale of infrastructure assets
Advised TPG on the $950 million sale of 100 per cent of its passive mobile tower and rooftop infrastructure assets.
Ground-breaking joint venture
Advised Quantium on the formation of a ground-breaking incorporated joint venture between it and Telstra, involving all aspects of the multi-faceted digital transformation transaction. It will bring together end-to-end data analytics and AI services.
New product launch
Advised Sympli on all legal and regulatory aspects of its entry into the e-conveyancing market and the establishment of its financial settlement platform for conveyancing transactions.
Anti-siphoning scheme review
Advised Foxtel on its submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts' review of Australia's 'Anti-Siphoning' scheme in late 2022. The scheme is the most important regulatory structure impacting sports media rights in Australia.
Advice on AC/DC catalogue rights
Advised Sony Music Publishing on a deal with Australian Music Corporation, granting Sony worldwide publishing rights over AC/DC's entire catalogue.
ACCC's ongoing Digital Platform Services Inquiry
Advised TikTok on the ACCC's inquiry into the provision of social media services to consumers and businesses in Australia by social media platforms.
Cyber and incident response
Advising technology, media and telco companies on their cyber preparedness and incident response programs.
Data sharing
Advised Coles on the relaunch of its customer loyalty program, Flybuys, including the entry into a new data sharing arrangement.
Acting as strategic adviser on broad range of legal issues
We are a trusted strategic adviser on a broad range of legal issues to a global digital platform on their Australian operations. Includes advising on privacy, competition and consumer matters, intellectual property, disputes and strategic projects.