Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT)
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : New Zealand
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+64 9 353 9700About
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ dedicated TMT group has the expertise to support clients in the innovative and highly complex technology, media and telecommunications industries. With extensive experience ranging from large transactions to regulation, the team provides clients with informed commercial, strategic and practical advice.
The team has an abundance of experience advising domestic and international clients across all aspects of the TMT landscape and acts for both customers and suppliers of TMT products and services. The team also assists clients in all elements of design, development, consultation and implementation of market regulation and price regulation.
- Acting for Hourua (joint venture between Spark and Vodafone) on a NZD1.4 billion ‘First of its kind’ telecommunications deal to enhance communications for New Zealand’s first responders.
- Acting for 12 public transport authorities and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) on Project NEXT, the project to procure a national ticketing solution to enable and process payments for journeys on public transport in New Zealand.
- Assisting Metlifecare with the preparation and negotiation of an IT Master Services Agreement for the implementation of essential finance and customer relationship management information technology.
Chambers Review
MinterEllisonRuddWatts offers expertise across all aspects of TMT, including both regulatory and commercial advice. It handles a broad variety of work from cloud computing and e-commerce issues to joint ventures and broadcasting procurement in the media and entertainment space. Also, the team is able to offer expertise across telecommunications regulations including advice on legislation reviews, pricing and competition issues. MinterEllisonRuddWatts advises a strong roster of high-end domestic and international clients from the technology, banking, entertainment and energy sectors, among others. It has significant experience in public sector work, advising a number of government bodies. Notable clients include New Zealand Film Commission, Westpac New Zealand and the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.
Work Highlights
- MinterEllisonRuddWatts acted for Horuna, which is a joint venture between Spark and Vodafone, two of New Zealand's largest telecommunications companies, in the negotiation of funding agreements with the New Zealand government.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Great depth and diversity of thought leadership was delivered, both from the core team and the wider MinterEllisonRuddWatts team."
"MinterEllisonRuddWatts were absolutely exceptional. The team were really proactive and helpful."
"Great depth and diversity of thought leadership was delivered, both from the core team and the wider MinterEllisonRuddWatts team."
"MinterEllisonRuddWatts were absolutely exceptional. The team were really proactive and helpful."
Notable Practitioners
Ross Patterson brings to his work the unrivalled advantage of having been the Commerce Commission's telecommunications commissioner for five years, this being just one aspect of his practice that spans more than 30 years. He advises sector players on a broad range of regulatory issues.
"Ross is very responsive. You can't underestimate his knowledge, he is really quite well-rounded and is second to none."
Tom Maasland leads MinterEllisonRuddWatts' TMT practice and maintains a strong specialisation in technology and telecommunication matters. He is particularly adept in the handling of major technology procurement and transformation mandates and brings to the table the fruits of several years of in-house experience in both New Zealand and the UK.
"Tom provides a very high level of client service and responsiveness. He is a technically strong TMT lawyer and I would personally be comfortable recommending Tom for much of the more complex TMT work in the NZ market."
"Tom is absolutely fantastic - he is incredibly knowledgeable, pragmatic and personable."
Jane Parker focuses her practice substantially on technology issues and is particularly well known for her handling of large-scale, complex, multi-party contractual and procurement arrangements.
"Jane was the overall engagement lead and provided excellent service, advice and guidance, with a great sense of humour to match."
"Jane maintained guidance and oversight throughout the process and was always available as an escalation point for independent thought leadership and direction."
John McCay offers particularly extensive experience in the media space, incorporating an especially deep familiarity with commercial and contractual issues in the film and television industries.
''John is highly effective. He is cool, calm, collected and perfectly aligned to the client team."
Richard Wells offers wide-ranging sector expertise, including particular familiarity with the licensing of technology and media rights and with privacy and data protection issues.
"''Overall, I am very happy with Richard's service.''"
Ranked Lawyers at
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
New Zealand
Members
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Clients
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Datacom Group
Enable Networks
New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand Lotteries Commission
Rural Connectivity Group
Soul Machines
Spark New Zealand
Television New Zealand
The Warehouse Group
Westpac bank