Our dedicated technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) group, ranked Band 1 by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Tier 1 by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, has the expertise to support clients in these innovative and highly complex industries. We have one of the largest specialist TMT teams at any law firm in New Zealand, giving us the ability to provide the right resources at the right levels of experience. With extensive experience ranging from large transactions to regulation, our multidisciplinary team provides clients with informed, commercial, strategic, and practical advice.
Our clients benefit from our diverse, TMT-specific experience, having worked as in-house counsel, as regulators and for the regulated, as board members and advisers to boards, and as a customer and supplier of technology.
Technology
We act for both suppliers and customers of technology throughout the complete technology project lifecycle. Our experience spans technology products, projects, and transactions across all sectors.
Read more about our leading technology expertise here.
Media
The way in which we consume media is constantly changing and industry participants have needed to evolve too. As trusted advisers to some of New Zealand’s leading media organisations, we thrive on coming up with innovative solutions to the challenges you face. We also see opportunities in the New Zealand media landscape. We’ve been helping individuals and companies, both domestic and foreign, capitalise on them for years.
Our multidisciplinary media specialists advise on:
- entertainment, film and television, particularly the funding, development, production, and distribution of films and television programmes
- media and new media (including the extension of new media platforms and content delivery)
- large scale procurement and supply arrangements
- banking and finance
- mergers and acquisitions, including competition law issues
- content/broadcasting rights acquisition, and transitional services arrangements (particularly as relates to technology)
- consumer marketing
- intellectual property, including copyright
- employment and contractor matters
- privacy, data protection and cyber security
- defamation
- regulation of the media industry, including the Broadcasting Act
Telecommunications
Now more than ever, connectivity is king. We are excited to partner with some of New Zealand’s leading participants in the telecommunications sector to enable individuals and businesses to continue to communicate.
We advise fixed and mobile network providers, fibre companies and other telecommunications service providers on compliance with their regulatory obligations.
Combining expertise from across the firm in commercial, regulatory, competition, public law, and litigation and dispute resolution, we provide a seamless and comprehensive service with a telecommunications focus. Our telecommunications experts’ knowledge of the industry is second to none, with backgrounds ranging from in-house counsel to partner Dr Ross Patterson’s former position as New Zealand’s Telecommunications Commissioner.
We can help with:
- advice on key regulation affecting the sector, including the Telecommunications Act, Commerce Act and the Fair Trading Act
- competition law issues
- network sharing agreements
- downstream supplier contracts
- outsourcing solutions
- cross-border issues
- liaising with regulators, including the Commerce Commission
- preparing submissions on regulatory change and reform
- litigation and dispute resolution
The TMT practice is the last “real” TMT practice in New Zealand – there is no other law firm we would trust for advice.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
Recent highlights
Sale of MediaWorks TV to Discovery Channel
Acting for MediaWorks Holdings on the sale of MediaWorks TV Limited to Discovery, Inc – MediaWorks is New Zealand’s largest independent commercial broadcaster.
Amazon Studios “The Rings of Power”
Advising the New Zealand Government on the negotiations with Amazon Studios and Amazon to secure New Zealand as the production base for Amazon Studios’ “The Rings of Power”. The New Zealand Screen Production Grant 5% Uplift was made available to the production in exchange for Amazon delivering significant economic benefits to New Zealand. At the time of negotiation, this was the largest screen incentive deal ever negotiated between a studio and a government.
TAB broadcast and wagering
Advising TAB New Zealand on its international rights and broadcasting arrangements with key commercial partners, such as Tabcorp, to secure international rights and to commercialise New Zealand broadcast rights. Advising on the wagering arrangements that are supported by this coverage, delivering New Zealand’s race betting and sports betting systems which provide significant benefits to New Zealand racing and sports sectors.
NZ Cricket signs with Amazon
Advising on the terms of the media rights agreement with Amazon for the grant of exclusive rights to transmit and use audio visual coverage of the New Zealand Men’s and New Zealand Women’s International cricket matches played in New Zealand (or in any location where New Zealand is considered the home side) on multiple media platforms within India.
Film and television
Advising a number of major US and international studios on their film and television production in New Zealand including in relation to the IP, structural and grant requirements.
Telecommunications Act Review
Advising Enable Networks and Tuatahi First Fibre on the design and implementation of the regulatory regime for fibre fixed line access services under Part 6 of the Telecommunications Act that came into effect on 1 January 2022.
Successful strike out application
Acting for Spark on its successful application to strike out a claim brought by Blue Reach alleging misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act in an application to the Commerce Commission for clearance to acquire radio spectrum.
2020 Political Leaders' debate injunction|
Acting for TVNZ in its successful defence of an urgent application for interim orders in the lead up to New Zealand’s 2020 general election.
