Pinsent Masons appoints two partners and team of lawyers to launch TMT practice in Australia

James and Veronica join Pinsent Masons from KPMG Law where they were co-leads of the firm’s Australian tech, data and digital practice. James was head of the technology and digital transformation team, while Veronica led the Australian cyber, privacy and data practice.

Joining them will be a team of six lawyers, which includes two senior associates and four associates. The team, which started with Pinsent Masons today, is based in Melbourne.

Head of Australia Matthew Croagh said the addition of the TMT team was a significant strategic move by the firm.

“Every organisation is grappling with the ferocious pace of change in the field of technology, data and privacy, including the opportunities this change presents as well as the significant risk to operations and reputation. James and Veronica are highly regarded lawyers in this field with a wealth of experience advising on business-transformation matters and highly sensitive risk issues,” Matthew said.

“The team will work closely with our global TMT team, particularly our existing Asia-based team, to provide advice on the key issues keeping organisational leaders up at night.”

James has significant experience advising public and private companies, including in the energy, utilities and healthcare sectors, on technology, outsourcing and related complex commercial transactions.

Veronica brings deep expertise in advising on all aspects of privacy, cyber, media and data regulation and leading incident response, cross-border data transfers and transactions and digital transformation.  In particular, Veronica has significant experience of the cyber insurance industry. 

Commenting on their appointment, James Arnott said: “Veronica and I are excited at the opportunity to launch the firm’s TMT practice in Australia and to add another important service to those currently being offered by Pinsent Masons in the Asia Pacific. It’s great to be able to combine our expertise with Pinsent Masons’ global TMT capability and industry sector teams to make a positive impact for organisations across the region.”

Veronica added: “As we move to a global digital economy, we are entering a critical phase. Organisations need to apply technological and data driven responses to key challenges - from decarbonising supply chains to implementing AI - while facing an increasingly complex global regulatory environment and heightened cyber risk. We are looking forward to continuing to help organisations and their boards take advantage of the possibilities that exist today.”

The appointment of the TMT team continues a run of lateral hires in the Asia Pacific region since the middle of 2023. Most recently, we announced the appointment last month of work health and safety partner Carlie Holt and a team of two lawyers in Sydney and the hire of leading corporate partner David Clinch to our office in Singapore.

We have also appointed Hannah Griffiths and a team of three lawyers in Sydney to launch the firm’s Australian restructuring and insolvency practice, the launch of an Australian employment and reward practice with the hire of a team of six lawyers, led by partners Aaron Goonrey, Ben McKinley and Neil Napper, and the appointment of planning and environment partner Florence Reviere to the firm’s Melbourne office.