James has over 18 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer specialising in technology procurement, privacy, data security and intellectual property matters. James is also the co-lead of the Hall & Wilcox Technology and Digital Economy industry group.
James’ specialist expertise in technology procurement, licensing and outsourcing matters includes drafting and advising on IT contracts such as software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) agreements, cloud agreements, IT project and implementation agreements, IT outsourcing agreements, software development and licence agreements and IT service contracts. James regularly advises on IT projects and technology procurements matters for a range of clients, including corporates, government bodies and technology vendors.
James also has experience in a broad range of commercial and intellectual property matters, including general commercial agreements, media rights agreements, intellectual property commercialisation agreements, trade mark registrability and infringement issues and intellectual property protection and enforcement matters.
James has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia in Commercial Law every year since 2019 and in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 for Media and Entertainment in both 2021 and 2022.
Experience
- Advised Breakthrough Victoria, the Victorian Government’s investment fund, on its recent $5 million investment in FLAIM Systems as part of FLAIM’s recent Series A capital raise.
- Advised the Waldner group on its acquisition of the business of Laboratory Systems Group Pty Ltd.
- Advising a major Australian superannuation fund on a large digital transformation project, including drafting, advising on and negotiating the master services agreements, statements of work and related agreements and advising on regulatory compliance issues.
- Acting for a leading Australian utility and energy network operator on a major digital outsourcing project involving the engagement of a multi-national IT services provider to be its primary digital delivery partner.
- Advising the Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) on contracts to be entered into by Australian universities with multiple global IT vendors.
- Acting for a multi-national systems integrator in relation to a number of significant IT projects, including in the energy, infrastructure, healthcare, financial services and government sectors.
- Advising on major media rights transactions for clients including AFL and Cricket Australia.
- Advising a leading Australian bank on complicated joint IP ownership and related IT contract issues regarding an important digital banking project.
- Acting for the operator of a leading sports and entertainment stadium in relation to a long term ticketing outsourcing agreement.
- Advising a leading multi-national insurance provider on a major payroll outsourcing project.
- Acting for a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia in relation to a number of significant procurement matters.
Awards and Recognition
Best Lawyers in Australia 2019-2025
Commercial Law
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021-2022 & 2024
Media and Entertainment