Nick Abrahams

Partner

Nick Abrahams

Sydney

T:+61 2 9330 8312

F:+61 2 9330 8111

Related services

Key industry sectors

Nick is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in Sydney.

Nick is the national leader of our Australian Communications, Media & Technology Group.

His group has won the Australian Technology Law Firm of the Year Award. Nick is widely recognised for his breadth of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of technology, media and telecommunications. In addition to mergers and acquisitions work in the sector, he regularly advises on cloud computing, outsourcing, IT/IP issues, internet and telecommunications matters, media regulation, content and privacy.

His unique expertise in the TMT field was gained through hands on industry experience with both major law firms in Australia and Tokyo as well as organisations such as the ASX-listed Spike Networks Limited in Los Angeles, where he was Chief Operating Officer during 1999-2001. Prior to that Nick held an executive position with Warner Brothers in Los Angeles.

Nick is the former Chairman of our Sydney office. Nick is a past President of the Australian Communications and Media Law Association. He is the only private practice lawyer on Senator Conroy’s Consultative Working Group on Cyber Safety. He is a director of the Institute for Economics & Peace, a not for profit dedicated to researching the linkage between peace and prosperity globally. The Institute is the publisher of the Global Peace Index. He is a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce.

He was named as a “Recommended Lawyer” in both the Outsourcing category and the Technology, Media and Telecommunications category of the 2012 PLC Which Lawyer publication. He was named as a “network deployment expert” in the 2012 Asia Pacific Legal 500 and was named one of Australia’s best media lawyers in the 2012 Best Lawyers publication. He was recently named one of Australia's "Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers" by Australasian Legal Business magazine.

Nick writes an occasional column on Technology for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers. As a result of this column, Nick maintains a list of recent TMT M&A Transactions in Australia.
[+Open all]
  • Selected client work

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    • Acted for APN News and Media in the $60M acquisition of brandsExclusive
    • Acted for the Ten Network in the joint venture with zeebox
    • Acted for 5th Finger in its sale to Merkle
    • Acted for IPMG in the sale of Viva9 to Digital Perfornance Group
    • Acted for Riverside Partners in the acquisition of ITC Global
    • Acted for ITC Global in the acquisition of Spidersat
    • Acted for Infosys Technologies Limited in relation to its acquisition of Gen-i's Software Solutions business
    • Acted for Kaplan Inc. (education) in relation to acquisition of Study Group International group of companies (A$100 million) and Aspect Education Limited group of companies (A$40 million)
    • Acted for New York Stock Exchange Euronext on its acquisition of Metabit
    • Acted for Dealised in its investment from Singtel Innov8 and Yuuwa Capital
    • Acted for shareholders of Spreets.com.au on its sale to Yahoo!7
    • Acted for Vodafone Global in connection with its acquisition of Quickcomm Pty Ltd
    • Acted for BMG Music in its acquisition of Chrysalis Music
    • Acted for Pivotel Group in connection with its acquisition of retail and wholesale mobile telephone business from Digital Performance Group Limited (Comtel)
    • Advising Downer EDI in the acquisition of the WA-based mining services business Western Construction. Western Construction had an annual turnover of $60 million from its services to the oil and gas, mining and heavy industrial sectors.
    • Acted for Intel Capital in its investment into Aurema Pty Limited
    • Acted for The Payment Company Ltd in connection with the acquisition of shares in Dialect Payment Technologies Pty Ltd (on-line payment solutions)
    • Acted for J&F Patricipaceos S.A. in connection with its $300million acquisition of the Swift Foods Group of Companie
    • Acted on acquisition of Globalstar from Vodafone

    Technology

    • Acted for rail freight and ports operator Asciano on moving its entire ICT infrastructure to Fujitsu’s cloud
    • Main adviser for two global software companies on their cloud agreements and negotiations
    • Acted for major telecommunications company on over 20 significant technology procurements
    • Acted for Sensis on their move to a social media/digital strategy
    • Acted for Telstra on over 80 contractual matters
    • Acted on numerous matters opposite NBN, including advising on the Wholesale Broadband Access contract development process and facilities access
    • Acted for Monster.com on joint venture between Monster.com with CareerOne
    • Acted for major Australian bank on various significant outsourcing matters
    • Acted for numerous NSW government departments on a significant technology-related matters matter
    • Acted for Federal government agency on major outsourcing project
    • Acted for Australian bank on core software system replacement
    • Acted for numerous energy companies on telecommunications matters, including sale and acquisition of network assets
    • Acted for major media company on numerous matters involving moving the business online over a period of years
    • Acted for Kennedy Miller Mitchell in joint venture with Omnilab to create digital content studio
  • Speaking engagements
    Speeches/Presentations 2012
    DateSeminar / conference / article / presentationTopic
    11 OctoberAICC Private Boardroom Lunch with Roger Corbett AO, Chairman, Fairfax MediaNick introducing Roger Corbett, and hosting the lunch
    10 OctoberDeloitte Board LunchOverview of recent TMT transactions; and the 7 major sticking points in TMT M&A negotiations
    9 OctoberComms Day 2012The Impact of the Convergence Review
    12 SeptemberCyber Security Law Australia 2012 ConferenceLegal Risks of Cloud Computing
    30 AugustAmChamAmCham Business Briefing:  Hosting HON. GREG PEARCE MLC Minister for Finance and Services
    30 AugustLegalwise Seminar:  Cloud Computing: Security, Privacy & ConfidentialityRisks in Cloud Computing
    29 AugustPresentation to clientPresentation to NSW Police (Nick Abrahams & Larry Noble) - "Procure IT"
    22 AugustPresentation to clientPrivacy Cloud, Patriot Act
    8 AugustCloud & NBN ForumCloud / NBN Forum
    19 JulyPresentation to clientCloud Computing
    18 JulyPresentation to clientGlobal Best Practice in Technology Procurement & Introduction to Alliance Contracting in Technology
    4 JulyNorton Rose Client SeminarThe Impact of Convergence Review
    28 JuneNorton Rose Client SeminarRaising Money, Granting Options and Buying/Selling: Legal Issues for TMT Companies
    25 JuneAustralian Risk & Compliance SummitPrivacy
    21 JunePresentation to clientThe Impact of the Convergence Review
    14 JuneNorton Rose Client SeminarGlobal Best Practice in Technology Procurement
    13 June2012 Cybersafety SummitConvergence Review
    6 JunePresentation to clientCloud Computing – Legal Issues
    23 MayPresentation to clientConvergence
    17 MayAMCHAM – The American Chamber of Commerce in Aust.Hosting Rod Sims, Aust Competition & Consumer Commission
    16 MayAusCert Information Security ConferenceRisks in Cloud Computing
    10 MayNorton Rose Client SeminarThe Impact of the Convergence Review
    17 AprilPresentation to client"The legal risks for your online portal from cyber crime"
    17 AprilCommsDayRecent deals in TMT sector
    29 MarchNorton Rose Client SeminarCloud Computing - the hype, the opportunities and the risks
    21 MarchPresentation to clientGlobal Best Practice in Tech Procurement
    15 MarchSpeaking on Panel Today - (Lexis Nexis Global LN Leadership Summit 13-15 March)SPEAKING ON PANEL TODAY - (Lexis Nexis Global LN Leadership Summit 13-15 March)
    7 MarchDubai Tech/Outsourcing SeminarTech/Outsourcing Seminar on Australia
    7 MarchSeminar in DubaiTechnology - at Dubai Tech/Outsourcing Meeting
    6 MarchSOPAC 2012 ConferencePrivacy – How far can you delve?
    6 MarchAdvertising, Marketing & Media Law Update SeminarAdvertising, Marketing & Media Law Update Seminar - New forms of Direct Marketing - Issues under the Spam, Do Not Call Register, Privacy and Surveillance regulations
    22 FebAmChamBriefing with Cybersecurity Experts
    20 FebPresentation to clientIT Contracting
    16 FebPresentation to clientIT Issues
    16 FebPresentation to clientAPRA and Cloud Computing, Data Export and the Patriot Act
    6 FebPresentation to clientGlobal Best Practice in Tech Procurement
    6 FebPresentation to clientUS gets serious on copyright: Megaupload, O’Dwyer Extradition & SOPA
    3 FebPresentation to clientGlobal Sourcing
    1 FebPresentation – InternalThe Impact of the PPSA on Technology Transactions - Presenters: Nick Abrahams and Warwick Andersen

    Speeches/Presentations 2011 

    Date

    Seminar/conference/article/presentation

    Topic

    27 JanPresentation to clientData Centre Strategies
    22 FebSeminar at Norton Rose for clientsDevelopments in Spam, Do Not Call and Privacy Laws which may cause Risks for your Business
    24 FebPresentation to clientAdvertising & Marketing Law Update
    3 MarchSeminar at Norton Rose for clientsTech Law Update
    3 MarchPresentation to clientTechnology Contracting
    9 MarchPresentation to clientLegal Issues in Mobile Applications
    11 MarchCLE Master ClassTechnology Contracting
    15 MarchUNSW Contract Law UpdateNick Chairing – UNSW Contract Law Update
    23 MarchPresentation to clientHow to work with Social Media Operators
    4 AprilPresentation to clientReselling NBN – the framework and the issues CLE
    6 AprilUnisys 2011 presentationCloud Computing
    7 AprilSeminar at Norton Rose for clientsNSW Procure IT Contracts
    14 AprilPresentation to clientOutsourcing
    23 MayPresentation to clientM&A in TMT
    21 JunePresentation to clientTelecommunications Regulation Update
    23 JuneInternalCLE on NBN
    20 JulyBlackBerry PlayBook launchPanel
    28 July7th Annual Public Sector In-House Counsel ConferenceGlobal Best Practice in Procurement
    5 AugustNick speaking at E&P Partner MeetingNick speaking at E&P Partner Meeting
    10 AugustPresentation to clientRisk Manager Presentation
    24 AugustPresentation to clientM&A in TMT
    25 AugustPresentation to clientM&A in TMT
    1 SeptPresentation to clientM&A in TMT
    5 SeptPresentation to clientLegal Implications of Machine to Machine Computing
    22 SeptAustralian Venture Capital Association
    Annual Conference    		Presentation: the evolving VC Industry – seismic shifts in the landscape
    26 SeptPresentation to clientTelstra M&A in Asia
    29 SeptPresentation to clientNBN and Regulation
    4 OctNorton Rose Internal"Update on Communications, Media and Technology Law issues"
    5 OctPresentation to clientTechnology Procurement Issues
    6 OctPresentation to clientM&A in TMT
    12 OctCommsDay Melbourne ConferenceMachine2Machine Risks and Opportunities
    25 OctPresentation to clientTelco Regulatory Update
    27 OctPresentation to clientTelecommunications Regulation
    27 OctPresentation to clientRiskManager Presentation
    27 OctSeminar at Norton Rose for clientsOutlook and Opportunities in the Australian Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sectors
    5 DecPresentation to clientLife satisfaction for lawyers
    8 DecPresentation to client2011:  A telecommunications Odyssey
    13 DecPresentation to clientGlobal Best Practice in Sourcing
[+Open all]