Martyn Taylor

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

Sydney
Australia
T:+61 2 9330 8056
Sydney
Australia
T:+61 2 9330 8056
Martyn Taylor

Martyn Taylor

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Biography

Martyn Taylor is a lawyer at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright based in Sydney.  He co-heads the telecommunications and media group (ranked Tier 1 in APAC), and the competition/antitrust and trade group (ranked Tier 1 in Sydney and Melbourne).   He is a board member on the Australian Partnership Committee.  He is described as “smart, efficient, friendly”.

Martyn’s practice covers transactional, contentious and advisory. He is a corporate and commercial lawyer and a well-known telecommunications, internet, media and technology (TMT), infrastructure/utilities, energy, competition and regulatory specialist.

Martyn has been endorsed as a 'top 10' TMT legal advisors in Asia.  He is recommended by the key legal directories, including Best Lawyers.  Recent awards include:

  • Australian Law Firm Partner of the Year - Competition, Trade & Regulation, 2023
  • Australian Law Firm Partner of the Year - Commercial, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021
  • Australian Law Firm Partner of the Year - TMT, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022
  • Best Utilities Project (Global) – World Bank Partnerships Awards, 2022 (Ethiopian telecoms rollout)
  • M&A Deal of the Year – Australasian Law Awards, 2016, 2021 (Vodafone/TPG merger)
  • Best M&A Deal - Finance Asia, 2020 (Vodafone/TPG merger)
  • Asia-Pacific Telecoms Deal of the Year - IJ Global, 2015, 2020 (Kacific satellite launch)
  • Global Merger of the Year - Global Competition Review, 2015, 2020 (GSK/Pfizer JV)
  • Energy & Resources Deal of the Year - Australasian Law Awards, 2016 (Transgrid privatisation)
  • Telecommunications Infrastructure Deal of the Year - Asia-Pacific, 2016 (Myanmar telecoms rollout)

Martyn was also a finalist for 'Australian Deal Maker of the Year' in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

Chambers comments: "Martyn Taylor is prized as a 'relentless worker' on both the transactional and enforcement fronts, distinguished by his ability to 'explain complicated regulatory concepts in the simplest terms possible' and a related flair for 'churning through a large amount of information and distilling from it the thesis needed to put a case forward'. His application of such skills on behalf of telecommunications industry clients is particularly commended."

Chambers also comments: "Martyn Taylor is acknowledged as a 'super smart guy' who does a lot of 'out-of-the-box thinking'.  A client singles him out as a provider of 'outstanding contract knowledge and strategic advice' who is distinguished further by 'excellent problem-solving and people skills'.

Martyn has multiple board/director roles, including President of the Communications & Media Law Association, and Treasurer of the International Section of the Law Council of Australia.  He is an angel investor and business owner.  He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Martyn has qualifications in law, economics, corporate finance, management, engineering & architecture.  He has attended Harvard University, Oxford University, Wharton Business School, and London School of Economics.  He has published well over 100 publications, including the award-nominated book 'International Competition Law'.   He has a PhD in competition and trade law.

Qualifications: PhD(Law); CME(Harvard); MFin(Corporate Finance); LLM(Law); BA(Hons)(Economics); LLB(Hons)(Law); BSc(Architecture); GAICD. Admitted in Australia, New Zealand, England & Wales.

Telecommunications, media & technology (TMT)

Martyn has a detailed understanding of TMT arising from matters throughout the world with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific and Middle East. He has some 30 years of experience in all aspects of telecoms, media and technology.   He has particular expertise in digital infrastructure, telecommunications, digital markets, and disruptive technologies (including autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence).  He has acted in many of the region's largest matters, including M&A/JVs, infrastructure rollouts, litigation/arbitrations, satellite and tower deals, market entry, and spectrum auctions.

Some of Martyn's recent matters have included, for example:

  • M&A Deal of Year 2020 - $21 billion merger of Vodafone & TPG Telecom in Australia (telecoms merger)
  • Global utilities deal of year 2021 - Largest-ever foreign investment into Ethiopia (mobile telecoms rollout) 
  • Telecoms Infrastructure JV - RAN sharing JV between Digicel and Iliad/Free (infrastructure sharing)
  • Asian TMT Deal of the Year – $15 billion telecoms infrastructure rollout in Myanmar (network rollout)
  • Major telecoms project  – $42 billion Australian National Broadband Network (network rollout)
  • M&A Deal of Year 2015 – $2 billion acquisition by Macquarie of Crown Castle Australia (mobile towers)
  • High profile spectrum auction – Acting for the Government in Australia's US$ 2 billion auction
  • Major media M&A – US$400 million Foxtel/Discovery bid for Network Ten
  • Major cable projects – US$300 million Australia-Singapore Cable Project
  • IT outsourcing – US$200 million Indonesian strategic alliance between IBM, Indosat and Lintasarta

Competition/antitrust, trade & regulatory

Martyn is a well-known competition and regulatory lawyer. He has acted in many high-profile merger clearances, access disputes, and regulatory investigations. He has particular experience in infrastructure and utilities. He has drafted competition laws and regulatory regimes, as well as advising on matters of cross-border market access and international trade regulation. He has a deep understanding of regulatory pricing models.

Some of Martyn's recent matters have included, for example:

  • Approval of the $21bn Vodafone/TPG merger, acting for Vodafone - including merger litigation
  • Approval of the Pacific National & Linfox acquisition of Aurizon's intermodal business - including litigation
  • Approval of Woolworth's $1.5bn acquisition of Petstock, notwithstanding a major regulatory investigation
  • Approval of Coles' acquisition of Saputo dairy processing plants, notwithstanding political opposition
  • Global Merger of the Year 2020 - US$12 billion GSK/Pfizer healthcare JV 
  • Global Merger of the Year 2015 – US$33 billion GSK/ Novartis global asset swap
  • World's largest regulatory investigation – US$ multi-trillion global FOREX cartel investigation
  • Global M&A/JV clearances – US$20 billion GE / Alstom complex global asset swap
  • Regulatory strategy – Advising Vodafone and preparing many regulatory submissions
  • Parliamentary inquiries – Acting for Microsoft in a major inquiry into software pricing

Infrastructure & transport

Martyn has acted in many multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects. He has been seconded to corporate roles and has experience in commercial negotiations, privatisations, contracting, disputes and regulatory. His experience includes acting in Australia's largest private equity deal, largest public offering, and largest infrastructure rollout.  Martyn has particular experience in the automotive sector, including connected and autonomous vehicles.

Some of Martyn's recent matters have included, for example:

  • Automotive - Acting for the Australian automotive sector in the regulation of connected and autonomous vehicles
  • Rail M&A – Successful Linfox acquisition of Queensland intermodal rail business of Aurizon
  • World's largest coal rail network – QCA review of Aurizon's US$5 billion rail access undertaking
  • Australia's largest rail expansion – Acting for QCA in reviewing the Wiggins Island Rail Project
  • Regulated pricing – Acting for QCA in a review of the WACC for many $ billions of infrastructure
  • Port infrastructure – Advising on privatisations and regulation, including Australia's largest ports
  • Major airports – Advising on regulation and access for both domestic and international airports
  • Road projects – Advising on pricing and regulatory models for road infrastructure
  • Inter-modal infrastructure – Advising on integrated grain infrastructure supply arrangements

Energy, utilities & resources

Martyn has substantial experience in electricity, oil & gas, and regulated utilities. He started his career in-house working on power project developments and electricity market reform.  He subsequently acted in oil & gas JVs and LNG projects.  He has acted for all types of market participants, including generators, oil & gas JVs, pipeline operators, distributors and retailers.

Some of Martyn's recent matters have included, for example:

  • Privatisations – AU$10.2 billion acquisition of TransGrid by Spark Infrastructure and others
  • Australia's largest gas pipeline – Advising on the regulation of a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline
  • Electricity restructuring – Advising Ausgrid on restructuring following AU$16 billion partial privatisation
  • Electricity regulation – Advising Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on regulatory issues
  • Gas sector regulation – Acting in the application of regulation to a major gas supply arrangement
  • Mining laws – Acting for the United Nations Development Programme in a review of mining laws in Fiji
  • Water regulation – Acting in regulatory investigations relating to water utilities and resolving pricing
  • Public Private Partnerships – Acting on the Asian Development Bank panel for PPP projects

Professional experience

Expand all Collapse all
  • PhD (Law) -  Doctor of Philosophy in Law, Sydney University, Australia
  • CME (Management) – Certificate in Management Excellence, Harvard Business School, USA
  • MBA - Essentials - London School of Economics, UK
  • MFin (Corporate Finance) – Master of Applied Finance, Australia
  • Leading Professional Services Firms, Harvard Business School, USA
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Program, Harvard Business School, USA
  • Oxford Executive Leadership Programme, Oxford University, UK
  • Oxford Entrepreneurship Programme, Oxford University, UK
  • Oxford Private Equity Programme, Oxford University, UK
  • Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme, Oxford University, UK
  • Private Equity Program, Wharton Business School, USA
  • Venture Capital Program, Wharton Business School, USA
  • Mastering Sales Executive Program, Kellogg Business School, USA
  • GAICD – Company Directors Course, Sydney, Australia
  • LLM (Law) – Master of Laws, Sydney University, Australia
  • BA (Economics)(Hons) – First Class Honours in Economics – VUW, NZ
  • Winter School in Chinese Law – ECUPSL, Shanghai, China
  • LLB(Hons) – First Class Honours in Law – VUW, NZ
  • JAL Scholarship Program – Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
  • BSc (Architecture) – Bachelor of Science in Architecture – VUW, NZ
  • Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2001
  • Admitted to High Court of Australia 1998
  • Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand 1994

Detailed experience available on request.

Recent Awards (Winner):

  • Law Firm Partner of the Year (Competition, Trade & Regulation), Australian Partner of the Year Awards, 2023.
  • Law Firm Partner of the Year (Telecoms, Media & Technology), Australian Partner of the Year Awards, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022
  • Law Firm Partner of the Year (Commercial), Australian Partner of the Year Awards 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021.
  • Best M&A Deal, Finance Asia, 2020.
  • World Bank Best Global Utilities Deal, 2022.
  • Asia-Pacific Telecoms Deal of the Year, IJ Global, 2016, 2020.
  • Global Merger of the Year, Global Competition Review, 2015, 2020.
  • 'Top 10' TMT Advisor in Asia, TMT Finance, 2019.
  • Australasian Deal of the Year, Australasian Law Awards, 2016.
  • Australasian Energy & Resources Deal of the Year, Australasian Law Awards, 2016.
  • Australian M&A Deal of the Year, Australasian Law Awards, Sydney, 2016, 2021.
  • Telecoms, Media & Technology Deal of the Year, The Asian Lawyer Awards, Singapore, 2014.

Books (not exhaustive):

Periodicals (not exhaustive):

Papers (not exhaustive):

News articles (not exhaustive):

Conference chair roles (not exhaustive):

  • Conference Chair, Telecoms Law and Regulation in the Middle East, Dubai, 2013.
  • Conference Chair, Infrastructure Investment & Regulation, Sydney, 2013.
  • Conference Chair, Telecoms Law and Regulation in the Middle East, Dubai, 2011.
  • Conference Chair, Communications & Broadcast World Conference, Singapore, 2010. 

Plenary speaker roles (not exhaustive):

  • Plenary Speaker, Asia-Pacific Fuel Industry (APFI) Forum, Singapore, 2016.
  • Plenary Speaker, Pacific Finance & Investment Conference, Suva, 2013.

Speaker roles (not exhaustive);

  • Speaker, 2024 Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 2024.
  • Speaker, Telecommunications Policy Conference, Sydney, 2023.
  • Speaker, 2023 Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 2023.
  • Speaker, 2022 Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 2022.
  • Speaker, Tech Media & Telecoms: Challenges & Opportunities Conference, Sydney, 2017.
  • Speaker, NSW Law Society Competition & Consumer Law Update, Sydney, 2016.
  • Speaker, 2016 Contract Law Masterclass, Sydney, 2016.
  • Speaker, 2015 Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 2015.
  • Speaker, Infrastructure Privatisation Conference, Sydney, 2015.
  • Speaker, Centre for Regulation & Market Analysis Conference, Adelaide, 2013.
  • Speaker, Tonkin Competition Conference, Sydney, 2013.
  • Speaker, In-house Counsel Conference, Sydney, 2013.
  • Speaker & Panelist, Infrastructure Investment & Regulation Conference, Sydney, 2012.
  • Speaker, Tonkin Competition Conference, Sydney, 2012.
  • Speaker, CommsDay Annual Conference, Melbourne, 2012.
  • Speaker, CommunicAsia Conference, Singapore, 2012.
  • Speaker, Pacific Telecommunications Conference, Honolulu, 2011.
  • Speaker, CommsDay Annual Conference, Singapore, 2010.
  • Speaker, Telecoms Law and Regulation in the Middle East, Dubai, 2010.
  • Speaker, 5th Annual Mobile Evolution Conference, Singapore, 2010.
  • Speaker, International Telecommunications Society 17th Biennial Conference, Montreal, 2008.
  • Speaker, International Trade Law Conference, Canberra, 2007.
  • Speaker, Trade Practices Law Conference, Sydney, 2006.
  • Speaker, International Bar Association Annual Conference, Auckland, 2005.
  • Speaker, IBA Competition & Communications Law Conference, Rome, 2004.
  • Speaker, IBA Competition & Communications Law Conference, Budapest, 2003.

Panelist roles (not exhaustive):

  • Panelist, Space Law and Policy Conference, Sydney, 2024.
  • Panelist, Law Council of Australia Competition Law Workshop, Sydney, 2016.
  • Panelist, 'Indonesia Download' Seminar; Australian Services Roundtable, Sydney, 2016.
  • Panelist, CommsDay Summit 2014, Sydney, 2014.
  • Panelist, Centre for Regulation & Market Analysis Conference, Adelaide, 2013.
  • Panelist, Infrastructure Investment & Regulation Conference, Sydney, 2012.
  • Panelist, Pacific Telecommunications Conference, Honolulu, 2011.
  • Panelist, CommsDay Annual Conference, Singapore, 2010.
  • Panelist, Telecoms Law and Regulation in the Middle East, Dubai, 2010.
  • Panelist, International Trade Law Conference, Canberra, 2007.
  • Panelist, Trade Practices Law Conference, Sydney, 2006.
  • Panelist, International Bar Association Annual Conference, Auckland, 2005.

Current office bearer positions:

  • President, Communications & Media Law Association
  • Treasurer, International Section of the Law Council of Australia

Current memberships:

  • American Bar Association, International Antitrust Committee
  • Centre for Competition Law & Policy, University of London
  • Communications & Media Law Association
  • Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand (CLPINZ)
  • Global Forum for Competition and Trade Policy
  • International Bar Association, Antitrust law Committee
  • International Bar Association, Communications Law Committee
  • International Bar Association, War Crimes Committee
  • Law Council of Australia, Competition & Consumer Law Committee
  • Law Council of Australia, Media & Communications Law Committee
  • Law Council of Australia, Trade Law Committee
  • Sydney Centre for International Law, University of Sydney

Historic memberships:

  • Australia and New Zealand Society for International Law (ANZSIL)
  • Australian Law and Economics Association (AustLEA)
  • Business Council of Australia (BCA), Experts Panel on Climate Change Policy, 2005 
  • Financial Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA)
  • Law and Economics Association of New Zealand (LEANZ)
  • Japanese
  • German

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