Tech Regulation
Cybersecurity
At FirstCounsel, we understand that cybersecurity is not merely a technical challenge but a critical business and legal concern. Our cybersecurity practice works closely with businesses across Australia and the UK to navigate the complex regulatory landscape surrounding data protection and security.
Our team assists clients with breach response planning, regulatory compliance with frameworks such as the Australian Privacy Act, UK GDPR and NIS regulations, and developing robust information security policies. We collaborate with your security teams and external consultants to conduct comprehensive security testing and audits, identifying vulnerabilities before they become liabilities.
When incidents occur, our rapid response team provides immediate support, managing breach notifications, regulatory communications, and mitigation strategies to protect your reputation and reduce potential penalties.
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Artificial Intelligence
As AI reshapes industries, FirstCounsel stands at the forefront of AI law, helping businesses harness this transformative technology while navigating its legal implications. Our specialists work with AI developers, implementers, and users to address the unique challenges of machine learning, automated decision-making, and predictive analytics.
We provide crucial guidance on AI ethics, bias mitigation, and algorithmic transparency. Our firm conducts thorough AI impact assessments that evaluate legal, ethical, and societal implications of your AI systems. We also advise on intellectual property protection for AI innovations, helping you safeguard your competitive advantage.
Our expertise spans contractual frameworks for AI development, licensing arrangements, and liability management, ensuring your AI initiatives proceed with solid legal foundations and minimal risk exposure.
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Financial Services
The intersection of technology and financial services presents unique regulatory challenges that require specialised legal expertise. FirstCounsel guides fintech companies, traditional financial institutions, and technology providers through the complex regulatory environments in Australia and the UK.
Our team assists with regulatory authorisations, compliance frameworks, and ongoing obligations under financial services laws. We provide critical counsel on payment services regulations, consumer credit licensing, anti-money laundering compliance, and open banking initiatives.
We excel in structuring technology agreements for financial services, including core banking systems, payment processing solutions, and wealth management platforms. Our lawyers help navigate the strict data protection requirements specific to financial information, ensuring your technology solutions remain compliant while driving innovation.
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Blockchain
Blockchain technology continues to challenge traditional legal frameworks, requiring innovative approaches to contracting and compliance. FirstCounsel's blockchain specialists help companies navigate this rapidly evolving landscape with confidence.
We provide comprehensive legal support for token offerings, digital asset exchanges, and decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms. Our team guides clients through regulatory considerations, helping structure offerings to comply with securities laws, financial services regulations, and anti-money laundering requirements.
Our expertise extends to smart contract development and review, providing crucial input on automated execution, contractual enforceability, and liability exposure. We help businesses implement blockchain solutions for supply chain management, intellectual property protection, and corporate governance, ensuring legal compliance while maximising the technology's transformative potential.
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Media & Gaming
The digital transformation of media and gaming has created new opportunities and legal challenges. FirstCounsel helps content creators, platforms, and gaming companies navigate this evolving landscape while protecting their interests and creative assets.
Our team provides specialist advice on content licensing, distribution agreements, and user-generated content risks. We help gaming companies structure their platforms and monetisation strategies to comply with gambling regulations, age verification requirements, and consumer protection laws.
We excel in negotiating complex IP arrangements for media assets, advising on copyright protection for digital content, and helping clients structure cross-border content delivery mechanisms. Our expertise also extends to esports, helping teams, tournament organisers, and platforms navigate sponsorship arrangements, player contracts, and broadcasting rights.
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Telecommunications
As telecommunications infrastructure underpins our digital economy, FirstCounsel provides specialised legal support to carriers, service providers, and telecommunications equipment manufacturers throughout Australia and the UK.
We guide clients through the complex regulatory frameworks governing telecommunications, including licensing requirements, interconnection agreements, and infrastructure access arrangements. Our team provides critical counsel on spectrum licensing, network sharing agreements, and international connectivity solutions.
We excel in structuring telecommunications equipment supply contracts, service level agreements, and infrastructure deployment arrangements. Our expertise extends to helping clients navigate the security and resilience requirements increasingly imposed on critical communications infrastructure.
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Healthtech
Healthcare's digital transformation presents unique legal and regulatory challenges. FirstCounsel helps healthtech innovators, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare providers navigate the intersection of technology, healthcare, and data protection regulations.
Our team provides specialist advice on regulatory approvals for medical software, telehealth platforms, and digital therapeutics. We conduct privacy impact assessments specifically tailored to health information, helping clients comply with health privacy regulations while advancing innovative care delivery models.
We structure commercial arrangements for healthtech deployment, including licensing, data governance, and liability frameworks. Our expertise extends to clinical decision support tools and AI in healthcare, providing guidance on regulatory pathways, validation requirements, and liability considerations for these emerging technologies.