Mark Bennett LL.M
PartnerAbout
Mark advises clients on the design, development, and operation of digital infrastructure, including enterprise hyperscale and colocation data centres. He leads complex, high-value technology outsourcing and procurement transactions across the full technology ecosystem, frequently acting for clients in highly regulated industries. Mark is a trusted adviser on legal risk, operational resilience, and regulatory compliance - especially in relation to AI, sustainability, and technology-driven M&A.
Mark also focuses on transformative and disruptive technology projects, supporting clients on the strategic adoption of emerging digital platforms and data-driven innovation. His approach blends legal precision with commercial pragmatism, delivering scalable governance frameworks, operational playbooks, and dynamic legal solutions, that are aligned with each client’s unique operating model.
A passionate technologist with deep market insight, Mark brings a nuanced understanding of how businesses evolve - helping them capitalise on opportunity while navigating complexity with confidence and clarity.
Mark also focuses on transformative and disruptive technology projects, supporting clients on the strategic adoption of emerging digital platforms and data-driven innovation. His approach blends legal precision with commercial pragmatism, delivering scalable governance frameworks, operational playbooks, and dynamic legal solutions, that are aligned with each client’s unique operating model.
A passionate technologist with deep market insight, Mark brings a nuanced understanding of how businesses evolve - helping them capitalise on opportunity while navigating complexity with confidence and clarity.
Areas of FocusTechnologyFinancial ServicesData, Privacy and CybersecurityInfrastructure, Construction and TransportCommercial ContractsData CentersArtificial Intelligence and Data AnalyticsGovernment ContractingReal Estate
Bar admissions / Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the High Court of AustraliaSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South WalesSolicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong
EXPERIENCE
- Representing sell side on Blackstone's AUD24 billion acquisition of Airtrunk.*
- Representing a global alternative asset manager on its acquisition of the data centre business of PCCW across Asia.*
- Acquisition and capacity leaseback of circa 90,000km undersea and terrestrial passive fibre optic cables (FTTT and FTTH), and associated greenfield construction.*
- Global investment bank with its major global technology and outsourcing projects and critical infrastructure, including SaaS, NPCaaS, UCCaaS, DMaaS, and IaaS.*
- Representing various technology management companies on their technology MSAs (for the provision of a cross section of digital related technology solutions, and mobile and desktop applications) with various Australian Government and quasi-governmental bodies.*
- A leading global insurance company on its outsourcing of its APAC technology infrastructure and telecommunications functions to a global service provider.*
- American multinational hedge fund on its portfolio of contractual operational commitments across APAC, including data services, research, trading, consultancy, venue, licensing, SEBI and MAS regulatory, tech evaluation, BCPs, data centres, leases, and the creation and enhancement of negotiation and risk profile playbooks and guidelines.*
- Global US investment bank with respect to negotiating a primary and redundant data centres in APAC.*
- Representing a data centre operator with respect to its real estate tenure structure, service level agreements, governance, regulatory, cross border data transfer and localization, and technical and operational requirements such as sourcing equipment and infrastructure, construction, and interfacing with utility providers.*
- Representing a global music agency on its sponsorship, venue, and performance, agreements.*
- Acting for a global e-commerce supply chain solutions provider with respect to its facilities in Australia (including the negotiation of a significant pre-completed industrial facility in Western Sydney).*
- Proposed disposition of a large-scale colocation data centre operator, including preparation of a comprehensive due diligence report on its operational, customer, and supplier, ecosystem.*
- Advising a data centre operator in relation to an investment in its data centre development portfolio and the establishment of a platform arrangement for the funding, development, and operation, of data centre assets.*
*Denotes experience gained at prior firm
Education
- University of New South Wales, Master of Laws (Distinction) 2000
- The College of Law, Sydney, Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Distinction) 1996
- Bond University, Queensland, Bachelor of Laws 1995
- Bond University, Queensland, Bachelor of Commerce 1995
Prior Experience
- 2023 - 2025: Senior Counsel – Technology and Real Estate, Sydney-based international law firm
- 2020 - 2023: Consultant – Real Estate and Technology, Hong Kong-based consultancy
- 2018 - 2020: Senior Counsel – Real Estate and Technology, Hong Kong-based international law firm
- 2008 - 2018: Executive Director – Global Head of Technology Legal, Regional Head of Real Estate Legal, Hong Kong-based Japanese global investment banking institution
- 2006 - 2008: Senior Vice President – Head of Technology Legal Asia & Global Head Real Estate Legal, Hong Kong-based US global investment banking institution
- 2004 - 2005: Senior Associate – Property, Funds and Major Projects, London-based international law firm
- 2003 - 2005: Senior Associate – Projects, Finance, Investments, Sydney-based international law firm
- 1998 - 2003: Senior Associate (Associate in Sydney) – Projects, Property and Construction, Hong Kong and Sydney-based international law firm
Memberships and Affiliations
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Law Society of Hong Kong
