Connell O'Neill

Connell O’Neill is a Registered Foreign Lawyer (NSW) in Hong Kong and a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He is head of the firm’s technology practice in Asia, advising clients throughout APAC and the Middle East on corporate and commercial transactions, AI, privacy and cybersecurity, product counselling, and commercial intellectual property matters in the information technology, media and telecommunications sectors. Connell has been a key advisor on many major matters across APAC and the Middle East, including in China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, UAE and elsewhere, and has provided strategic commercially-sensitive advice to clients on a range of complex and emerging topics.

Connell regularly advises emerging and established businesses on major transformative transactions and assists his clients on navigating legal complexity when pursuing digital strategies whether as a traditional industry incumbent or disruptive challenger. This focus has seen Connell advise on many market firsts in the areas of AI, blockchain, autonomous vehicle technologies, information infrastructure and digital marketplaces. He is also very active across the fintech ecosystem and has assisted clients on the launch of many innovative fintech platforms.

Connell is recognized as a leading lawyer and notable practitioner for his work in the TMT sector by several guides, including The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers Asia Pacific, and Chambers Greater China Region. Clients praise that Connell is "attentive, responsive and has good industry knowledge of the telecoms sector." He is noted to be "an outstanding lawyer" and a "star" with "strategic thinking and expert negotiation skills" who is a "key success factor" on client matters. In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide, one client was quoted saying “Connell O’Neill is a knowledgeable professional with excellent work ethics,” with another saying, “I find him to be an expert in terms of technology acquisition, implementation, maintenance and managed services consulting. He has deep knowledge, is passionate and very innovative. He has a deep understanding of risks involved and its mitigations.” Connell has also been named in ALB's Super 50 TMT Lawyers and ALB's Asia Top 15 TMT Lawyers. He was listed in the ALB Asia 40 under 40 list and Euromoney Rising Star Award (Technology) in 2022, and ALB Asia Hong Kong Rising Star in 2023. Connell and his team were also awarded the Digital Infrastructure Advisory Team of the Year Award at the 2024 edition of the Tech Capital APAC Awards.

Connell’s counselling practice focuses on complex and emerging topics in AI, cybersecurity and data privacy, where he is able to draw on his technical computer science background to quickly deliver valuable client insights and identify risk. In the 2021 edition of Global Data Review’s GDR 100 Elite, a list of the world’s top 20 data practices, it was noted that “Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher appears to have the strongest practice overall,” with Connell listed as a leading individual in the Asia Pacific region. Connell has also been named as a Distinguished Advisor in Financier Magazine's Asia Pacific Power Players report on Cyber Security and Data Privacy, in Lawdragon's 100 Leading AI & Legal Tech Advisors, and Lawdragon's 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.

Connell graduated from the Australian National University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Information Technology (Computer Systems) and a Bachelor of Laws (with Honors). He received a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice of the College of Law, Sydney in 2008.

Capabilities

• Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Transactions
• Artificial Intelligence
• Betting and Gaming
• Consumer Protection
• Emerging Companies / Venture Capital
• Intellectual Property
• Media, Entertainment, and Technology
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation
• Tech and Innovation
• Technology Transactions
• Transportation and Space

Credentials

Education:

• The College of Law, Australia - 2008 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Australian National University - 2007 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons)
• Australian National University - 2007 Bachelor of Information Technology

Admissions:

• Australia - Law Society of New South Wales