Biztech Lawyers Appoint 30-Year Tech Law Veteran as Partner

Emerging international technology and business law firm, Biztech Lawyers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Truswell as Partner to spearhead the firm’s aviation technology law offering.

The appointment comes amid a period of sustained growth in Biztech’s stable of clients, which includes Rokt and Faethm, and a string of advisory roles for market transactions. The firm is looking to recruit more market-leading candidates in high growth startup ecosystems including the US, UK and Singapore.

Mr Truswell also joins as the global aviation industry continues to sharpen its focus on digital transformation and key supplier contracts to remain competitive in the COVID-19 recovery, putting boutique firms with deep, specialist knowledge in a good position to deliver best value top-tier advice.

A veteran Australian international technology and business lawyer, Mr Truswell has focused his practice on the intersection between aviation and technology with a specific focus on Data (Privacy and Cyber), Information Technology (Cloud, SaaS, IoT, Infrastructure, Outsourcing and IP), and Insurance (Aviation, PI & Cyber). 

Mr Truswell’s aviation technology expertise developed from a strong background in information technology law. He has been exposed to technology from a number of in-house legal roles at IBM, Hewlett-Packard, US information storage company EMC (acquired by Dell), and US cloud data giant NetApp.

Most recently, Mr Truswell served as in-house technology counsel for international carrier Qatar Airways, where he led all technology contracts and projects including passenger system agreements, fare data distribution, travel agent direct data distribution, e-retail, and all forms of aviation technology models. During his time with the carrier, Qatar Airways became the largest operating airline in the world thanks to its steadfast delivery of services throughout the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before his time at Qatar, Mr Truswell was General Counsel at Thai airline, JetAsia, and spent four years as Regional Counsel, APAC and Data Protection Officer at market leading travel sector technology provider, Amadeus. During this period, Mr Truswell was exposed to passenger system (PSS) and Distribution (GDS and NDC) transactions with many leading airlines, including managing data protection and cyber risks.

In his private practice, Mr Truswell has advised clients including Australia’s leading airline Qantas Airways. He has also consulted for French multinational technology consultancy Capgemini and $7.5 billion payments giant RazorPay. Mr Truswell has also advised the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) and emerging Australian tech star Versent.

“We are delighted to welcome Andrew as Partner as he will significantly bolster the breadth and depth of our international technology law expertise,” said Biztech Lawyers Managing Director Anthony Bekker. “We’re particularly excited to acquire his broad, deep and recent experience in the latest developments in aviation technology, both from the supplier and customer perspective, and from a background of experience from worldwide leaders in information technology products and services. We hope to be adding more legal experts of Andrew’s calibre in high growth startup ecosystems, with a particular focus on the US, UK and Singapore.”

Mr Truswell has a Bachelors of Law and Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Technology Sydney. He spent his early years as a lawyer at top firms Allen Allen & Hemsley (predecessor to Allens) and Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

Mr Truswell said: “Biztech Lawyers is an up-and-coming law firm that’s expanding rapidly on the back of some cutting edge legal advice to some of today’s most innovative technology companies, such as Rokt and Faethm. The prospect of working with Anthony, Chris and the rest of the Biztech team to build out a technology practice with a focus on aviation technology is an enticing prospect that leverages my long career and deep experience with Qatar Airways, Qantas and Amadeus.”

About Biztech Lawyers

Biztech Lawyers was founded in 2018 by Anthony Bekker and Chris Spillman, based on an identified need for specialist technology lawyers who could act as outside counsel in assisting tech businesses with their commercial legal needs.

Biztech Lawyers prides itself on understanding the complexities and needs of tech-driven business unlike other legal partners, and boasts deep practical experience gained from top-tier law and strategy consulting, and from operational and leadership roles in scaling some of the world’s most exciting startups.

With offices in Australia and the United States, Biztech has a unique legal and operations skillset, drawing on a network of specialist lawyers and tech partners across the world to support clients through every stage of development.

In need of legal support from a tech lawyer? Biztech Lawyers is a multi-award-winning law firm, known for fuelling and protecting tech innovation worldwide. Get in touch now to see how we can help.