About Elyse Adams
Elyse is partner in our technology, media and telecommunications practice in Melbourne, with leading expertise in fintech, payments and strategic investments, alongside deep experience across complex tech procurement and advisory, privacy and data protection, tech sector M&A, and high-value corporate and commercial transactions. A recognised fintech and payments specialist, she leads the firm's work across this transformative sector. Elyse has also advised extensively on loyalty programs, including on the design, operation and commercialisation of loyalty, rewards and customer engagement programs, and the corresponding data sharing implications.
A founding member of the Allens Accelerate & VC practice—a dedicated offering for startups, scaleups and high-growth companies, and their investors—Elyse regularly guides clients through digital transformation, technology-led innovation, private capital raises, joint ventures and strategic investments.
Most recently, she has advised:
Technology procurement
- a major retailer on a flagship enterprise transformation involving the large-scale outsourcing of business, technology, data and analytics services across multiple business lines
- AustralianSuper on all aspects of procuring a digital tool to deliver financial advice to members
- a big four bank on the procurement of an AI-enabled HR outsourcing platform, including data and AI regulatory considerations
- a major superannuation fund on a financial platform digital transformation, including the hybrid outsourcing and procurement of administration services and related technology
- numerous APRA regulated clients including banks and industry superannuation funds on CPS 230 and CPS 234 uplift and compliance programs.
Fintech and payments
- multiple big four banks on strategic incentive arrangements with credit card schemes
- SWIFT on aspects of the New Payments Platform's operation and management
- a big four bank on a new digital banking platform, and arrangements for digital-led banking products and services
- Bendigo Bank on the establishment of a 10-year strategic alliance with Tyro for merchant acquiring services, including all regulatory aspects of the alliance and referral program, data sharing considerations and customer transition
- Coles on a range of payments technology systems matters forming part of a wholesale uplift to its payment switching infrastructure.
Loyalty programs
- Coles in respect of its arrangements with, and participation in, flybuys including entry into data sharing arrangements
- an ASX 20 client on the key issues and considerations to have regard to when establishing a loyalty program, including those specific to its particular arrangements with various government entities.
- a large insurer on the initial establishment of its loyalty program, and related participant arrangements.
Tech sector M&A and high-growth companies
- Xplor Technologies, an Advent International portfolio company, on its acquisition of Ezypay, a provider of recurring payment collection services in the Asia-Pacific region
- a strategic corporate investor on all aspects of a strategic investment in, and related critical supply arrangement with, an Australian data analytics startup
- Experian plc on its $820 million acquisition of illion from Archer Capital, and the subsequent divestment of illion Digital Tech Solutions Holdings Limited, a SaaS early stage collections business
- Penten, the defence cybersecurity scaleup, on all aspects of a significant minority investment by Five V Capital
- Canva on its acquisition of interactive presentation startup Zeetings.
Tech & Telco sector PE investments and acquisitions
- TPG Capital on its proposed take-private acquisition of ASX-listed Infomedia Limited via a board-recommended scheme of arrangement (equity value approximately $651 million)
- CapVest on its acquisition of SaaS platform Ansarada Limited (via its portfolio company Datasite)
- the HRL Morrison & Co and Brookfield consortium on all telco-related aspects of the $3.6 billion take-private of the Uniti Group
- HRL Morrison & Co on the acquisition of a 49% interest in Telstra Corporation's telecommunications network tower business, including on the deal structure from a telco regulatory perspective, and negotiating ongoing services, supply and access arrangements.