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Joshua Cole Baker Botts Singapore
Joshua Cole Baker Botts Singapore
Joshua Cole
Partner
[email protected]
DETAILS
Practices
Corporate
Cross-Border Transactions
Joint Ventures
Mergers and Acquisitions
Technology Transactions
Industries
Data Centers
Digital Infrastructure
Technology
Details
Overview
Overview Admissions & Affiliations Experience News Awards and Community
Practices
Corporate
Cross-Border Transactions
Joint Ventures
Mergers and Acquisitions
Technology Transactions
Industries
Data Centers
Digital Infrastructure
Technology

Overview

Joshua Cole has more than 25 years of experience advising on complex M&A transactions and projects in the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.

He frequently advises on high-profile matters involving domestic and international, fixed and mobile, networks. His extensive track record includes leading transactions in numerous jurisdictions throughout Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and South Korea.

He regularly acts as lead counsel on trans-Pacific and trans-Indian Ocean digital infrastructure projects and is skilled in submarine telecommunications cable transactions and associated infrastructure deals, having worked on some of the most significant sub-sea cable projects in the region over the last 25 years.

Joshua is the author of various M&A and TMT related publications and is ranked by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2017-2026) and The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for Technology, Media, Telecoms "TMT" (2017-2025).

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Hong Kong High Court, 2013
  • The Law Society of New South Wales
  • The Law Society of Hong Kong

Education

  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Australian National University 1997
  • Bachelor of Laws, Australian National University 1996
  • Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University 1994

Experience

  • Axiata Group Berhad and Dialog Axiata Plc on merging its Sri Lanka telecommunication operations with Bharti Airtel Limited in an equity swap deal to create the largest telecoms business in Sri Lanka and the establishment of a new Mobile Telecoms Joint Venture in Sri Lanka between Axiata and Bharti.
  • Meta (formerly Facebook) on the establishment or restructure of a number of joint ventures to build, own and operate trans-Pacific and intra-Asia telecoms networks (including in respect of Singapore, India, Indonesia, the U.S. and several other Asian jurisdictions).
  • Advised our client on a joint venture to establish and operate a freight forwarding business in Bangladesh.
  • Walsin Lihwa on its joint venture with Danish company NKT to acquire technology to manufacture offshore power cables in Taiwan.
  • Lightstorm on its joint venture to provide services in India in connection with the TEAS System.
  • SingTel/NCS on its acquisition of data analytics company Velocity Business Solutions.
  • Sojitz Corporation on a telecoms tower joint venture in the Philippines.
  • Hyundai Motor Group advised Hyundai on the establishment of a US$4 billion joint venture with Aptiv PLC for the design, development and commercialisation of software technologies, services, systems, vehicle architecture and other related enabling offerings with respect to Level 4 and 5 autonomous driving.
  • VimpelCom (now known as "Veon") on the sale of its controlling interest in a Lao mobile telecoms business.
  • Tyme Global on its joint venture to establish one of the first digital banks in the Philippines.
  • Sojitz Corporation on the acquisition of a total interest of 75% of the outstanding capital stock of LBS Digital Infrastructure Corp, a telecoms tower owner and operator in the Philippines.
  • Telstra on the sale of Hong Kong mobile operator CSL to HKT for US$2.4 billion.
  • The project company on the establishment of the Solomons Oceanic Cable.
  • Telstra on the restructure of Reach, Telstra's international telecommunications joint venture with PCCW, and the sale of certain of its assets to its shareholders.
  • A Japanese trading house on its equity investment in a submarine cable linking Singapore to Myanmar, passing through Indonesia and Thailand.
  • Telstra on its proposed joint venture to build, own and operate a mobile telephony network in the Philippines (including towers roll-out).
  • Sojitz Corporation on the potential acquisition of interest in Naza Communications, a Malaysian telecoms tower business.
  • Delta Capital Myanmar on its minority investment in an internet infrastructure business in Myanmar.
  • A PE Firm on establishing a joint venture to operate a virtual banking business in Hong Kong.
  • Telstra on establishment of Asia-America Gateway joint venture and Sydney-Hawaii cable system.
  • CKI on establishment and float of Spark Infrastructure fund and associated disposal of telecommunications business to form Silk Communications.
  • Telstra on the establishment of 3G infrastructure sharing joint venture with Hutchison.
  • Telstra on restructure of Telstra Saturn joint venture and subsequent acquisition of Clear Communications to form Telstra Clear.
  • Government Tonga on re-write of telecoms legislation.
  • World Bank on telecoms regimes in South Pacific.
  • Telstra on the establishment and implementation of Australia to PNG (2) Cable System Consortium.
  • Telstra as the project company on the establishment of the Australia-Japan Cable.
  • Telstra on the establishment of Reach, its international telecoms infrastructure joint venture with PCCW.
  • Telstra on the Asia-America Gateway Cable System (AAG) connecting US West Coast, Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Awards and Community

Ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific in Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT), Greater China Region, 2019-2026

Recognised in Chambers Asia-Pacific in Band 3 for TMT:  Telecommunications & Broadcasting (China), 2017-2018

Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific as a "Leading Partner" for TMT, Hong Kong, 2025

Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific as a "Recommended individual" for Corporate (including M&A), Hong Kong, and for TMT, Hong Kong, 2018

Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific as a "Recommended Lawyer" for Foreign Firm, Philippines, 2017

Recognised in IFLR 1000 as "Highly Regarded" in Competition and M&A in Hong Kong, 2018-2020 and as a "Leading lawyer" in Competition and M&A in Hong Kong, 2017

Named a "Finalist of Managing Partner of the Year" at The Macallan ALB Hong Kong Law Awards (Asian Legal Business), 2019

Named a "Finalist in the Hong Kong Deal Maker of the Year" by Asian Legal Business, 2013, 2014 & 2015

Recognised as "Deal Maker of the Year" by Finance Monthly, 2013

"Joshua demonstrates the highest level of commitment, with excellent delivery."

Chambers Asia-Pacific - Greater China Region, Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT), 2025

““Joshua Cole is particularly known for his regional telecoms acumen and acts for blue-chip clients on a range of mandates, including launches of joint ventures and technology platforms. Interviewees are quick to report that he has “very strong experience in international M&A,” with one reporting: “He is really good at keeping in touch with us, including to ask the right questions about our business, when needed.”

Chambers Asia-Pacific - China International Firms - TMT Telecommunications & Broadcasting Corporate/Commercial, 2021