Former Legends Global Counsel Adam Lister Launches Boutique Infrastructure Law Firm

Prominent sport and entertainment infrastructure lawyer Adam H. Lister has departed his role as group general counsel of Legends Global (Asia Pacific) to launch Adam H Lister Law, a boutique principal-led legal practice.

The new specialised firm formally opened its doors in April 2026, targeting government bodies, stadium operators, and private enterprise across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The practice is designed to provide clients with direct access to senior legal counsel across the full commercial lifecycle of major public-private partnerships, commercial sponsorships, and large-scale live entertainment venue transactions.

Commenting on his announcement, Adam H Lister Law Principal, Lister, said: “The firm is built on the premise that clients in complex, high-stakes environments deserve direct access to senior expertise and not a revolving door of intermediaries.”

“After nearly a decade at the coalface of some of the region’s most significant venue and infrastructure transactions, I wanted to build something deliberately focused, where the quality of advice and the depth of the client relationship are the defining measures of success,” Lister said.

Dual Expertise: Operational Foundations and Elite Law

What distinguishes Lister’s new practice from traditional commercial law firms is an extensive background in hands-on stadium and venue operations. Before qualifying as a solicitor, Lister spent years working on-site at major international sporting facilities, including Suncorp Stadium and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Queensland, as well as the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena during the 2008 Olympic Games.

This foundation directly informs his legal strategy, allowing the firm to draft complex commercial agreements with a precise understanding of stadium workflows, crowd dynamics, and event delivery pressures.

Lister’s career trajectory since moving into the legal sector includes:

• Legends Global (2017–2026): Serving nearly nine years as Group General Counsel, directing legal strategy for stadiums, arenas, and convention centers across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, India, and the Middle East.
• Darling Harbour Live Consortium: Acting as corporate Legal Counsel for ICC Sydney during its landmark $1.5 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) infrastructure build.
• Clayton Utz: Working as a senior associate within the top-tier firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Construction & Major Projects practices.
• Federal Court of Australia: Serving as Associate to the Honourable Justice Andrew Greenwood during the landmark competition law ruling ACCC v Cement Australia Pty Ltd.

A Principal-Led Commercial Model

Operating out of Queensland, the independent firm will completely bypass traditional multi-tiered firm hierarchies. Lister will personally direct all client matters, spanning regulatory compliance, naming rights acquisitions, major event supply ticketing contracts, and dispute resolution.

Lister’s standing in the sports business market is well established. A three-time finalist for Sport and Entertainment Lawyer of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel Awards, he has also served as a non-executive director and chair of the finance, Audit and Risk Committee for the Venue Management Association (VMA), where he continues to lecture in business law and corporate negotiation.

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