Hayley Blyth Co-Leads Space and Satellite Practice at Bird & Bird
Hayley Blyth entered space law by studying how international humanitarian law applies to orbital operations. She helped develop Australia’s launch and ground-station regulations before joining Bird & Bird, where she co-leads the global space and satellite practice. Her recent work includes advising direct-to-device satellite ventures and maintaining a regulatory tracker for that sector.
Blyth first explored how wartime legal principles might govern activities in orbit while studying law in Australia’s capital. That research connected her with the national space agency and drew her toward a field whose rules were still emerging.
After roughly two years in telecommunications law, she became in-house counsel at the Australian Space Agency, helping shape launch and ground-facility regulation. She later moved to London, worked at a tiny boutique, and now co-leads Bird & Bird’s global space and satellite group. Her recent matters include direct-to-device satellite ventures and a public regulatory tracker.
Blyth’s work may shape how quickly satellite-to-phone services reach consumers, especially in areas lacking terrestrial coverage. Clearer launch and ground-facility rules could affect startups, established operators, regulators, and communities relying on orbital connectivity. Her public tracker and mentoring may help smaller players navigate fragmented regimes, potentially lowering uncertainty. Yet because space law remains a patchwork, outcomes could vary by jurisdiction, and benefits may depend on how regulators balance innovation, safety, and international coordination.