K&L Gates Advises Blackbird Ventures in Gilmour Space Technologies' Series E Funding

Global law firm K&L Gates has acted for co-lead investor Blackbird Ventures in Gilmour Space Technologies’ (Gilmour) landmark Series E capital raise.

Gilmour, a Queensland-based firm, is building an end-to-end sovereign space capability spanning the design, manufacture, test, and launch of low-cost rockets and other space technology in Australia. The company also operates a spaceport and conducts hypersonic testing.

Proceeds from the raise will be used to support continued development and qualification of its Eris orbital launch vehicle, which attempted the first launch of an Australian-made rocket into orbit from Australian soil in July 2025.

It will also enable Gilmour to scale rocket and satellite manufacturing, expand test and launch infrastructure, and grow the company’s workforce to meet global demand for space launch services.

Blackbird Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Australia and New Zealand that invests in early-stage and high-growth technology companies. Funds managed by Blackbird Ventures hold minority investments in hundreds of companies in Australia, New Zealand, and around the world. These companies are typically high-tech start-ups, focusing on software and frontier technologies such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, hardware, and the commercial space industry.

The K&L Gates team was led by Sydney Corporate partner Simon Leslie, with support from partners Paul Lalich and Tom Young, special counsels Julie Brown and Justin Chenevier, and senior associate Emanuel Penklis.

Simon Leslie stated: “We are delighted to have supported Blackbird in this landmark capital raise. Australia’s commercial space industry is entering a new phase of accelerated growth, driven by increased investor interest in high potential launch and space technologies and reinforced by sustained government support to build sovereign capabilities. This funding also shows that Australian companies are playing an increasingly important role in the global space economy.”

Gilmour's Series E round was jointly led by Blackbird Ventures and the Australian Government established National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, with additional investment from existing shareholders Main Sequence and QIC Ventures, as well as a number of first-time investors, including Australian superannuation funds.

K&L Gates’ Corporate practice is one of the most substantial in the legal industry, with hundreds of lawyers in offices across the globe providing clients with practical legal solutions in the structuring, financing, and closing of domestic, international, and cross-border transactions.