EXHIBIT 5.1


                        [Opinion of Hunton & Williams]

                                August 27, 1999


Newbridge Networks Corporation
600 March Road
Kanata, Ontario K2K 2E6
Canada


                         Newbridge Networks Corporation
                       Registration Statement on Form S-8
                        Offering of Common Shares Under
                         Newbridge Networks Corporation
                          Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                        --------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as United States counsel for Newbridge Networks Corporation,
a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, covering an aggregate of 500,000 Common Shares, without par
value, of the Company (the "Common Shares") issuable in connection with the
Newbridge Networks Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase
Plan"). We have reviewed the corporate action of the Company in connection with
this matter and have examined such documents, corporate records and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In this
examination, except with respect to documents executed by officers of the
Company in our presence, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to
original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproductions or
certified copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter
documents.

     For purposes of this opinion we have also assumed, with your permissionhat
each Common Share will be purchased by an eligible participant in accordance
with the terms and provisions of the Stock Purchase Plan.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations and qualifications
set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the 500,000 Common Shares offered
pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly allotted and reserved by
the Board of Directors of the Company for issuance in connection with the Stock
Purchase Plan and, when the consideration therefor is paid to the Company in
accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Plan, that the Common Shares
issued to the persons so paying such consideration will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


     We are members of the bar of the State of New York and, accordingly, we
express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than
the Federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of
New York upon the matters referred to herein, in each case as such laws are in
effect on the date hereof. With respect to matters expressed herein relating to
the Company, to the extent such matters are governed by the laws of the Province
of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein, we have relied on the
opinion of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt of even date herewith filed as Exhibit 5.2
to the Registration Statement.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to statements referring to us in Item 5 of the
Registration Statement. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.


                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  Hunton & Williams