Ashurst, Competition/Antitrust | Chambers Asia-Pacific Profile

About

Provided by Ashurst

A renowned leader in competition law

Our competition team has achieved great results in complex and ground-breaking competition investigations, merger reviews, litigation and appeals. We deal successfully with competition authorities, courts and regulatory bodies across Europe, Asia, Australia and elsewhere . We assist our clients with risk-based, practical strategies to help meet their commercial objectives, defend their commercial interests and, in some cases, challenge the anti-competitive behaviour of others. We are one of the few international law firms with an in-house team of economists and many of our lawyers have backgrounds in economics, business strategy or with competition regulators.

Full service antitrust practice

Our team covers the full range of competition and antitrust issues including merger control, cartels and other anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance/market power, market/sector investigations, competition litigation, judicial reviews and appeals, state aid, public procurement, trade law and utilities and infrastructure regulation.

Economics, business and regulatory experience

Competition and antitrust is not just a legal discipline. Most of our team have qualifications in economics or business, or experience of working with regulators. Combined with our unique in-house economic expertise, we consistently deliver high quality, pragmatic and clear advocacy and advice.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/Antitrust - Australia

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Ashurst provides coverage on behalf of a largely blue-chip clientele across the full range of competition issues, including cross-jurisdictional merger clearances and complex ACCC-related litigation, seamlessly coordinated with the work of other practice groups. The firm is noted for specialised advice on both contentious and non-contentious infrastructure access issues and services a host of prominent clients from major retailers and global electronics companies to banks and financial institutions. The practice is in addition well-placed to advise on major international mandates through the support of the firm's global network.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Ashurst

Ashurst acted for ANZ Banking Group in relation to ANZ's application to the ACCC for authorisation to acquire Suncorp Bank and subsequently in proceedings before the Australian Competition Tribunal in which ANZ sought to set aside the ACCC's decision to not authorise the transaction.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Ashurst has shown a deep understanding of competition law in the cartel space but also a strategic appreciation as to how best assist its client to navigate very difficult investigations.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

The Ashurst competition team is highly motivated. It is across the detail but also sees the bigger picture of our business and strategy.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

Ashurst has shown a deep understanding of competition law in the cartel space but also a strategic appreciation as to how best assist its client to navigate very difficult investigations.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

The Ashurst competition team is highly motivated. It is across the detail but also sees the bigger picture of our business and strategy.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Peter Armitage

Band 1

Peter Armitage is based in the Sydney office and is noted for his handling of high-stakes mandates in both the transactional and contentious spheres.

Peter is exceptional in every way - his extraordinary service levels under immense pressure, great competition analysis backs his very sound judgement and he is a pleasure to work with.

Peter is always a pleasure to work with. His approach is always practical and direct, and he has very deep industry knowledge which is a huge advantage in competition law matters.

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Alyssa Phillips

Band 4

Alyssa Phillips provides competition law guidance during major cross-border M&A transactions, in addition to advising on Federal Court litigation. Based in Brisbane, she is active across a wide variety of sectors, acting for clients across the transport, retail and industrial sectors.

Alyssa is very smart and hardworking.

Alyssa is a very good operator.

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Melissa Fraser

Band 4

Melissa Fraser is based in Sydney and specialises in competition and antitrust matters, with experience handling merger clearances, enforcement litigation and strategic advisory and regulatory work.

Melissa is a wonderful partner to deal with - she is very attuned to the client context and delivers focussed and commercially aware advice.

Melissa is very practical as well as diligent.

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Ross Zaurrini

Band 4

Ross Zaurrini is based in Sydney and maintains a versatile competition law practice, both advising on sensitive ACCC and internal investigations and assisting leading international clients to secure merger and joint venture clearances.

He is able to very quickly give clients advice and strategic focus based on his own knowledge and experience.

Ross is a very dependable lawyer who provides timely and accurate advice in an understandable form.

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Justin Jones

Band 5

Justin Jones has made a name for himself due to his mettle in the competition law space. His work often involves advising clients on authorisation applications and competition law compliance and he is active in the energy space. He is based in Melbourne.

Justin is a pleasure to work with and is practical in his legal advice.

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Tihana Zuk

Band 5

Tihana Zuk is a recently promoted competition law partner in Ashurst's Sydney office who advises extensively on clients' engagement with the ACCC in both regulatory and transactional contexts.

Tihana is a great competition lawyer, particularly in the tech space and in responding to inquiries.

Tihana takes a practical and sensible approach in providing advice, and her work has been excellent.

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