Competition/Antitrust | Asia-Pacific

Allens fields a well-resourced group, offering coverage of the full life-cycle of competition issues, backed by a global network and enhanced by a valued collegiate culture and a constructive relationship with the ACCC. The firm attracts particular praise for its handling of merger clearance mandates and is noted for expertise in the energy and resources, banking, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors. The team has experience defending ACCC enforcement proceedings, including cartel and misuse of market power prosecutions. The firm also provides regulated access, third-party access and price monitoring advice for both national and international clients. The practice advises extensively on clients' interactions with ACCC market inquiries, particularly in the financial services sectors. Its noted clients include Australasian Food Group, Pfizer and Pacific Equity Partners.

The Clayton Utz team is noted for its ready engagement with especially complex issues, particularly large cross-border mergers and alleged cartels. The firm is also prominent in the energy and resources, financial services, media, technology and telecommunications sectors, and increasingly active on the competition aspects of major infrastructure projects. The practice is a favoured Australian choice for referrals from international law firms thanks to its independence from formal alliances, and because much of its work focuses on the representation of global market leaders in their dealings with the Australian competition law authorities. Primarily Sydney-based, but with additional resources in offices in Brisbane and Perth, and highly valued as part of a well-integrated, national full-service firm, the team is equipped to provide back-up on corporate or commercial issues. Key clients include Jaguar Land Rover, United Airlines and Swift Networks.

Gilbert + Tobin offers a universally acclaimed competition practice integrating commercial and regulatory advice, praised for its solutions-focused, commercial pragmatism and maintaining a high cross-border capability through links to similarly independent international firms. The team draws on expertise from across the firm to service competition mandates in a variety of sectors, including the highly regulated energy, financial services, infrastructure and telecommunications spheres, and is particularly noted for its grasp of digital disruption issues. The firm offers market-leading experience in responding to ACCC investigations and defending civil and criminal cartel prosecutions. The practice also offers specialists in niche areas such as digital economy and payments, and is also proficient on third-party access, pricing and economic regulatory issues. Notable clients include NSW Ports, Virgin Australia and Telstra Group.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth operates an independent competition law practice offering comprehensive advice on merger, regulatory investigation and access issues for high-end clients, making it a popular choice for cross-border referrals. The firm's wide-ranging sector expertise includes coverage of energy and resources, technology and telecommunications. The team is also praised for complementing its core competition offering with an exceptional consumer law capability. The practice's litigation experience and regular engagement by the ACCC is leveraged to advise on areas of competition enforcement coming under increased scrutiny from the regulator, and augmented by an increased capability to handle investigation-related mandates. Clients include Meta (Facebook), Avast and Medibank.

MinterEllison's competition team benefits both from a deep bench and extensive regional network, supporting the representation of blue-chip multinationals on cross-border merger clearances and providing a popular, independent choice for referrals from international law firms without an Australian presence. The firm is acknowledged for its prowess handling regulatory investigations or cartel issues, as well as its experience managing infrastructure access questions and advising public sector bodies on regulatory legislation. The team offers noteworthy experience advising on sensitive and highly publicised asset privatisations and behavioural prosecutions in such key, heavily regulated industries as energy and financial services. The practice is further noted for advising prominent clients from the transport and logistics, healthcare and telecommunications sectors, with key clients including Singtel Optus, THL and Cargotec.

A&O Shearman fields a respected competition law team with high cross-border capability, backed by a worldwide network and frequently acting on behalf of high-profile clients from the Australian and international financial services, energy and technology sectors. The firm offers proven expertise advising global clients on multi-jurisdictional merger filings throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The practice is also noted for its competition litigation and investigation-related capabilities, complemented by in-depth, experience-based understanding of ACCC processes and constructive relations with the Commission. The team provides regulatory counsel to major multinationals in connection with ACCC inquiries into markets such as gas and electricity supply and digital platforms. Notable clients include Singtel, Dulux and Alinta Energy. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Norton Rose Fulbright fields the Australian arm of a global practice, experienced in the handling of complex, multi-jurisdictional competition issues, including merger clearances, for blue-chip clients and acting both for and against the ACCC. The firm is especially active representing clients from the highly regulated energy, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors and is sought after for assistance on particularly sensitive issues by clients who include those facing investigation or prosecution for alleged criminal cartel activity or who are in receipt of ACCC requests for information. The practice's key clients include Stanmore Resources, Zurich Insurance and Petspiration Group.

The Baker McKenzie competition team is experienced in the representation of both the ACCC and leading private sector companies. Thanks to the resources of a global competition network, it is well placed to advise on significant cross-jurisdictional transactions, while maintaining a prominent presence in the domestic market. The practice is active across the full range of merger clearance, regulatory investigation and infrastructure access briefs, as well as being engaged to advise on local and global enforcement proceedings by both the ACCC and corporate clients. Clients include WiseTech, Mercedes-Benz Australia and Sika.

Clifford Chance fields a globally integrated practice with a deep regional footprint, acting as trusted advisers to major multinationals on Australian and cross-jurisdictional merger clearances, joint ventures, distribution agreements and infrastructure access arrangements. The team has a proven track record assisting global clients on misuse of market power, cartel investigations and enforcement proceedings. Clients include blue-chip global players in the energy and resources, financial services, consumer goods, technology and media sectors.

The K&L Gates competition law practice is prominent in merger control, behavioural enforcement and regulatory issues, acting for significant clients in the construction, financial services, energy and resources, and pharmaceutical sectors, with additional expertise in the agribusiness, shipping and technology spaces. The firm frequently advises international companies and individuals responding to ACCC cartel investigations and prosecutions, including those with concurrent proceedings in other jurisdictions. The team is also increasingly active on behalf of clients seeking ACCC authorisation for legitimate instances of collective conduct. Key clients include ExxonMobil, Sinch and Sigma.

DLA Piper offers an in-depth understanding of regulatory and commercial perspectives on competition law issues, based on extensive experience handling high-stakes mandates for both the ACCC and leading corporations. The team is particularly familiar with the regulatory landscapes affecting the automotive, energy, financial services and telecommunications industries, and is regularly instructed on merger clearance, infrastructure access and regulatory compliance issues. The practice is also experienced advising on contentious matters, including not only those involving Australian Competition Tribunal and Federal Court proceedings, but also those considered by regulatory bodies at state level. The firm is highly prized for its integration with the firm's global network, facilitating cross-jurisdictional assistance and swifter familiarisation with worldwide competition law trends.

Jones Day maintains a well-regarded competition and antitrust law offering, with expertise in complex merger clearances, market investigations, enforcement litigation and cartel issues. The firm advises domestic and multinational companies across the energy and natural resources, technology, financial services and pharmaceutical sectors. The practice counts among its clients Brookfield Asset Management and THL.