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 constructive relationship with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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 with 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.

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 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission-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 also well placed to advise on major international mandates through the support of the firm's global network.

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 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer offers a global, regional and national depth of practice, bolstered by integration of competition expertise across the firm's international network and close collaboration with corporate and dispute resolution colleagues. The team is noted for its vigorous defence of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) enforcement proceedings, its frequent representation of leading energy sector players in regulatory investigations and its focus on market behavioural issues in the financial services sphere. Contentious competition law experience embraces both involvement in full Federal Court and Competition Tribunal proceedings and increasing activity in private actions alleging the contravention of competition law provisions. The practice acts for blue-chip clients across a comprehensive range of industry sectors, including energy, financial services, infrastructure and telecommunications.

King & Wood Mallesons fields a well-staffed, comprehensive competition/antitrust offering with global reach and a particularly impressive, fully integrated regional network, noted for its engagement with large, complex mandates. The firm's merger clearance experience extends to the representation of major multinational clients on the acquisition of Australian targets, and the litigation practice frequently acts in high-profile prosecutions, including cartel cases. The team is notably active on behalf of blue-chip clients from the financial services, pharmaceutical, resources and telecommunications sectors, and is adept at the handling of access issues and other matters in the energy and infrastructure spaces. A conspicuously loyal clientele benefits from the firm's in-depth knowledge of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), state and Commonwealth regulatory bodies and industry associations.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth operates an independent competition law practice that offers 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 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is leveraged for advice on areas of competition enforcement coming under increased scrutiny from the regulator, and is augmented by an increased capability to handle investigation-related mandates.

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 in handling regulatory investigations or cartel issues, as well as for its experience in managing infrastructure access questions and advising public sector bodies on regulatory legislation. The team offers noteworthy experience in 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.

A&O Shearman fields a respected competition law team with high cross-border capability, frequently acting on behalf of high-profile clients from the Australian and international financial services, energy and technology sectors. The firm offers proven expertise in 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 understanding of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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.

The Baker McKenzie competition team is experienced in the representation of both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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.

Johnson Winter Slattery maintains a compact, specialist practice, noted for providing a particularly high level of hands-on partner engagement and in-depth cartel expertise that extends to advising on international and criminal cartel investigations initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The firm is also prominent in representing clients from the aviation, consumer goods, energy and resources, financial services and healthcare sectors, and advises extensively on consumer law investigations and prosecutions. The practice regularly offers guidance on merger clearance issues for multinationals headquartered overseas, and is frequently sought out specifically for competition-related advice by companies that use other firms for broader corporate work.

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 of 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. It frequently acts 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 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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.

DLA Piper offers an in-depth understanding of regulatory and commercial perspectives on competition law issues, based on extensive experience in handling high-stakes mandates for both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (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 in advising on contentious matters, including 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.