The Legal 500

Blake Dawson’s ‘astute’ and ‘knowledgeable’ competition group provides ‘high-quality legal advice’, coupled with a ‘pragmatic and commercial overlay’. The team recently advised BHP Billiton on antitrust matters relating to its proposed joint venture with Rio Tinto. Peter Armitage, who is praised for his ‘deep level of legal knowledge’, led the defence for Pick ‘n Pay in the highly publicised contested Metcash merger. Liza Carver joined from Gilbert + Tobin in August 2011.

Freehills’ team is ‘top drawer’, and is highly regarded for M&A clearance, competition regulation and litigation. Recent highlights include defending a number of leading international airlines in cartel prosecutions brought by the ACCC and acting for Metcash in a contested merger case. Bob Baxt has stepped back to a consultancy position, but played a key role in advising National Australia Bank on the proposed acquisition of AXA Australia. Paul Hughes heads this ‘innovative’ group.

Gilbert + Tobin’s competition team has ‘deep strength at all levels’ and continues to provide merger clearance advice of the ‘highest quality’. 2010 saw the group advise five large Japanese steelmakers on the proposed joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, and advise Telstra on negotiations with the ACCC regarding the NBN project. Luke Woodward is in a ‘league of his own’, and Gina Cass-Gottlieb is an ‘outstanding competition lawyer’ who ‘quickly grasps the nuances of the key issues’.

Allens Arthur Robinson is well versed in handling class actions and continues to act in ACCC investigations concerning anti-competitive conduct. The team mainly represents clients in the telecoms, energy and resources sectors. Jacqueline Downes is highly sought for her expertise in consumer protection. Antitrust litigation expert Wendy Peter left the team in August 2011 to join the ACCC.

Clayton Utz advised AMP on its successful acquisition of AXA APH, helping to knock NAB out of the initial bidding process. A busy year also saw the team acting for NBNco and Woolworth’s on ACCC clearance issues. Another field of focus for the team is inbound investment; it recently advised Agrium, a Canadian agricultural products company, on its proposed acquisition of AWB limited. Michael Corrigan is ‘outstanding’, and recommended along with Linda Evans.

Johnson Winter & Slattery’s forte is contestable work, advising clients on price-fixing allegations and other anti-competitive conduct. Under the management of Aldo Nicotra, the team continues to act for Qantas on the ACCC’s ongoing freight cartel investigation. Calum Henderson recently joined from Norton Rose Australia; a move that will enhance the team’s competition capabilities in the TMT sector. John Kench is another name to note.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques lost Dave Poddar to Allen & Overy LLP and Roger Featherston pared down his practice to a consultancy role. Despite this, clients are confident that Sharon Henrick will ‘carry the torch’ along with the support of the ‘extremely hardworking’ and ‘totally dependable’ Wayne Leach. The team provides ‘succinct and to the point’ advice to international corporates, and recently acted for British Airways in a cartel investigation, and also advised AXA APH on its acquisition by AMP.

Minter Ellison’s 60-strong practice advises blue-chip clients on merger clearance issues and complex cartel cases. It recently recruited Justin Oliver from the ACCC and Katrina Groshinski from Clayton Utz. Recent highlights include advising Sigma on selling its pharmaceutical operation to Aspen and assisting Anglo American with the sale of Moly-Cop to Onesteel. Russell Miller - a leader in the field of trade practice - oversees the team; the ‘efficient and effective’ Paul Schoff and Geoff Carter head the cartel and mergers groups, respectively.

Allen & Overy LLP added significant weight to its competition group through the lateral hire of ‘leading practitioner’ Dave Poddar, an expert on merger clearance and cartel matters. Clients include Wesfarmers, Xstrata SAB and Port Waratah.

Consumer protection and litigation is Arnold Bloch Leibler’s key focus. It recently defended Visy in a class action relating to an alleged market-sharing cartel. Zaven Mardirossian’s team also acted for a number of international hedge funds on competition issues arising from Australian mergers. Clients include Mason Capital and Leighton Holdings, which the team has been advising on trade practice issues.

Known for its ‘highly strategic advice’ and ‘prompt response times’, Baker & Mckenzie recently advised SITA and Ecolab on M&A clearance matters and acted for Bayer in class action proceedings relating to alleged cartel conduct. Leading litigator Andrew Christopher heads the group, in which Georgina Foster is also recommended.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is ‘prompt and practical’ and displays ‘commercial sense’. The team recently acted for Southern Cross Media on the $724m takeover of Austereo. Group head Richard Flitcroft specialises in transactional competition advice and litigation. Mark McCowan recently obtained unconditional clearance for BP Australia’s acquisition of Reliance.

Simon Uthmeyer’s practice at DLA Piper Australia specialises in restrictive trade and regulatory advice. The team recently represented Cathay Pacific in enforcement proceedings brought by the ACCC, and also assisted Fortescue Metals with representations made in the Australian Competition Tribunal.

Norton Rose Australia suffered a major loss when Calum Henderson left for Johnson Winter & Slattery. Nick McHugh now heads the team, and played a key role in assisting McKesson Asia Pacific in gaining timely approval of its sale to Medibank Private.

Truman Hoyle fuses ‘commercial and cost-effective solutions’ with ‘exemplary response times’. Experienced litigator Kathryn Edghill recently acted for Microsoft on an agreement with Foxtel.