Competition and trade in Australia

‘The Allens Competition and trade practice team exhibits the perfect mix of top quality technical expertise with commercial common sense. Advice is given in an easily digestible format, ensuring that it is easily understood by clients. They are my “go to” firm for competition and consumer law advice. Allens have a real focus on project management and fee management with regular updates. They make very good use of resources, applying appropriate junior and mid level lawyers to relevant aspects of a matter, ensuring appropriate billing practices. Their regular client industry and legal updates is of high quality and often targeted directly to our organisation as a client.’

‘Rosannah Healy is a stand out in the competition law space. She combines the highest quality technical expertise with common sense practical advice, which is delivered in an easily digestible form for non-legal clients. Rosannah is also calm and methodical in a crisis, with an ability to command the room.’

‘The competition team lead by Jacqui Downes is without comparison. The team is quick to understand the most intricate of technical details while also, and importantly, quickly getting on top of the commercial drivers and commercial context. The team is focused on what is required to be delivered immediately, and also has a sharp eye on the next steps in what can often be long processes. The team understands both policy and legal, and is conscious that laws play out – both the development and operation of laws – in a broader policy and political context.’

‘Fiona Crosbie is an expert in the field, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else as much as her. She is direct, commercially driven and ensures she understands the strategic drivers before providing counsel.’

‘Felicity McMahon has been exceptional, and our team have loved working with her. She’s proactive, responsive, hard-working, has an excellent professional manner and client engagement skills, and deep knowledge of her area.’

‘Carolyn Oddie and Robert Walker have both been valued and trusted advisers, who take an interest in the business, its history and its goals and use that knowledge to provide excellent advice.’

‘The Allens competition and trade practice team are highly responsive, strategic, and very commercial. They take the time to know and understand the business and then provide excellent, practical advice.’

‘Small but nimble and highly capable team.’

‘The Clayton Utz Competition and trade practice is outstanding. The team pride themselves on getting to know the intricate details and drivers of our organisation and sector which serves to ensure their advice remains first class, technically and strategically and commercially oriented. The team place an emphasis on enduring relationships and are generous with their time. They get the right people involved in matters to ensure the requisite expertise combines on complex and sensitive issues for the best advice and outcomes for our organisation.’

‘Michael Corrigan – Michael’s immense depth of experience is a stand out. There is little he has not seen and regularly offers significant value and insight in his advice, both legally and strategically in helping our organisation achieve its most challenging objectives. He is responsive and client focused. He smartly gets under the hood on issues and his pragmatism and commerciality makes him a joy to work with.’

‘Mihkel Wilding – Mihkel strikes us as a rising star in the competition and regulatory area. Our organisation has regularly used Mihkel well prior to him becoming a partner owing to his technical strength and commercial acumen. Mihkel is an incredibly astute lawyer and collaborates with our organisation seamlessly on some of the most complex issues and high profile projects and M&A deals.’

‘The advice provided by the Clayton Utz Competition and trade practice is clear and compelling and importantly for its clients, provides practical and pragmatic recommendations based on a deep understanding of the client’s operating environment and business. What sets this team apart from others in the legal industry is that they feel more like a valued partner of the organisation than a service provider.’

‘We predominantly work with Elizabeth Richmond who is exceptional for a number of reasons – she is extremely knowledgeable in competition and trade but she is also very easy to work with as she just ‘gets it’ through her deep understanding of our business but also she understands what clients want or need and tailors her advice accordingly. She is also an exceptional communicator – she is clear, considered and articulate but also direct where she needs to be.’

‘Not only legal advisers; but strategic advisers. They connect us and keep us informed of competition law issues, and understand our business values, strategies and goals.’

‘Elizabeth Avery understands the regulator, understands our markets, and has deep knowledge of our products. More then merely knowing the law, she gives us advice we trust.’

‘They are unique because they understand a client’s business and therefore better understand their legal needs. They are available at short notice, they regularly share relevant legal and industry knowledge and their work is top quality.’

‘Louise Klamka – Louise has excellent technical knowledge and an ability to translate that into an outcome for our business. She knows our industry inside out and is also a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Charles Coorey – Charles has excellent technical knowledge and always makes himself available. He is great to deal with.’

‘Deep knowledge and experience in competition and trade practice.’

‘We deal with Elizabeth Avery. Good availability and attention to detail. Excellent operator.’

‘There is good depth in the team and work is allocated appropriately so that lawyers with the right level of experience do the work.’

‘I have worked with Sharon Henrick for over 10 years now and she has helped me navigate some very complex issues in a number of different roles in a manner that is always commercial and pragmatic.’

‘Obviously the team are highly skilled and experienced. We expect this of all our advisers. However, what sets apart the team led by Peta Stevenson at KWM is its passion, enthusiasm and the genuine pleasure of working with them. They go above and beyond to meet our needs and expectations, taking onboard constructive feedback and working together with us.’

‘Great responsiveness, an encyclopaedic knowledge of the ACCC’s approach to mergers in years gone past and accordingly, a great sense of what will get the ACCC excited.’

‘The team has an excellent working relationship with our company over a long period of time. The knowledge that has been built up means that the ongoing advice that we receive is fulsome and very well considered, while paying regard to past circumstances. The team has a very good working knowledge of our complex operating model that it applies expertly.’

‘The KWM Sydney Competition team has been very proactive in engaging with us on strategic issues and providing insights.’

‘Peta Stevenson is very strong in difficult consumer protection issues and has provided invaluable insight and direction in responding to regulatory challenges.’

‘Wayne Leach has displayed a really valuable, thoughtful and strategic approach to responding to competition issues.’

‘Strong commercial acumen that supports their incisive legal advice. Baker McKenzie ensure that their advice is relevant and aligned to the commercial objectives we are seeking to achieve.’

‘Lynsey Edgar’s advice is concise and always focused on the key issues at hand. Lynsey seeks to understand our commercial imperatives and she develops solutions that are aligned to those objectives. Lynsey has high commercial acumen and is always seeking to ensure that her advice is addressing the commercial challenges.’

‘Lynsey Edgar is very strong in providing clear and commercial merger control advice.’

‘I have worked with Lynsey Edgar, and her advice is very commercial and succinct, and it is clear she has the trust and confidence of her clients.’

‘The Minter Ellison competition and trade team are very knowledgeable experts who are able to quickly get across complex industries and issues and provide practical legal solutions. They have a number of key skill sets and are able to run complex litigation, contentious mergers and provide timely regulatory advice.’

‘Katrina Groshinski is a major asset to the team. She is an excellent communicator and able to quickly cut through to what a client’s legal needs are. She is also well connected in the competition world, and uses her connections to bring depth and specialist expertise for her clients.’

‘Exceptionally pragmatic and commercial (and timely) advice and assistance, founded on deep technical understanding and a great sense of what is the right fit for our organisation’s objectives and strategy, consistent with our values, even if what they have to say isn’t what we think we want to hear at first.’

‘Geoff Carter – Absolutely leading competition law adviser. He knows this area and our organisation inside out. He deals closely with General Counsel but we can also with great confidence let him work direct with the CEO, Chairman, Board, Executives right down to mid-level management and workers on specific issues as required. He happily accommodates all our requirements and timing and we recognise that Minter Ellison is committed to a long term relationship.’

‘The team, especially Zaven Mardirossian, are technically very strong and have an ethos to vigorously pursue the interests of their clients. It is this latter point that distinguishes ABL from other firms.’

‘Matthew Lees is a stand-out in terms of practical and commercial advice. He has a brilliant legal mind and is able to tailor advice to suit the audience and client needs. He works tirelessly to deliver an exceptional result for his clients.’

‘Technically excellent but focused on partnering with the client, providing the legal advice but working with the client to provide commercial solutions.’

‘Focused on providing workable pragmatic commercial solutions where possible, seeks to partner with the business, to understand and own the problem and work collaboratively to find the solution always in a very timely manner.’

‘The team has a strong practice across a diverse range of competition law matters with a very strong client base.‘

‘The team is led by Kathryn Edghill, who has developed extremely strong relationships with clients over 30 years in practice as a competition lawyer. Clients love Kathryn. She is experienced, smart, very practical and personable and she is a tenacious litigator who fights hard for her clients’ interests.’

‘Highly knowledgeable, good strategic thinkers.’

‘Kathryn Edghill – leader in her field of competition and trade practices, sensible and commercially focused advice.’