Norton Rose Fulbright’s competition practice acts for both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and private clients on competition law matters. Active across the energy, technology, and financial services sectors, the team regularly handles ACCC investigations and merger clearances. Andrew Riordan and Martyn Taylor jointly lead the team, with Riordan acting in ACCC investigations and enforcement proceedings, while Taylor is known for his strong trade practice. In Sydney, Claire Forster handles matters in the energy sector. Nick McHugh retired from the firm in March 2025 and Jo Feldman departed in June 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Relatively commercial in their approach to competition law risk.'
- 'I am amazed by the efficiency and the standard of the service. The legal advice provided by the team is very clear and succinct, and they are also providing very practical advice from a commercial point of view.’
- ‘Martyn Taylor is definitely the star in the Australia team - he is very calm and can always revert within a short period of time, his advice is always supported by abundant research on law, and yet it is also very commercially sensible as he would also share his experience in liaising with regulators and other stakeholders.'
- ‘The team stands out for its genuinely commercial understanding of the local competition landscape. They’re not just technical experts — they’ve played a key role in shaping our view of the Australian market through a detailed, thoughtful profile that’s fed directly into strategic decision-making.'
- 'The team is responsive, collaborative, and easy to deal with — and brings a balance of rigour and pragmatism.'
- ‘Claire Forster has been a standout — sharp, engaged, and unflappable. She combines deep subject-matter knowledge with a practical mindset and clear communication style, which makes her a real asset on cross-border matters. What makes her different is her ability to simplify complexity and to anticipate how the advice will land with internal stakeholders. She has a great team around her too — thoughtful, cohesive, and clearly well-led.'
Key clients
- Ausgrid
- ACCC
- Australian Commonwealth Government
- AER
- Coles Group
- Honda Australia
- HSBC
- Megaport Limited
- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
- National Australia Bank
- Oztam
- Petstock Group
Work highlights
Acted for Coles Group, one of the two largest supermarket chains in Australia, in a complex ownership swap of two critical milk processing facilities owned by Saputo, a leading global dairy processor.
Advised Volution Group plc on successfully obtaining merger clearance from the ACCC in relation to its acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Les Creux Australia Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries.
Advising on establishment of contestable business for monopoly infrastructure owner Essential Energy.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Claire Forster
Practice head
Andrew Riordan; Martyn Taylor
Other key lawyers
Claire Forster