Competition, Antitrust & Regulation

Whether your business is expanding within Australia or engaging in complex global transactions affecting the Australian market, our Competition & Antitrust team provides clear, strategic and commercially focused guidance. We help you navigate Australia’s regulatory landscape confidently, ensuring your deals and projects progress smoothly and are compliant with evolving competition laws.

The Competition, Antitrust & Regulation Team

Australia’s new mandatory merger control regime
(effective January 2026)

Australia’s competition law framework has undergone significant reform from January 2026 with the introduction of a mandatory merger notification regime that:

Requires notification of a far broader range of domestic and global transactions based on monetary notification thresholds
Imposes mandatory waiting periods before completion
Includes substantial penalties for failure to comply
Demands earlier strategic planning and more detailed transaction assessment

Our team works closely with clients to develop proactive merger strategies and manage ACCC engagement under the new regime.

Implications for global and cross-border transactions

International transactions involving Australian assets or operations will now face additional regulatory scrutiny. We assist global clients by:

Navigating Australian merger notification thresholds and requirements
Managing complex deals requiring ACCC engagement
Aligning multi-jurisdictional merger control strategies

Learn more in our Merger Notification Regime Hub.

Having worked on many complex global mergers, a key element of getting an acquisition or merger through competition authorities is anticipating regulatory concerns and tailoring the approach to be on the front foot. Proactive can mean straightforward.

Wolfgang Hellmann,
Partner
Contact Wolfgang

Our team

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How We Can Help

M&A and merger clearance
Our hands on, practical and commercial approach ensures transactions are implemented efficiently and effectively. If you are considering an acquisition or looking closely at medium to long term acquisition strategies, our competition team is on hand to help work through your transaction and the new merger regime’s notification requirements.
- providing competition law assessments
- managing merger notification and notification waiver application processes
- advising on notification strategy and risk mitigation
- liaising with the ACCC
Cartels & immunity applications
Detecting and prosecuting cartel conduct remains a key ACCC enforcement priority. Although global cartels have become less common, regional and sector-specific cartels continue to attract significant penalties.
Our experience includes:
- Securing immunity for clients involved in domestic and international cartel matters
- Managing ACCC investigations and enforcement actions
- Acting in matters across industries including agricultural equipment, architectural services, automotive, building management, cardboard, electric cables, facility management, freight forwarding and mining services
Distribution, agency and exclusivity arrangements
We assist organisations in designing distribution and exclusivity agreements that support commercial objectives while remaining compliant with Australian competition laws. We help ensure your arrangements minimise legal exposure and avoid unintended breaches.
Our services include:
- Reviewing and structuring distribution models
- Assessing competition and exclusivity risks
- Advising on compliance with anti-competitive conduct prohibitions
- Liaising with the ACCC when required
ACCC investigations and enforcement support
Regulatory investigations can place significant pressure on organisations and their executives. We provide support at every stage of the process.
Our assistance includes:
- Managing engagement with the ACCC
- Document review using AI tools
- Preparing responses, submissions and documentation
- Representing clients in enforcement proceedings
- Advising on strategy and risk mitigation
Competition compliance and audit services
Proactive compliance is essential to reducing the risk of costly competition law breaches and reputational damage. Our programs help embed a strong culture of compliance across your business.
We provide:
- Tailored competition law audits
- Practical compliance programs and policies
- Executive and employee training
- Ongoing legal support and updates
Australian consumer law expertise
We have extensive experience advising clients on obligations under the Australian Consumer Law and work closely with organisations to safeguard reputational integrity and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. Our experience in consumer protection matters includes:
- Misleading or deceptive conduct
- False representations
- Unconscionable conduct
- Unfair practices
- Product recalls
- Mandatory consumer guarantees