Competition & Antitrust

At the cutting edge of complex competition and regulatory issues

Most industries are facing into a world of increasing regulation, emerging markets and new opportunities, changing customer preferences and activist regulators.

We stand at the forefront of competition and regulatory issues, navigating evolving policy, regulatory and industry landscapes to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. 

Our passion for our clients’ businesses means that we are always attuned to your strategic objectives and commercial imperatives when navigating a pathway through complex competition and regulatory challenges.  We offer deep insights that stretch beyond the law, gained through our strong relationships with regulators and active participation in policy debates at all levels. 

Our globally recognised elite practice encompasses all aspects of competition and consumer law, as well as related regulation, compliance and market studies.

We assist clients across all industry sectors, including:

  • Financial services
  • Telecommunications
  • Technology
  • Consumer and retail
  • Energy and resources
  • Agribusiness and food
  • Transport and infrastructure
  • Healthcare and pharmaceuticals.  

Our expertise in action

Our landmark and recent experience includes acting on:

  • Merger control: Google’s acquisition of Fitbit; BPay/eftpos/NPPA payment platform merger; NAB’s acquisition of neo bank 86 400; Willis Towers Watson’s merger with Aon.
  • Cartels: Norcast v Bradken; ACCC v Flight Centre; ACCC v Yazaki; ANZ capital raising criminal cartel action.
  • Consumer protection: ACCC prosecutions of Medibank Private, Samsung, Kimberly Clarke Australia, Telstra and Onavo Inc, as well as defending Telstra, LG and Proctor & Gamble in private actions alleging misleading conduct.
  • Regulatory market studies: all recent major ACCC market studies/inquiries including the Digital Platforms Inquiry; Digital Advertising Services Inquiry; Digital Platform Services Inquiry; Electricity Market monitoring; Gas Inquiry; Retail Electricity Inquiry; Dairy Inquiry; Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry; Residential Mortgage Inquiry; Home Loan Inquiry; Foreign Currency Conversion Services Inquiry; Murray-Darling Basin Water Markets Inquiry.
  • Access and infrastructure regulation: access and infrastructure arrangements and disputes, including reviews of essential infrastructure regulation across energy, telecommunications, rail, ports, transport, airports and water.
our expertise in
EXPLORE ALL EXPERTISE

Explore our Competition & Antitrust in other regions

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
  • Band 1, Competition/Antitrust
    Chambers and Partners Australia 2025
  • Tier 1, Competition and Trade
    Legal500 Australia 2025
  • Elite
    GCR100 Australia 2025
TESTIMONIALS
  • KWM has significant depth in its practice. All its lawyers have experience handling complex and sophisticated matters.
    Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2025
  • Deep bench strength in competition law and a good perception of the ACCC's likely view on a transaction.
    Legal500 Australia 2025
  • KWM is adept at handling complex and sophisticated matters, often under tight deadlines. It is able to partner well with different stakeholders and provide advice which is pragmatic and to the point.
    Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2025
  • A conspicuously loyal clientele benefits from the firm's in-depth knowledge of the ACCC, State and Commonwealth regulatory bodies and industry associations.
    Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific
  • Very astute and really intelligent lawyers, who are really ahead of the game and able to see what's going on globally.
    Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific

Latest Thinking

Insight

Answering (some of) the threshold questions: Treasury releases updated ACCC clearance regime instrument

Treasury released the Competition and Consumer (Notification of Acquisitions) Determination 2025 (Instrument).

01 July 2025

Publication

In Private: April 2025

In Private is your go-to legal guide for private capital dealmaking and portfolio management. This publication is tailored for private capital professionals and dealmakers and covers essential topics and trends that impact your investment strategies.

17 April 2025

Insight

Instrumental changes: Treasury consults on draft notification thresholds instrument

Last Friday, Treasury released the exposure draft of the Competition and Consumer (Notification of Acquisitions) Determination for public consultation.

03 April 2025

Latest News

Firm News

KWM attracts merger reform leader from ACCC

Asia’s top tier international law firm, King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), has announced the appointment of Australian Competition Partner Jennifer Barron.

30 April 2025

Deals

KWM advises Namoi Cotton on contested takeover battle

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is pleased to have acted for longstanding agribusiness client Namoi Cotton Limited (Namoi), which was recently the target of two competing takeover bids.

19 November 2024

Deals

KWM advises Newmont on $A26b acquisition of Newcrest

King & Wood Mallesons is delighted to be supporting Newmont in its acquisition of Newcrest Mining by scheme of arrangement.

16 May 2023

Our Experts in Competition & Antitrust

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