Praised for its ‘agile’ nature and ability to ‘throw itself into complex projects’, the competition group at Bell Gully is the trusted advisor to a diverse range of clients, including multinational corporates, infrastructure providers, and financial institutions. The practice has had a busy year, advising on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional merger transactions, cartel issues, and behavioural matters. Practice head Torrin Crowther is lauded by clients for his ‘commercially pragmatic advice on complex issues’ and is a key port of call for many of New Zealand’s largest companies, including Air New Zealand. Jenny Stevens is noted for her specialism in both contentious and non-contentious competition matters, having successfully represented a range of commercial and public sector clients in court and arbitration proceedings, as well as in negotiations. Glenn Shewan handles the full gamut of work, advising on merger control, cartel issues, and misuse of market power claims, while senior associate Penny Pasley is noted for her work on domestic and international matters. Associate Emma Harris has been described as ‘highly responsive and a valued member of our external legal team'.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts fields a strong team that is highly regarded for its ability to cover a wide range of competition law mandates from merger control and anti-competitive conduct to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters. Practice head Ross Patterson, dubbed as the ‘most experienced practitioner in town’ by one client, regularly represents clients in some of New Zealand’s highest profile merger clearances, authorisations, and Commerce Commission investigations. The ‘excellent’ Jennifer Hambleton has a particular speciality in merger clearances, enforcement actions, and disputes, regularly advising commercial and government clients in all levels of the New Zealand courts. Associate April Payne assists public and private sector clients with both contentious and non-contentious competition, consumer, and health and safety mandates.

Russell McVeagh draws considerable praise from clients for its ‘practical and pragmatic’ advice and ‘unmatched’ expertise. The team handles a wide range of prominent competition and antitrust matters, including market studies, merger filings, litigation, and investigations across various industries. The ‘exceptional’ Troy Pilkington heads the practice and is noted for his ability to handle the full gamut of work, acting for clients in the grocery, media, banking, and telecommunications sectors. Bradley Aburn has extensive experience in supporting clients with competition investigations, joint ventures, competitor collaborations, merger control approvals, and market power issues in New Zealand, the UK, and the EU. The ‘dedicated’ Petra Carey is a key port of call for clients seeking guidance on the clearance process for domestic and global M&A transactions and cartel investigations.

Well-regarded for its ‘wide industry knowledge’ and ‘strong solution-orientated advice’, the competition team at Chapman Tripp possesses the capabilities across the full scope of transactional, regulatory, and contentious antitrust matters. The practice serves a diverse roster of clients, hailing from the energy, grocery, financial services, infrastructure, and telecommunications sectors. The practice is chaired by Wellington-based Lucy Cooper, who is experienced in engaging with the Commerce Commission on cartel, merger clearances, market studies, and consumer issues. Matt Sumpter, a ‘valued partner’, is recommended for his expertise in trade practice law and intellectual property, where he is regularly engaged by multinationals and New Zealand’s leading companies. Associate George Spittle has been praised for his ability to ‘synthesise large volumes of detailed information to provide pragmatic, commercial advice’.

Buddle Findlay‘s ‘strong’ competition law team possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to handle a wide range of competition and antitrust matters for its diverse roster of clients, which spans a variety of industries. The firm is highly sought after for its capability in handling merger clearance applications. Sat at the helm of the practice is Susie Kilty, who has been praised for her ‘balanced and pragmatic’ advice; large multinational corporations turn to Kilty for her capabilities in compliance matters and on regulatory consents. Tony Dellow retired from the partnership in December 2022 and is now a consultant with the firm. Special counsel Anna Parker advises clients on the full gamut of competition law matters.

Leveraging its huge global network to provide clients with a truly international offering, the competition team at DLA Piper New Zealand is well positioned to act for some of the world’s biggest corporates on a host of mandates, including merger clearances, cartel investigations, and market regulation. Leading the team is commercial litigator Alicia Murray, who possesses the capability to advise on all aspects of competition law, from merger analysis and filings with the Commerce Commission, through to assisting clients with investigations. Praised for his ‘deep understanding’ is Mark Williamson, who leads the non-contentious side of the competition practice and is noted for his market leading FMCG sector experience.

Under the leadership of Andrew Matthews, a seasoned practitioner with expertise across both contentious and non-contentious competition matters, specialist boutique firm Matthews Law is lauded for its capabilities in multi-jurisdictional mandates pertaining to cartel investigations and merger control. The Auckland-based team is routinely instructed by a strong roster of clients from a range of sectors, including technology, real estate, TMT, and medicine.

The ‘highly knowledgeable’ competition group at Simpson Grierson provides a full suite of competition law and market regulation services to its diverse roster of clients. The team regularly assists corporate clients to obtain Commerce Commission clearances and authorisations for acquisitions, structuring joint ventures and other industry arrangements. James Craig is an ‘incredibly safe pair of hands’ when representing clients in clearance applications and has been praised for his ‘commercial pragmatism’. A litany of clients turn to Nina Blomfield for assistance on Commerce Commission clearance matters. Associate Elsie Stone is praised for her ‘excellent grasp of both competition issues and commercial realities’. Anne Callinan has left the firm to join the Commerce Commission.

Praised for its ‘technically strong and commercial delivered’ advice, the team at Webb Henderson is well-positioned to act for its diverse roster of clients on a range of competition law matters. Utilising the firm’s wider corporate team, the practice has had a busy year acting in high-value contentious and non-contentious mandates. Lauded by clients and peers alike, the ‘excellent’ Sarah Keene steers the practice. Keene joined the team from Russell McVeagh at the start of 2023 and is noted for her experience advising on some of New Zealand’s leading merger, cartel, and misuse of market power cases. Jordan Cox is recommended for his focus on TMT matters. 

Wilson Harle draws considerable praise from clients, who turn to the team for its ‘great client relationship skills’ and ‘good commercial judgement’ on the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious competition matters. The ‘very experienced’ Ian Denton is noted for his expertise in competition law and fair trading matters, regularly advising on investigations and proceedings. Commercial litigator Allison Ferguson receives regular instructions in relation to Fair Trading Act issues and proceedings, cartel proceedings, and regulation of telecommunications, while Felicity Monteiro is noted for her work on competition, telecommunications, fair trading, and consumer protection matters.