I am passionate about seeking to understand the competitive dynamics our clients face in their respective markets, and to working closely with them to develop innovative solutions to best meet their business needs.

I have deep experience advising clients across a range of diverse industry sectors including: financial services, automotive, ports, logistics, gambling, health, pharmaceuticals, government, fuel, gas, electricity, insurance, fast moving consumer goods, grocery, infrastructure and construction, agribusiness, telecommunications, information technology and aviation.

Career highlights

• Toll Holdings in relation to the sale of its coastal shipping business in FNQ and the NT to Sea Swift, associated merger authorisation proceedings in the Tribunal which resulted in a comprehensive judgment by the Tribunal in favour of the merger parties.
• CrownBet - contesting the proposed $11 billion merger of Australia's two largest wagering market participants, Tabcorp and Tatts
• Advised Tooltechnic on the first RPM notification
• Advising a senior executive charged in the high-profile criminal cartel prosecution against ANZ/Citibank/Deutsche Bank and executives
• Cryosite in the ACCC's first 'gun-jumping' proceedings (noting, MinterEllison did not advise Cyrosite on conduct that is the subject of proceedings).
• Unlockd in proceedings against Google for misuse of market power, including successfully obtaining an interim injunction - first case involving new Australian market power prohibitions.
• Port of Melbourne privatisation - advising on economic regulatory aspects of the privatisation
• Victorian Department of Primary Industries competition and regulatory issues in relation to the relocation of Melbourne Wholesale Market
• Qantas (as intervener) in proceedings brought by Virgin Blue in the Australian Competition Tribunal seeking declaration of Sydney International Airport under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act
• BG Group - the first ever 15 year no-coverage application under s.151 of the National Gas Law for the proposed Curtis LNG project gas pipeline
• GPC Asia Pacific - acquisition of the business of Coventry Automotive Parts
• Shell Company of Australia / Viva Energy Australia - acquisition of Liberty Oil Holdings

Recognition

• One of five ‘elite’ competition practices in Australia listed in the Global Competition Review (GCR) 100 (2011-present)
• Shortlisted by GCR in the GCR Global Awards for 'Regional Firm of the Year – Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa)' in 2019, ‘Merger Control Matter of the Year – Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa’ in 2018 (Tabcorp / Tatts) and in 2017 (Toll / Sea Swift), winner of ‘Innovation in Expanding Clients’ Business’ award at the 2017 FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia

In addition to my client work, I am the Chair of the Competition and Consumer Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia and serve on the National Board of MinterEllison.

Education
LLB (Hons), BComm

• Getting the Global Deal Done Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

  By Geoff Carter |April 2020

• Getting the Global Deal Done Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

  By Geoff Carter |April 2020

• Consumer law during the COVID-19 crisis – risk areas for suppliers
  In light of the COVID-19 health emergency and resulting period of significant uncertainty, businesses and consumers face unprecedented challenges and wide-reaching impacts relating to the supply of products and services, and indeed the ability of businesses to supply products and services.
• Brave new world: Mandatory merger control in Australia
  

  Following a lengthy advocacy campaign by the ACCC, public debate and consultation the Australian government has introduced legislation into parliament to overhaul the merger control regime

• The price is right? Consumer and competition trends in pricing
  

  Emerging competition and consumer trends in pricing practices

• International Comparative Legal Guide to Merger Control 2019: Australia
  

  MinterEllison has written the Australian chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to: Merger Control 2019.

• Joint takeover of ASX listed Sirtex Medical Limited
  MinterEllison advised CDH Investments and China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited on their last-minute A$1.90 billion joint takeover for ASX listed Sirtex Medical Limited.
  
  
• Food and agribusiness sector remains key priority for ACCC: 12 areas of activity and concern
  

  The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been active in education and enforcement of competition and consumer law issues in the agribusiness and food sphere over the past year.

• Government announces sweeping reforms to merger control law in Australia
  

  The Treasurer has announced reforms to Australia's merger control regime, described as the biggest changes to Australian merger control law in 50 years. The package will have a significant impact on how parties seek merger approval.

• Government unveils much anticipated draft merger control thresholds
  

  Details of the proposed merger notification thresholds include both monetary and market concentration thresholds, and a proposed waiver mechanism.

• ACCC releases a consultation draft of CDR Rules
  

  ACCC released the consultation draft of its Consumer Data Right (CDR) Rules ahead of the expected 1 July 2019 rollout of the CDR regime to the banking sector.

  We explain the key changes in the CDR Rules from the previous Rules Outline and Rules Framework released last year that the banking sector should be aware of as they set up their internal policies and processes to ensure compliance.

• Getting the global deal done amid the COVID-19 crisis
  

  Perspectives on key FIRB and ACCC issues impacting global and multinational transactions with an Australian dimension.

• Managing cartel risks arising from COVID-19 responses
  

  There is no automatic 'public interest' exemption to our competition law, although there are effective and timely mechanisms that can be used to ensure legal protection for business and their staff in implementing COVID-19 responses. Our team outlines key considerations and options for managing cartel risk to ensure businesses can respond rapidly in the best interests of their customers and the community in a legally compliant way.

• Penalties for Competition and Consumer law breaches proposed to quintuple
  

  Exposure draft legislation proposes to significantly increase penalties for Australian competition and consumer law contraventions. We explore the details and implications of the proposed new regime.

• The new Consumer Data Right and the energy sector
  

  The ACCC is consulting on three possible data access models that will be used to implement the CDR in the energy sector, which is expected to commence in the first half of 2020.

• Tooltechnic is successful in lodging the first ever resale price maintenance (RPM) notification
  

  MinterEllison has advised Tooltechnic Systems (Aust) Pty Ltd (Tooltechnic) in lodging the first ever resale price maintenance (RPM) notification under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, since notifications were introduced in November 2017.

• Toll Holdings Ltd and Sea Swift successful in application for merger authorisation to the Australian Competition Tribunal
  

  On 1 July 2016, the Australian Competition Tribunal granted authorisation to Sea Swift's proposed acquisition of certain shares and assets relating to Toll Marine Logistics' (TML) business in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland.

   

• Managing cartel risks arising from COVID-19 in the health sector
  

  While the health sector is being called on respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in unprecedented ways, there is no automatic 'public interest' exemption to our competition law where businesses coordinate or act collectively.

• Tribunal clears Sea Swift's toll marine acquisition
  

  Faced with a choice between economic theory vs economic fact, the Australian Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) has decided strongly in favour of fact, concluding that 'theory must give way to fact'.

• CrownBet contests Tabcorp and Tatts merger
  

  MinterEllison advised wagering service provider CrownBet in Australia's most complex, contested, controversial and high-profile proposed merger last year involving Tabcorp and Tatts.