Australia's new mandatory merger controls: a discussion with Gina Cass-Gottlieb

Merger control in Australia is set for a major overhaul, moving to a single mandatory and suspensory administrative regime. The new mandatory regime will apply to all deals closing or completing on or after 1 January 2026 (and on a voluntary basis from 1 July 2025). ACCC Chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb will join Clayton Utz competition partners, Kirsten Webb, Michael Corrigan and Mihkel Wilding to discuss the most significant change to Australia's merger control regime in over 50 years.

During this webinar, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb will provide insights into the merger reforms, with a wide ranging an open conversation covering the following key topics:

1. Overview of the ACCC’s new merger reform approach

2. How the reforms affect strategic merger planning and execution

3. Key compliance risks businesses must be aware of

4. Best practices for addressing ACCC concerns during merger reviews

Speakers:

Gina Cass-Gottlieb

Chairperson of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Gina Cass-Gottlieb commenced her 5-year appointment as Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on 21 March 2022. Prior to her appointment Gina had over 30 years' experience advising on a large number of merger, competition and regulatory matters in Australia and New Zealand.

Kirsten Webb. Michael Corrigan and Mihkel Wilding

Partners, Clayton Utz

Kirsten, Michael and Mihkel are partners in the Clayton Utz Competition and Regulatory team, which advises on multi-jurisdictional and domestic mergers as a key part of its full service competition offering.