Michele Laidlaw Partner

Michele specialises in Australian competition and consumer law, advising major multi-national and ASX listed clients across a range of industries.

Her areas of expertise include contentious and non-contentious merger reviews, litigation and advising on consumer protection law. In 2017 she spent 6 months as part of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in-house legal team.

Michele is consistently listed as one of Australia’s leading lawyers in the area of Competition and Trade in Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2013 – 2018 and Best Lawyers Australia, 2014 – 2018. She was also recognised in the global publication of Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders, 2018.

Michele has specialist expertise in aviation and infrastructure work, having advised Qantas for many years on key competition matters that include landmark cases. 

Experience

Recent deals

Qantas Airways Limited

Key competition advisor, including in relation to regulatory clearance for alliance arrangements with American Airlines, Emirates and China Eastern and the current ACCC monitoring regime for domestic air passenger services.

Qantas Airways Limited

Acted for Jetstar in consumer law proceedings regarding the Jetstar booking and service fee.

Qantas Airways Limited

Acted for Qantas in ACCC merger investigation regarding its 19.9% shareholding in Alliance Airlines.

Airlines for Australia & New Zealand (A4ANZ)

Advised regarding application of Part IIIA access regime to airports, as non-vertically integrated monopolies.

Ramsay Healthcare

Acted for Ramsay in successful defence of ACCC misuse of market power proceedings.

Santos

Advised on ACCC clearance process for successful acquisition of Quadrant Energy.

Recognition

Career & qualifications

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Sydney
  • Bachelor of Economics (Hons & University Medal), University of Sydney
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Australian National University
  • PGDip Economics for Competition Law, King's College London

 

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