Peter McDonald
Partner
Sydney
Peter McDonald
Partner
Sydney
Contact details
Peter leads and coordinates the Allen & Overy competition team in the APAC region. Peter specialises in challenging competition law, consumer and regulatory issues. His expertise encompasses transactional advice, merger clearances, joint ventures and collaborations, access to infrastructure, and enforcement responses and defence.
Peter has extensive experience in a wide range of sectors, and has advised leading organisations such as Google, 21st Century Fox, Equinix, PEXA, BHP, Dulux Group, Air Asia, Caltex, Graincorp, BUPA, Energy Australia, BNP Paribas, Asahi, North West Shelf Venture, Chevron, GSK, George Weston Foods, Wesfarmers, Vale, Orica and Reckitt Benckiser.
Peter is recognised as a leading individual in all major directories, including, Who's Who Legal, Chambers Asia Pacific, Asia Pacific Legal 500 and IFLR 1000. Prior to joining the firm, Peter worked as a senior officer at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales
Registered foreign lawyer in the UK SRA
Academic
Bachelor of Laws, University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma in Economics, Australian National University
Related articles
Publications: 04 May 2023
For a number of years the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has advocated for amendments to the country’s merger control rules. The current regime is voluntary, and the ACCC cannot…
News: 23 February 2023
Publications: 23 February 2023
Surge in antitrust and FDI intervention means appropriate deal provisions are vital
Experience highlights
Advising Asahi Beverages on its proposed acquisition of CUB.
Advising 21st Century Fox on its proposed sale to The Walt Disney Company.
ACCC Gas Inquiries in Eastern Australia: Advising Woodside on responding to ACCC gas industry inquiries in Eastern Australia and associated investigations.
ACCC Electricity and Gas Industry Inquiries: Advising Alinta on responding to the ACCC electricity and gas industry inquiries.
Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales
Registered foreign lawyer in the UK SRA
Academic
Bachelor of Laws, University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma in Economics, Australian National University
Other noteworthy
Advising:
- PEXA on a range of ongoing ACCC and market regulatory issues.
- Illyria/Lachlan Murdoch in the proposed acquisition of the free to air TV network Ten.
- Bradken on its takeover by Hitachi.
- Allnex and Advent in its acquisition of resin manufacture Nuplex (including merger control analysis across the APAC region).
- Tullett Prebon in its acquisition of the inter-dealer broking business of ICAP (including clearances in Australia and Singapore).
- Chinese SoE StateGrid in its bids for large scale energy infrastructure assets in Australia.
- Reckitt Benckiser in ACCC Federal Court and High Court Proceedings alleging misleading and deceptive conduct, and in the follow-on consumer class action.
- A leading digital platform and technology company in the ACCC digital platform market inquiry.
Recognition
"Highly articulate, practical advice on complex competition law”, and clients say he is “a pleasure to work with”
IFLR100
"Easy to work with, deeply knowledgeable and a strategic adviser who advises beyond just the law."
Chambers and Partners 2019
Peter McDonald is “very highly regarded and great to work with” applaud sources who commend his “strong technical skills”.
WWL Competition 2019
"Peter McDonald is 'one of the best' in the region", says sources, who praise his 'great regulatory insight'
WWL Global Competition Review – Competition 2017
Awards and accolades
Ranked 3rd out of the top 25 Global Law Firms
Global Elite Law Firm – Global Competition Review 2019
