Matthew Bull has more than 20 years experience advising clients on all aspects of Australian competition and consumer law across a broad range of industries, including energy and resources, financial services, technology, and health.
Matt has particular experience advising on commercial transactions. He assists clients with achieving their commercial goals while managing competition issues arising in strategic collaborations such as joint ventures. Matt has significant experience obtaining clearance from the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) for complex mergers and acquisitions, including navigating Phase 2 merger reviews and developing solutions to address competition concerns.
Matt regularly advises clients on matters involving infrastructure such as ports, airports, railway networks, gas pipelines, and electricity networks. He has a deep understanding of economic regulation and the issues facing access seekers/providers, including advising clients in access disputes, price arbitrations, and price reviews by the AER (Australian Energy Regulator), QCA (Queensland Competition Authority), and ERA (Energy Resources of Australia).
Matt also represents clients during ACCC market inquiries and market studies. He not only assists clients in complying with their obligations to produce material to the ACCC, but also helps clients draft persuasive submissions. He represents clients during examinations conducted by the ACCC as part of these market inquiries.
Matt advises clients in enforcement and litigation matters. He is experienced in responding to informal investigations as well as compulsory notices to produce documents.
Matt is a member of the Law Council of Australia's Competition and Consumer Committee, the leading competition policy body in Australia, and co-edited the market definition chapter in the leading CCH textbook Australian Competition Law.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Advised BHP Billiton on competition and regulatory issues involving access to significant gas, port, and rail infrastructure.
Advised Santos on a wide range of matters, including obtaining ACCC clearance for its acquisition of Eastern Star Gas, obtaining ACCC authorization for oil arrangements in the Surat Basin, and providing advice on various joint venture arrangements (including the Gladstone LNG project).
Advised Suncorp on various matters, including its sale of a 90% interest in Capital Smart and ACM Parts to AMA and the sale of its life insurance business to TAL Daichi Life.
Advised IFM on a variety of matters, including its $5 billion acquisition of Port Botany and Port Kembla in Sydney, its $16 billion acquisition of electricity business Ausgrid, its bid for the Port of Melbourne, bids for toll road businesses in Brisbane and Sydney, and ACCC proceedings against NSW Ports.
Represented Murray Goulburn during court proceedings brought by the ACCC in relation to milk pricing, including negotiating the settlement of the matter.
Advised clients during public reviews and inquiries conducted by the ACCC into digital platforms, wine grapes, gas supply, and the dairy industry.
"Super bright operator with an extensive understanding of markets and how the ACCC operates."The Legal 500
- The College of Law, London (Legal Practice Course 1999); King's College London (LL.M. in Competition Law 1997); University of Essex (LL.B. Hons. 1996)
- High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Victoria, and solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Best Lawyers in Australia for competition law (2014-2024)
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: competition law in Australia (2015-2024)
Chambers Asia-Pacific: competition law in Australia (2018-2024): "brings an international perspective to matters that not many other lawyers in Australia can match"