Thursday, 26 February 2026
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
ACCC Reform - Mandatory Merger Clearance
- Review Australia’s new Mandatory and Suspensory Merger Notification Regime
- Key notification thresholds and exemptions: practical guidance for in-house counsel and commercial deal teams
- Navigating the ACCC’s assessment process including timelines, notification requirements and engagement strategies
- Strategic considerations for structuring transactions and managing regulatory risk under the new rules
Presented by Doug Thompson, Special Counsel, Clayton Utz
Chair
Conor Bannan, Barrister, 12 Wentworth Selbourne Chambers; Doyle's Guide preeminent Junior Counsel in Competition Law 2025
Presenters
Doug Thompson, Special Counsel, Clayton UtzDoug specialises in competition and consumer law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, restrictive trade practices (including cartel conduct), and consumer protection. He is known for his collaborative approach, ability to distil complex information, and dedication to achieving practical outcomes for his clients. Doug also provides strategic commercial advice on business relationships, procurement, and transactions. His expertise spans the wagering, communications, and technology sectors, where he has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities these industries face.
Conor Bannan, Barrister, 12 Wentworth Selbourne Chambers
Conor has a broad commercial practice with particular expertise in trade practices and competition. He has been briefed to appear for an individual in Australia’s first criminal cartel jury trial, for TPG (in proceedings concerning its proposed merger with Vodafone), for Apple Inc (in proceedings brought by Epic Games and in related class action proceedings), for Facebook Inc (in proceedings brought by a developer), for Mazda Australia (in class action proceedings relating to the use of Takata airbags) and for the ANZ Banking Group (in the Banking Royal Commission and in various litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales). Before being called to the Bar, Conor worked as a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Gilbert + Tobin in Sydney, and at Linklaters in London. During that time, he also completed secondments to Westpac Banking Corporation and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Conor has been recognised in several legal directories (Chambers and Partners, Doyles Guide, Legal 500, Best Lawyers) as a leading junior counsel in competition law and in commercial litigation.
