Louise Klamka

Partner
Sydney

Biography

Louise is a partner in our Competition, Consumer and Market Regulation group.

With over 18 years of commercial practice, Louise has advised high-profile clients in the travel, transport, infrastructure, financial services, energy, consumer goods, media, software and digital services industries. Passionate about competition and regulatory issues in the aviation and travel industry, she is the leading lawyer nationally on competition issues associated with airline alliances.

Louise works hard to help her clients achieve their commercial objectives. She draws on extensive experience advising on the Competition and Consumer Act implications of mergers, strategic alliances, joint ventures, complex supply arrangements and the use of the ACCC’s merger clearance and authorisation processes. She is also experienced in advising on ACCC investigations, cartel prosecutions and immunity applications. Advising a broad range of clients in regulated industries, her expertise includes competition, pricing, privatisation and access issues.

Recognised as a thought leader regarding competition issues in digital markets, Louise is also a strategic advisor for some of the largest digital businesses operating in Australia.

Experience

Louise’s experience includes advising:

  • Virgin Australia on its full range of competition law requirements, including ACCC authorisations for airline alliances, acquisitions, monitoring, regulatory engagement during COVID and government aviation policy.

  • A large digital platform in relation to a range of competition and policy issues, including those related to the ACCC’s DPSI and DPI inquiries.

  • Prosegur in relation to the successful ACCC authorisation of the merger of its Australian Cash in Transit business with Armaguard, creating a single national Cash in Transit operator.

  • CHC Group on its successful ACCC's merger-clearance process and post-completion investigation for acquiring Babcock International’s Australian offshore helicopter business, which was blocked in the UK.

  • CRH plc on the ACCC merger clearance for its $2.1 billion acquisition of a majority share in the concrete, cement, lime and aggregates business, Adbri.

  • Study Group in successfully obtaining ACCC merger clearance for its acquisition by BGH Capital.

  • CSR in obtaining successful merger clearance for its acquisition by Woven Image.

  • eBay in relation to the successful ACCC merger authorisation of its acquisition of Cox Media Services Australia, which was only the second of its kind.

  • MYOB in relation to ACCC clearance of 6 acquisitions, including its acquisition of GreatSoft, following a phase 2 review.

  • Paspaley Pearls in relation to a range of infrastructure development, access, competition and consumer issues. 

  • Companies and individuals in relation to ACCC investigations and proceedings for alleged cartel conduct, involving a number of applications for immunity from prosecution, including for a leading bank.

  • JP Morgan in relation to the ACCC's criminal cartel prosecution against ANZ, Citi Group and Deutsche Bank in relation to a $2.5 billion capital raising by ANZ in August 2015.

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - 2025

    Ranked for Competition/Antitrust

  • The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024

    Next Generation Partner in Competition and Trade

  • Doyle's Guide Australia 2023

    Recommended as a Leading Competition Lawyer

Testimonials

Client first thinking

Louise is an exceptional lawyer and our go-to partner for our most important competition and regulatory work.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

Louise is genuinely at the top of the game, notwithstanding the wealth of talent in the competition space at the firm.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

She [Louise] has guided us through our most difficult and complex competition and regulatory matters over the last few years.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
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