Biography
Sophie Player is a special counsel in our Competition, Consumer and Market Regulation group.She specialises in complex mergers and acquisitions, particularly those involving regulated infrastructure and strategic assets such as ports, rail, intermodal terminals, renewable energy projects and telecommunications.
Sophie has significant expertise navigating Australia’s merger control regime, including contested transactions and informal clearance processes. She regularly advises on the development and application of access regimes, the negotiation of enforceable undertakings with the ACCC and broader regulatory strategy.
She also represents clients in Federal Court enforcement proceedings and merger authorisations before the Australian Competition Tribunal.
Experience
Qube in relation to significant enforcement proceedings brought by the ACCC in the Federal Court of Australia.
NSW Ports (owned by IFM Investors and Global Infrastructure Partners) in ACCC proceedings alleging breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act.
A multinational healthcare company during a regulatory investigation into its pricing conduct.
Tabcorp on competition clearance for its landmark $12 billion merger with Tatts Group.
Oaktree Capital Management on the merger clearance process for Boardriders’ acquisition of Billabong Inc.
PowAR Consortium (QIC, The Future Fund and AGL Energy) in its acquisition of Tilt Renewables’ portfolio of wind, solar and battery projects.
Design and implementation of open access regimes for critical infrastructure assets.
Negotiating and advising on court-enforceable undertakings with the ACCC in the context of merger clearance and regulatory resolution.