Geoff Petersen

Geoff’s practice includes trade practices matters, with a focus on access to essential infrastructure.  He advises on economic regulation, competition and access matters in a range of infrastructure sectors including energy, telecommunications, ports, rail, aviation and logistics.

Geoff is a trained economist and lawyer, and is experienced in dealing with both economic and legal issues relating to infrastructure access and pricing.  He has advised a number of electricity and gas distribution businesses on the revenue and price control regimes under the National Electricity Law and National Gas Law, and has represented these businesses in numerous price review proceedings.  In the port and rail sectors, he has advised regulators and major users of regulated infrastructure in relation to reviews of access undertakings and access dispute processes.  He also provides advice to Telstra on regulatory obligations arising under the telecommunications access regime, particularly in relation to access pricing matters.

Geoff is also frequently called on to advise on competition law matters – including enforcement, compliance and merger clearance matters – particularly where complex economic principles are involved.  Key clients include Virgin Australia, NSW Ports and BlueScope Steel.

Prior to joining Gilbert + Tobin, Geoff was a professional economist at a leading Australian economic consultancy. In that role, he advised a range of clients on economic issues relating to the regulation of networks such as telecommunications and energy.

Geoff has authored a textbook on access regulation with two colleagues: Access Regulation in Australia (Geoff Petersen, Morelle Bull and Catherine Dermody, Thomson Reuters, 2016).

Geoff holds first-class honours degrees in both law and economics.