Biography

    Simon is a senior partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Competition, Consumer + Market Regulation group. He leads the Melbourne competition practice, covering complex merger clearance work, ACCC investigations and enforcement, competition litigation and regulatory matters, with particular regulatory expertise advising across the energy, telecommunications, resources and transport sectors.

    Simon has advised on some of the largest and most complex Australian merger processes, including several deals contested before the Competition Tribunal and the Federal Court.

    In addition to merger clearance work and competition litigation, Simon is regarded as one of Australia’s leading advisers on third-party access, pricing and economic regulatory issues in infrastructure markets.

    Simon regularly speaks and writes on competition and regulatory issues. He is a member of the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia, the Energy and Resources Law Association (AMPLA) and is a member and former officer of the Communications and Competition Committees of the International Bar Association.  He co-authors a number of articles and publications, including the Energy Regulation & Markets Review – 10th Edition – Australia by The Law Review and ICLG – Competition Litigation Guide 2023.

    Simon holds a Bachelor of Law (Honours – First Class, University Medal) and Bachelor of Business (Management), both from the University of Queensland.

    Listen to Simon on The Competitive Edge podcast:

    Simon's experience includes advising:

    • Advised Telstra in relation to its application for formal merger authorisation regarding implementation of a spectrum and active network sharing arrangement with TPG.  
    • Advised Qube (as part of a consortium with Brookfield and others) on its successful $9B acquisition of the assets of Asciano.
    • Advised Tabcorp on its successful authorisation of the $11B merger with Tatts Group, including review before the Australian Competition Tribunal.  
    • Acted for a number of clients in relation to ACCC investigations and prosecutions, including in respect of misuse of market power, anti-competitive and cartel conduct.
    • Beach Energy across a range of matters, including gas price arbitrations under multiple Beach GSAs as well as competition law advice in respect of various upstream oil and gas production JV arrangements.
    • Representing the peak Hunter Valley coal producer group for over a decade in its engagement with ARTC and the ACCC in relation to below rail regulated access arrangements.
    • A longstanding adviser to a number of regulators, including the Queensland Competition Authority (on energy and port matters), the Victorian Essential Services Commission (on water matters) and the AEMC (on rule change and other energy regulation).

    “Simon Muys is fantastic. He makes it his business to keenly understand our industry, the challenges we face, the political climate around decisions we take and the overall factual matrix we operate within. Simon is very well-placed to provide us with advice that is strategic, commercial, pragmatic and most importantly he is passionate about our business.”

    LEGAL 500 ASIA PACIFIC 2023

    “Simon’s advice is considered and pragmatic.  He is a pre-eminent competition lawyer.  His knowledge is excellent”

    GLOBAL COMPETITION REVIEW WWL, 2022

    “He writes very persuasively - which means that when people read what he's written, they take notice."  A client speaks of his "well-deserved reputation as an excellent competition lawyer," particularly stressing his "extremely good relations with the regulators".

    CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFIC, 2022

    Leading Individual (Competition and Trade)

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA-PACIFIC 2023

    Leading Competition Lawyers, Australia - Recommended

    DOYLES - AUSTRALIA 2023

    Simon is ranked as Band 4 for Competition/Antitrust.

    CHAMBERS ASIA-PACIFIC 2023

    Simon was in the Competition Law, Regulatory Practice, Litigation and Telecommunications Law categories.

    Best Lawyers Australia 2013-2023

    Simon is recognised in the “Energy (Transactions + Regulatory)” category.

    The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2020 

    Simon recognised as a "Global Leader" for Data - Telecommunications & Media and "National Leader" for Data.

    Who's Who Legal 2019 - 2021