George is an experienced commercial litigator, with a particular focus on ACCC investigations and competition and consumer, regulatory, and intellectual property litigation.  He has appeared in State and Federal Courts across Australia.

Biography

George acts for a broad range of corporate clients including ASX-listed companies, major superannuation trustees, high-net-worth individuals and commercial enterprises across competition law, intellectual property and regulatory litigation. He is based in Adelaide.

George advises on competition and consumer matters including ACCC investigations, merger notifications, cartel immunity applications and competition compliance. His intellectual property practice covers patent infringement, trade mark disputes, copyright, confidential information and misleading and deceptive conduct. He has a strong regulatory litigation practice across ASIC, ATO, CDPP, AFP and State taxation authority matters, and continues to practise as a general commercial litigator in Federal and State courts and tribunals across Australia.

George has acted in the Mitsubishi Motors fuel efficiency class action for Australia’s first automotive consumer class action, appeared for a major superannuation trustee in ASIC enforcement proceedings, and handled an ASX-listed company’s cartel immunity application. He has also acted in the first Australian ACCC conditional approval for a unique contractual warranty by Mitsubishi, which attracted over 200 public submissions.

George combines competition law depth with intellectual property litigation and a strong regulatory enforcement practice across multiple Commonwealth and State regulators. His practice operates across the full spectrum from front-end competition advice and ACCC engagement through to contested enforcement proceedings in Federal and State courts.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Memberships:

George's experience

Mitsubishi Motors Australia — High Court appeal

Acted for Mitsubishi Motors Australia in a successful appeal to the High Court in relation to representations made by Mitsubishi Motors regarding the fuel consumption of its vehicles.  The proceeding was the first of its kind in Australia.  Mitsubishi Motors' appeal to the High Court was unanimously allowed and was the only one of three automotive appeals to the High Court in the period that were successful.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia — ACCC notification

Acted for Mitsubishi Motors in relation to the notification of a 10-year conditional warranty tied to exclusive Mitsubishi servicing. The warranty was the first of its kind in Australia, attracted over 200 submissions and was ultimately permitted to stand following persuasion of the ACCC notwithstanding strong public opposition.

ASX-listed company — cartel immunity application

Acted for an ASX-listed company in relation to an immunity application to the ACCC arising from alleged cartel conduct engaged in by a subsidiary.

Major superannuation trustee — ASIC investigation

Acted for a major superannuation trustee in relation to an ASIC investigation and subsequent prosecution relating to alleged misleading or deceptive conduct arising from member communications.

Fencing and balustrade supplier — patent infringement

Acted for a major supplier of fencing and balustrade products in patent infringement proceedings and a subsequent account of profits action.

Tax prosecution — high-net-worth individual

Acted for a high-net-worth individual in a complex tax prosecution involving civil, criminal and proceeds of crime components and questions of private international law.

Listed technology company — Anton Piller order

Acted for a listed technology company in obtaining and executing an Anton Piller (search) order and subsequent legal proceedings, preserving evidence and achieving a settlement that protected the client’s interests.

Awards, recognition and ranking