Patrick Clark

Patrick has assisted clients to obtain merger clearance despite ACCC opposition in two leading and widely publicised cases: AGL / Macquarie Generation (2014) and Vodafone v ACCC (2020, advising TPG).  That depth of contentious merger experience is rare, and those experiences inform all aspects of Patrick’s advice.

Patrick’s key strengths include an ability to rapidly develop a deep understanding of his clients’ businesses (the products/services, value drivers, strategic objectives and the broader industry), and to engage effectively with all levels of the business in their commercial language.  In Patrick’s experience, those skills are critical to success in competition law matters.

Patrick also has extensive experience advising Australian clients in various sectors involved in ACCC investigations, including responding to compulsory notices to produce information and documents, and assisting executives to appear before the ACCC.  Patrick also assisted clients to prepare submissions to the Federal government's comprehensive review of competition law and policy, the Harper Review (2014–15).

Background

Patrick studied law at The University of Melbourne (Honours) (2010), economics for competition lawyers at King’s College London (2014) and is admitted in Victoria, New South Wales and the High Court (2011).

Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills in February 2018, Patrick practiced Australian competition law at Ashurst Australia, and EU competition law at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (an international firm preeminent in that area).

Market Recognition

Patrick was ranked as a Rising Star in Doyle’s Guide in 2019.
Patrick was recognised for his involvement in the Dow/DuPont EU merger clearance, which was awarded Merger Matter of the Year by the Global Competition Review Awards in 2018.