John McKellar
John McKellar

John McKellar

Partner

Melbourne

+61 3 9679 3114 | +61 448 222 840
john.mckellar@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

John stands out for his ability to combine technical competition and consumer law experience with commercial judgement, strategic clarity and insight into how regulators think.

John McKellar advises clients on Australian competition and consumer law, with a focus on merger control, ACCC investigations, competition litigation and strategic commercial arrangements.  

John has guided clients through many complex ACCC and multi-jurisdictional merger reviews, including matters involving in-depth investigations, remedies and divestitures. He regularly advises on Australia’s new merger regime.  

John acts for clients in investigations and proceedings involving allegations of anticompetitive mergers, anticompetitive agreements, cartel conduct and misuse of market power. 

John also advises on competition and consumer law risk in commercial arrangements, helping clients structure transactions, collaborations, supply arrangements, distribution models and other business conduct. 

His Australian practice is informed by international experience, including service at the UK Competition and Markets Authority and time practicing at US law firms in London. He also holds postgraduate qualifications in competition economics from King’s College London. 

John advises clients across sectors including technology, financial services, private equity, agriculture, healthcare, energy, transport, hotels, consumer goods and construction materials.

 
  • ANZ on its successful application for merger authorisation from the Australian Competition Tribunal for its acquisition of Suncorp Bank, in a contested proceeding with the ACCC and Bendigo Bank (2024).
  • 7-Eleven in relation to the sale of its fuel and convenience business (2023).
  • Ovato and Opus Group on ACCC clearance for the sale of Ovato's book printing business to Opus (clearance granted on a failing firm basis) (2022).
  • Delta Ag in relation to ACCC clearance for its sale to Elders (2025).
  • Nutrien on a Phase 2 ACCC clearance for its acquisition of Ruralco, subject to divestitures (2019).
  • Aurizon in Federal Court proceedings brought by the ACCC alleging competition law contraventions in relation to Aurizon's sale of its Queensland intermodal business to Pacific National and Linfox, and the sale of its Acacia Ridge rail terminal to Pacific National (2020).
  • Defense contractor in an investigation and subsequent proceedings brought by the ACCC alleging cartel conduct (2025).
  • AGL Energy in litigation with the ACCC in the Australian Competition Tribunal in relation to merger authorisation for AGL's proposed acquisition of Macquarie Generation (2014).
  • Samsung in Federal Court proceedings brought by Apple alleging misuse of market power in relation to Samsung's standard essential patent licensing practices (2014).
  • Linde AG / Elgas on the acquisition of Kleenheat Gas’ east coast LPG business, a complex Phase 2 investigation involving horizontal and vertical issues (2015).

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