Russell McVeagh

New Zealand's premier law firm

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Sarah Keene

Partner

Direct Phone: 64 9 367 8133

Mobile: 64 27 535 5034

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Sarah Keene
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Practice Area:

Competition

Background:

Sarah specialises in competition, consumer, regulatory law and litigation, including advising clients in relation to Commerce Commission investigations, prosecutions and appeals, advising on the legality of behavioural arrangements and conduct, more

advising clients in relation to clearances and authorisations of mergers and acquisitions, and generally in relation to competition law advice and judicial reviews.

Sarah began her career with Russell McVeagh and became a partner at the firm in 2006. Her experience includes being a senior associate in another New Zealand law firm and working in the European Competition and Regulatory team at Clifford Chance in London. Sarah rejoined Russell McVeagh in 2004.

Sarah contributes to the Global Competition Review - Cartel Enforcement publication, jointly with the Auckland Crown warrant holder, Meredith Connell, and regularly speaks at competition law conferences in New Zealand and in Australia.

Transaction Experience

  • Acting for French-based Schneider Electric in respect of an alleged global cartel.
  • Acting for a US-based international freight-forwarder in respect of an investigation into an alleged freight-forwarding cartel.
  • Acting for Visy in respect of alleged cartel activity.
  • Acting for an Australian based individual in relation to a prosecution for alleged cartel involvement.
  • Acting for Qantas in relation to a prosecution over advertising of additional taxes, charges and levies.
  • Advising a major insurance company in relation to Commerce Commission investigations into certain practices and representations, including in relation to execution of a search warrant.
  • Acting for Flint Inc, a large US-based ink manufacturer and distributor, in the acquisition of the Australasian assets of its competitor, Seigwerk.
  • Acting for Lion Nathan in respect of its potential acquisition of Independent Liquor.
  • Acting for Fonterra in relation to the competition approvals in New Zealand for the 2:1 merger with New Zealand Dairy Foods yellow spreads business (listed as one of Global Competition Review's "Deals of the Year" in 2005), and in its clearance to acquire National Foods.
  • Advising Fairfax in its acquisition of online auction company TradeMe.
  • Providing competition law advice from time to time, as required, to clients including the above, Qantas Airways, Genesis Energy, IAG (NZ), Telecom NZ and other FMCG business operators.

Qualifications:

LLB (Hons) BA University of Auckland

Admitted to practise in New Zealand in 1996

Recommendations:

Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Individually recommended)

Listed by Practical Law Company as recommended