Current practice

Paul Hughes' practice focuses on competition law, litigation and telecommunications-specific competition regulation.

Paul's experience combines the disciplines of law, economics and accounting in both regulated and unregulated industries. He has acted for both access seekers and providers, as well as regulators, in both litigation and commercial transactions.

Industry experience

Selected competition law experience

• Representing Air New Zealand in its successful application for review to the Australian Competition Tribunal of the authorisation decision regarding its proposed alliance with Qantas.
• Advising Caltex in relation to its shopper docket petrol discount in relation to its alliance with Woolworths.
• Advising Vodafone in relation to its proposed 3G infrastructure sharing arrangement with Optus.
• Advising Village Roadshow on film exhibition structures (including mergers and joint ventures) and market conduct.
• Advising Roadshow Film Distributors on the competition law implications of film distribution policies including the development of an industry Code of Conduct and representation in Federal Court proceedings under Part IV.
• Managing AAPT's access issues in relation to services declared under Part XIC of the TPA.
• Conducting on behalf of AAPT numerous access arbitrations before the ACCC under Division 8, Part XIC of the TPA and representing AAPT in the PSTN interconnection arbitration before the Australian Competition Tribunal.
• Advising AAPT in relation to competitive issues under Parts XIB and IV of the TPA.
• Representing AAPT in the Productivity Commission hearings into the review of telecommunications-specific competition regulation and preparation of submissions.
• Providing AAPT general competition law advice to numerous clients including AAPT, the Village Roadshow group, Seven Network, Warner Bros, DCT and Vodafone.
  
  

Professional background

Paul joined the competition law group of Freehills in 2001. He was formerly the national coordinator of the competition law group at Corrs Chambers Westgarth where he was appointed a partner in 1992.

From 1988 to 1990, Paul worked on secondment in the litigation department at Herbert Smith in London.

Paul graduated from the University of Melbourne with first class honours in both law and commerce. Among other prizes, Paul was awarded the Supreme Court Prize as top graduate in Bachelor of Law with Honours. He was also awarded first place in his commerce honours year.