Competition litigator Gina Cass-Gottlieb to replace Rod Sims as ACCC Chair

NATIONAL

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced competition and antitrust litigator, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, will replace outgoing chair, Rod Sims, on 21 March 2022, conditional to states and territories approving the appointment. Gina CassGottlieb will become the first female chair of the competition and consumer regulator, replacing Sims after 10-years at the helm.

MGA has held a close working relationship with ACCC Chairman Rod Sims, Deputy Chair Mick Keogh, and its commissioners. As a member of the ACCC Small Business and Franchise Consultative Group, MGA has an opportunity to share the many anti-competitive issues faced by our members across Australia.

Under the direction of Rod Sims, the ACCC has helped secure higher penalties for breaches of consumer laws, advocated for changes to the franchising code and strengthened laws about unfair contract terms, which have long been a contentious issue for small businesses. MGA congratulates Rod Sims for his significant work at the ACCC, particularly in helping protect small businesses from anti-competitive, unconscionable, and misleading market behaviours by the large chains.

Josh Frydenberg acknowledged that Rod Sims “has made an outstanding contribution to competition, consumer and infrastructure policy in his time at the ACCC, helping to advance world leading reforms including most recently with respect to the digital platforms.”

Cass-Gottlieb, a senior partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s competition and regulation practice for more than two decades, has contributed to the ACCC’s enforcement and regulatory investigations in the past. She was a lead partner in the ACCC’s investigation into criminal cartel conduct at banking giants ANZ, Deutsche and Citi and has been a board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payment Systems Board for eight years.

Commenting on the appointment, Frydenberg said he had “written to states and territories seeking their support for the proposed appointment of Ms Cass Gottlieb”.

Source: Smart Company 15 Dec 21 Rod Sims - always looking after small businesses

Gina Cass-Gottlieb & Treasurer Josh Frydenburg