Sophia Grace

Special Counsel

Emailsophia.grace@dlapiper.com

Call+61 3 9274 5121

Melbourne

About

Areas of FocusIntellectual Property

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the High Court of AustraliaSolicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria

EXPERIENCE

Advising clients on an ongoing basis on compliance with Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act, including advice on price fixing and other anti-competitive arrangements, reviewing the client's business conduct, responding to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) enquiries and making applications for immunity under the ACCC's cartel immunity policy
Advising various electricity and gas network service providers on reset processes before the Australian Energy Regulator under the National Electricity Law and National Electricity Rules, and National Gas Law and National Gas Rules. This includes advising two electricity distributors on the Victorian electricity distribution price review by the Australian Energy Regulator for 2011-15 and 2016-20
Advising the ACCC Mergers Branch on its assessment of the acquisition of Patrick Corporation by Toll Holdings. Also advised the ACCC Mergers Branch on Patrick Corporation's proposed acquisition of FCL Interstate Transport Services Pty Ltd's Australian logistics business
Advising an entertainment company on the ACCC's merger clearance of its acquisition of a competitor
Representing Fortescue in proceedings in Australia's Federal Court, the Full Federal Court and High Court concerning whether third party use of BHP Billiton's Pilbara railways is the use of a production process under Part IIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act
Advising the ACCC Transport Branch on its consideration of undertakings under Part IIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act offered by GrainCorp, Co-operative Bulk Handling Limited and ABB limited in respect of access to services provided by their grain export port terminals
Acting for the ACCC Communications Branch in proceedings before the Australian Competition Tribunal and the Full Federal Court concerning a review under Part XIC of the Competition and Consumer Act of applications by Telstra for exemptions from standard access obligations in respect of its wholesale line rental and local carriage services

Education

Publications

Sophia presents seminars to clients as well as her DLA Piper colleagues on competition law issues.

Seminars

Sophia regularly presents seminars to clients as well as her DLA Piper colleagues on compliance with competition laws. She was also a presenter at a recent conference on access regulation.

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper Australia, Sophia acquired broad experience in litigation and competition. She was Associate to Justice Goldberg in the Federal Court of Australia and the Australian Competition Tribunal during the hearing of major commercial proceedings and authorisation and access cases under the Competition and Consumer Act. During this time, Sophia gained a valuable insight into the decision making approach of courts and review bodies in competition matters.

Memberships And Affiliations