New Zealand is on the brink of the most significant reform of its competition regime in two decades.
The Government’s proposed changes to the Commerce Act 1986 aim to improve certainty, modernise the regime, reduce compliance costs and strengthen the Commerce Commission’s toolkit
Friday, 6 March 2026
Early Bird Discount ends 19 Dec 2025
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
1.00pm to 2.00pm Largest Commerce Act Reform in 20 years! A Game Changer?
Emma will share her insights on what’s changing, and what it all means for lawyers and their clients.
Presented by Emma Quigley, Senior Associate, Bell Gully
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key features of the proposed reforms to the Commerce Act 1986 and their implications for New Zealand’s competition law framework.
- Identify how the reforms aim to enhance regulatory certainty, modernise enforcement, and reduce compliance costs for businesses.
- Analyse the expanded powers and toolkit of the Commerce Commission and how these changes may affect investigations and enforcement actions.
- Assess the potential impact of the reforms on commercial transactions, mergers, and business conduct in various sectors.
- Apply practical strategies to ensure compliance and manage competition law risk in light of the upcoming changes.
Presenters
Emma Quigley, Senior Associate, Bell GullyEmma is an experienced competition lawyer with particular expertise in merger control matters and misuse of market power claims. Emma is a Senior Associate in Bell Gully's industry-leading competition team. Prior to re-joining Bell Gully, Emma spent several years in London working at magic circle firm Linklaters where she was a Managing Associate. Emma brings with her extensive international competition law experience having advised clients on EU, UK and multijurisdictional merger control matters, completed a six-month secondment to the Phase 1 Mergers Division of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA, the competition regulator in the UK), and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in EU Competition Law at King's College London. Her UK work highlights include advising private equity and pharmaceutical clients in relation to various high-profile, long-running CMA investigations in the pharmaceutical sector, including excessive pricing and market sharing allegations. Since re-joining Bell Gully, Emma has acted for clients on a number of high-profile merger control matters, some involving the negotiation of complex divestments. Alongside her competition work, Emma also advises clients on foreign investment and regulatory matters.
