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Maddocks adds new partner to lead competition law practice
National law firm Maddocks has added a new partner to lead its competition law practice, who joins the firm after more than a decade at BigLaw rival Johnson Winter Slattery.
Lauren Croft
Maddocks has added a new partner in its corporate and commercial practice. Based in Melbourne, Dr Wolfgang Hellmann will lead the firm’s competition law practice. He joins from Johnson Winter Slattery.
Hellmann has been practising law for more than 25 years across multiple jurisdictions, has advised both Australian and international organisations, and has acted on behalf of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on its investigations.
Prior to relocating to Australia, Hellmann practised German and European competition law in Düsseldorf and Brussels with a leading international law firm. He is a dual-qualified lawyer and admitted to practise in Australia and Germany.
“I am impressed by the breadth and depth of Maddocks’ practice and its drive to continue to expand its offering in the market,” he said.
“As one of Australia’s oldest firms, this growth is built on a long history of deep relationships and a commitment to its clients through its strong emphasis on collaboration to provide the best in advice across the board. I am truly excited to be a part of this modern firm and to lead its competition law offering.”
This news follows the poaching of a team of four, including a partner, from Holding Redlich in October, as well as the firm’s elevation of four to its partnership in early May and then its promotion of a further 60 professionals later that month.
According to Maddocks CEO David Newman, Hellmann’s addition comes at a time of growing demand for expertise in dealing with the challenges of the changing environment for competition law in Australia, in particular, the new mandatory merger control regime.
“Wolfgang’s appointment will significantly strengthen the firm’s focus on consumer and competition law, providing our private and public sector clients with access to his deep knowledge and expertise across this rapidly emerging area of law. Maddocks’ commercial practice already has a leading reputation, and Wolfgang’s arrival will further bolster its offering as he leads a new competition law team,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome Wolfgang as a new partner whose expertise will help to shape our offering to clients for many years to come.”
Consumer markets sector leader Greg Hipwell added that the new partner will “provide a crucial source of experience and knowledge for our team’s offering to our clients across M&A, private equity and consumer markets – particularly as expected merger reforms will bring a stronger focus on competition law by regulators and other stakeholders”.
“Wolfgang will undoubtedly help to strengthen the commercial team and the exceptional service and value to those we advise,” he said.
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
