Lander & Rogers has added heavyweight competition lawyer Philip Aitken to its corporate team, marking a strategic hire as the new mandatory merger review regime kicks in on 1 January 2026.

Aitken, who joins from HSF Kramer, will be based in Melbourne.

He brings 13 years’ experience across Australia, the UK and the EU, advising on competition, consumer and regulatory matters and running complex investigations and enforcement actions before the Federal Court and Australian Competition Tribunal.

Aitken’s deal sheet includes advising NAB on phase-one ACCC clearance for its acquisition of Citigroup’s Australian consumer business, repping Olex Australia in its successful cartel defence in the Federal Court, and acting for Jemena in AER enforcement proceedings under the National Gas Law.

Corporate practice lead David Morris said Aitken’s appointment strengthens the firm’s ability to advise on high-stakes transactions and the incoming merger control framework.

Source: Lander & Rogers