About Us

A unique combination of experience and expertise

A&B Competition Lawyers combines the knowledge, experience, and expertise of two of New Zealand’s best and most experienced competition law specialists. 

Neil was a Partner at one of New Zealand’s preeminent competition law practices for 14 years and led the practice for much of that time before establishing his own specialist competition law practice in 2020.
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David worked for another leading New Zealand law firm before serving as Principal Counsel, Competition at the Commerce Commission for five years and then establishing his own specialist competition law practice in 2017. 

Find out more

The creation of A&B

We set up A&B because we are dedicated to achieving great results, having clients that love working with us, and enjoying what we do both at work and outside of work. Our approach is designed to achieve these objectives.

Find out more about our experience below.

Our approach

Each case is different and  we understand our approach needs to be as unique as the problem.

Instead of applying a boilerplate method, we rely on a set of values that guide our approach, putting you & your business first.

More about our services

Neil Anderson

Phone:

+64 27 278 9494

Email:

neil@abcompetitionlawyers.nz

Neil is one of New Zealand’s most experienced competition law specialists. He has advised domestic and international clients on the full range of competition law matters and has worked right across the New Zealand economy, most notably in banking, insurance, ports, oil & gas (both upstream and downstream), agriculture, building products, aviation, roading, telecommunications, post, and electricity. 
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Neil was a Partner at one of New Zealand’s preeminent competition law practices for 14 years and led the practice for much of that time before establishing his own specialist competition law practice in 2020.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 says that Neil “commands a high level of respect among market sources as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished and experienced competition lawyers”.

Neil Anderson would be my first choice for competition law advice.

— Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

David Blacktop

Phone:

+64 21 366 284

Email:

david@abcompetitionlawyers.nz

David has worked on nearly all the major competition law cases and law reforms that have shaped New Zealand's competition law over the last 25 years. David worked for one of New Zealand’s leading competition law practices for a decade, before spending five years at the Commerce Commission.

While at the Commerce Commission, David was responsible for the advice provided to the Commission on all competition law matters. David also played a leading role in drafting the 2013 updates of the Commerce Commission’s Mergers and Acquisitions Guidelines and Authorisation Guidelines, and the initial drafting of the Competitor Collaboration Guidelines, which explain the Commission’s approach to New Zealand’s cartel laws.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 records client feedback that David “consistently delivers excellent work and customer care. He is down to earth, pragmatic and understands customer needs. Everyone enjoys working with him”.

David is an elite lawyer who handles matters with sophistication. He is highly pragmatic and a great communicator and influencer.

— Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

Dipti Manchanda

Dipti is a competition law specialist with experience across some of New Zealand’s most significant competition matters over the past decade. She has worked on cases involving new and untested laws, novel legal structures, and complex issues across a wide range of sectors.

Dipti began her career in the competition and public law team at a leading New Zealand commercial law firm before joining the Commerce Commission. At the Commission she twice acted as Chief Legal Counsel for Competition and advised on several first-of-their-kind matters, including the Commission’s first major criminal cartel investigation, its first market study, and the only collaborative activity clearance to date. She also contributed to key Commission guidance, including the Collaboration and Sustainability Guidelines and guidance on interim authorisations.

Before returning to private practice, Dipti worked in competition and consumer policy at the United Nations, focusing on digital platforms and competition compliance programmes for businesses.

Neil Anderson

Phone:

+64 27 278 9494

Email:

neil@abcompetitionlawyers.nz

Neil is one of New Zealand’s most experienced competition law specialists. He has advised domestic and international clients on the full range of competition law matters and has worked right across the New Zealand economy, most notably in banking, insurance, ports, oil & gas (both upstream and downstream), agriculture, building products, aviation, roading, telecommunications, post, and electricity. 
‍
Neil was a Partner at one of New Zealand’s preeminent competition law practices for 14 years and led the practice for much of that time before establishing his own specialist competition law practice in 2020.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 says that Neil “commands a high level of respect among market sources as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished and experienced competition lawyers”.

Neil Anderson would be my first choice for competition law advice.

— Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

David Blacktop

Phone:

+64 21 366 284

Email:

david@abcompetitionlawyers.nz

David has worked on nearly all the major competition law cases and law reforms that have shaped New Zealand’s competition law over the last 25 years. David worked for one of New Zealand’s leading competition law practices for a decade, before spending five years at the Commerce Commission.

While at the Commerce Commission, David was responsible for the advice provided to the Commission on all competition law matters. David also played a leading role in drafting the 2013 updates of the Commerce Commission’s Mergers and Acquisitions Guidelines and Authorisation Guidelines, and the initial drafting of the Competitor Collaboration Guidelines, which explain the Commission’s approach to New Zealand’s cartel laws.

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 records client feedback that David “consistently delivers excellent work and customer care. He is down to earth, pragmatic and understands customer needs. Everyone enjoys working with him”.

David is an elite lawyer who handles matters with sophistication. He is highly pragmatic and a great communicator and influencer.

— Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

Dipti Manchanda

Phone:

+64 27 710 3685

Email:

dipti@abcompetitionlawyers.nz

Dipti is a competition law specialist with experience across some of New Zealand’s most significant competition matters over the past decade. She has worked on cases involving new and untested laws, novel legal structures, and complex issues across a wide range of sectors.

Dipti began her career in the competition and public law team at a leading New Zealand commercial law firm before joining the Commerce Commission. At the Commission she twice acted as Chief Legal Counsel for Competition and advised on several first-of-their-kind matters, including the Commission’s first major criminal cartel investigation, its first market study, and the only collaborative activity clearance to date. She also contributed to key Commission guidance, including the Collaboration and Sustainability Guidelines and guidance on interim authorisations.

Before returning to private practice, Dipti worked in competition and consumer policy at the United Nations, focusing on digital platforms and competition compliance programmes for businesses.

Our experience

Our experience includes advising on all competition law matters, including mergers, cartels, restrictive trade practices, abuse of market power, market studies, economic and sector specific regulation, consumer law, and competition policy. 
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Please get in touch if you’d like to know more about the matters we’ve worked on and how we can help you.

Our Services

Locations

We have offices in both Auckland and Wellington and are set up to effectively facilitate your needs.

Auckland

27 Chancery Street
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand

+64 9 377 0592david@abcompetitonlaw.co.nz

Wellington

27 Chancery Street
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand

+64 21 983 376neil@abcompetitonlaw.co.nz

A&B Competition Lawyers provide a fantastic, simple, no-frills approach that is easy for boards to follow and compelling to regulators.

— Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

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