Matthew Mackenzie

Matt is a partner in Quinn Emanuel’s Sydney office and acts for plaintiffs and defendants across a range of matters, including class actions, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions and commercial disputes.  Matt has acted in some of the most significant, high profile and high value cases before Australian courts in recent years. 

Matt led the prosecution of a product liability class action against Toyota Motor Corporation Australia to trial on behalf of more than 260,000 consumers, obtaining only the second aggregate damages award in Australian history in a judgment valued at more than $2 billion.  Matt has led the defence of this judgment through the appellate stages to the High Court of Australia, from which judgment is currently pending.  Matt is also currently jointly acting for more than 50,000 consumers who acquired allegedly defective Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and regularly advises litigation funders around the world in respect of their investments.  Matt’s experience acting for plaintiffs, defendants and funders gives him unique insights into what motivates and drives the decisions of participants across class action markets.

Matt also represents companies and individuals in sensitive and significant regulatory investigations and enforcement actions brought by the ACCC, ASIC or AUSTRAC.  Matt previously acted for JPMorgan in connection with a high-profile criminal cartel prosecution of several major investment banks and their executives in connection with a failed capital raising, Google Inc in successfully defending globally significant proceedings commenced by the ACCC which culminated in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia, and Palram Industries in defending civil penalty proceedings commenced by the ACCC alleging cartel conduct.  Matt has acted for individuals facing regulatory investigations or compulsory examinations and has also successfully negotiated exemptions from the requirements of the AML/CTF Act with AUSTRAC on behalf of a number of companies.  Matt has also conducted sensitive internal investigations on behalf of companies in a range of industries.  Matt is noted for his regulatory practice by Best Lawyers.

Matt also regularly acts for and advises companies and individuals in relation to strategically significant and high value commercial disputes, including in the infrastructure, mining, media and technology sectors.  Matt has previously acted for companies including EuroGarages Australia, MYOB, AGL, Anglo American, Alinta Energy and BlueScope, and for the Administrators appointed to the RiverCity Motorway and BrisConnections groups of companies.  Matt has also acted for and advised a range of private equity sponsors, including KKR, Quadrant, Adamantem, TPG Capital, CPE Capital and Pacific Equity Partners, in relation to issues and disputes involving their portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Quinn Emanuel, Matt was a partner of national Australian firm Gilbert + Tobin. 

Clients appreciate Matt’s dedication and determination to protect and advance their interests, his direct and pragmatic advice, and the forensic and strategic approach he brings to their matters.