Ruth Higgins SC

Practice Areas

Ruth Higgins SC is a leading commercial silk practising nationally in competition law, constitutional law, class actions, energy, media, corporate criminal, and corporations law.

She is President of the NSW Bar Association, a member of the Takeovers Panel, and a director of the Australian Bar Association.

She has been included in Best Lawyers Australia since it commenced in 2008, and in Chambers Global since 2011. Ruth was described in the 2024 edition as ‘very much top-league at this moment. ’ She is listed in Doyle’s Guide as the market leader silk in competition law, as preeminent in commercial litigation and leading in class actions, white collar crime and insolvency law.

Appellate work: Ruth’s recent appeal appearances include: NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (2023) 97 ALJR 1005; Karpik v Carnival plc (2023) 415 ALR 491; Redland City Council v Kozik (2024) 98 ALJR 544; J Hutchinson Pty Ltd v ACCC (2024) 302 FCR 79; Augusta Pool 1 Uk Ltd v Williamson (2023) 111 NSWLR 378; DXC Eclipse Pty Ltd v Wildsmith (2023) 324 IR 89; Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Integrated Trolley Management Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 302.

Competition law: Ruth has acted successfully for ANZ, TPG, Pacific National and AGL in contested merger proceedings against the ACCC, and advised and acted in the Payments Amalgamation authorisation. In contested Part IV proceedings, she has acted for NSW Ports, Epic, Apple, Cement Australia, the Australian Jockey Club, and many others. For the ACCC and the Commonwealth, she successfully acted in the High Court in Flight Centre and the CMFEU case concerning agreed civil penalties. Ruth appeared in the first two modern criminal cartel prosecutions and regularly appears in such matters.

Consumer and regulatory matters: Ruth has acted for parties including Google, Fitbit, Telstra, Qantas, Woolworths, Westpac and the ACCC, ASIC, OAIC and APRA. Ruth’s wider regulatory experience includes advising CBA and acting for Tabcorp and Westpac in respect of allegations under the AML/CTF Act, and acting for banks and other institutions defending proceedings flowing from the Financial Services Royal Commission.

Class actions: Ruth has acted for various defendants in major class actions, including AGL, EML, KPMG, Woolworths, Westpac, and for multiple car companies including Nissan, VW, Audi, Skoda, Mitsubishi, Kia, and Hyundai.

Energy law: Ruth acts across various courts and in private arbitrations, for clients including AGL, Jemena, Hornsdale, ActewAGL, BP, Origin, Epic Energy, Energy Australia, South Australia Power Networks, and Hydro Tasmania. She also acts for the AER. Ruth accepts appointments as an expert in energy disputes, and has chaired an expert panel under the National Gas Rules.

Corporate crime: Ruth acts in insider trading and bribery of foreign public officials proceedings and related areas.

Corporations law: Ruth acted for the Administrators of Virgin Australia, and advises and acts for the Commonwealth, including the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation and the Attorney-General (FEG), in such matters. She has extensive experience in schemes of arrangement, including acting in the Boart Longyear proceedings.

Public inquiries and commissions: Ruth was Senior Counsel for Woolworths in the ACCC Retail Inquiry, the CBA in the Banking Royal Commission, CPH in the IGLA’s inquiry into the Crown Casino, as counsel assisting the ACCC East Coast Gas Enquiry; and has acted in private and public hearings of the ICAC.

Ruth is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, an Assistant General Editor of the Australian Law Journal, and a Fellow of ACICA and on its panel of Arbitrators.

Ruth is the author of various books, including The Moral Limits of Law (OUP, 2004), three collections of essays co-edited with Justin Gleeson SC, and a forthcoming monograph, Law’s Candour (all through Federation Press). She is the contributing editor to Trade Practices Law (Thomson Reuters).

Ruth won the Glasgow University medal in law. She then completed a doctorate in legal philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford University, lectured at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was a visiting Scholar at Columbia University. She has recently been elected a Visiting Fellow at each of New College and Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.

Professional Memberships

President, NSW Bar Association Council

Director, Law Council of Australia

Chair, NSW Bar Professional Conduct Committee

Co-Chair, Climate Change Panel of the NSW Bar Association.

Fellow, Australian Academy of Law

Assistant General Editor, Australian Law Journal

Publications

Ruth is the author of various books, including The Moral Limits of Law (OUP, 2004), three collections of essays co-edited with Justin Gleeson SC, and a forthcoming monograph, Law's Candour (all through Federation Press). She is the contributing editor to Trade Practices Law (Thomson Reuters).