Law firm Gilbert + Tobin Senior Partner Gina Cass-Gottlieb will start her five-year term as Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chair on March 21.

The Morrison Government last month named her as successor to Rod Sims, who is stepping down after more than 11 years leading the competition watchdog.

Ms Cass-Gottlieb, who founded the law firm’s competition and regulation group in the early 1990s, will be the first woman to take on the ACCC chair role.

“During her distinguished career in legal practice, she has advised on some of the largest and most complex competition matters in Australia and New Zealand,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

“[She] has also held roles with the Reserve Bank of Australia Payment Systems Board and the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority.

“The Morrison Government looks forward to working with Ms Cass-Gottlieb and thanks [Mr Sims] for his dedication and leadership over more than 10 years as Chairman of the ACCC.”

Gilbert + Tobin says Ms Cass-Gottlieb is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading advisers in financial services regulation and representing financial institutions and their industry associations before the ACCC and other regulators.

“This appointment is an enormous tribute to both [her] and to [Gilbert + Tobin],” Managing Partner Danny Gilbert said.

“As the first woman to lead a major regulatory body such as the ACCC, her appointment confirms Josh Frydenberg’s commitment to diversity and the empowerment of women in the economic leadership of Australia.”