Competition Litigation Associate

William James Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension contribution

Learning & development

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

William James Recruitment is seeking a Competition Litigation Associate in London with 3–6 years’ PQE to join a leading international disputes practice. The role focuses on complex competition matters, including damages actions, regulatory investigations, and cross-border work with economists and senior counsel.

The successful candidate will work in integrated, multidisciplinary teams, handling disputes from early stages through trial, settlement or appeal.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years' PQE in competition litigation.
• Strong analytical and attention to detail.
• Excellent technical writing and drafting.
• Confident in communicating with clients, counsel and experts.
• Well organised with ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Advise on competition damages actions, collective proceedings and abuse of dominance claims.
• Manage day-to-day conduct of disputes: pleadings, statements and applications.
• Assist with disclosure, evidence gathering and case management in large-scale litigation.
• Support regulatory and investigatory matters where competition issues arise.
• Collaborate with economists, experts, counsel and international teams.
• Contribute to business development and client relationship management.

Skills

PQE 3–6 years

Analytical thinking

Technical writing

Client communication

Organization

Job description

Competition Litigation Associate | 3-6 PQE | London

The Firm

We are instructed by a leading international law firm to appoint a Competition Litigation Associate with approximately 3-6 years' PQE to join its highly regarded Disputes practice in London.

The firm has an established reputation for handling complex, high-value and strategically significant disputes, investigations and regulatory matters for major international clients. Its UK practice comprises a substantial team of partners and lawyers, supported by an international network that allows it to operate seamlessly across jurisdictions.

Its approach is collaborative, agile and partner-led, with lawyers working closely across jurisdictions and practice areas to understand clients' businesses and provide commercially focused solutions to complex problems.

The Team

The Competition Litigation team sits within the firm's broader Litigation & DR practice and acts for both claimants and defendants on UK and cross-border matters.

The team has particular experience in:

• Standalone and follow-on competition damages claims
• Cartel-related litigation
• Abuse of dominance disputes
• Opt-out collective proceedings
• Competition-related regulatory investigations

The practice is recognised in leading legal directories for its competition litigation work, with clients particularly valuing the team's strong case management, technical expertise and commercial approach.

The work is often highly complex and precedent-setting, requiring lawyers to work closely with economists, regulators, counsel and international colleagues. The team handles matters at the intersection of competition law, commercial litigation and sector-specific regulation.

The Role

The successful candidate will play a key role across a broad range of contentious competition matters, advising clients from the earliest stages of a dispute through to trial, settlement or appeal.

You will work as part of integrated, multi-disciplinary teams on complex litigation, often involving detailed economic evidence, extensive disclosure and sophisticated legal analysis.

Your work will include:

• Advising on competition damages actions, collective proceedings and abuse of dominance claims
• Managing the day-to-day conduct of disputes, including pleadings, witness statements, procedural applications and client advice
• Assisting with disclosure, evidence gathering and case management in large-scale litigation
• Supporting regulatory and investigatory matters where competition issues arise
• Working closely with economists, experts, counsel and international teams
• Contributing to business development, client relationship management and thought leadership

The role offers genuine responsibility and client exposure, alongside the opportunity to work on sophisticated matters involving complex legal, economic and regulatory issues.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will have experience ideally gained within a leading law firm or well-regarded disputes practice.

You will also be:

• Strong analytically, with excellent attention to detail
• An excellent technical writer and drafter
• Confident communicating with clients, counsel and experts
• Comfortable taking responsibility for matters
• Commercially minded and focused on practical solutions
• Well organised and able to manage competing priorities

Salary & Benefits

The firm offers a competitive salary upwards of £140,000 and benefits package, including:

• Performance-related bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Pension contribution
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• A range of wellbeing, social and professional development initiatives