Competition Litigation Associate

Buchanan; Greater London; On-site; GBP 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Buchanan is seeking a junior to mid-level competition litigation associate in London to join a leading defence-side team handling high-stakes CAT and damages litigation.

You'll work on collective proceedings, follow-on damages and cartel-related disputes for major corporate defendants, with strong drafting, research and analytical responsibilities, under the supervision of top partners. PQE around 1–4 years and defendant-side experience valued.

Qualifications

• 1–4 years’ PQE in competition litigation.
• Genuine competition litigation experience with strong knowledge of substantive law.
• Background from a top UK, Magic Circle or US/US-like firm.

Responsibilities

• Defend collective proceedings under the CPO regime and follow-on damages claims.
• Advise on cartel-related disputes with complex economic and evidential considerations.
• Navigate regulatory investigations where enforcement and litigation risk overlap.

Skills

Drafting

Research

Analytical skills

Defendant-side experience

Competition litigation experience

Job description

Competition litigation is one of the fastest-moving and most intellectually demanding areas of practice in London. Collective actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal are multiplying, follow-on damages claims are getting bigger, and regulators are taking a tougher line. At the centre of it all are a handful of elite defence-side teams trusted by the world’s largest companies when billions are at stake.

My client runs one of those teams. It is a leading international law firm with a disputes practice of global standing and a London competition litigation group widely regarded as among the very best in the market. The firm’s competition practice is ranked among the global elite, and its partners are recognised by the leading directories as top practitioners in the field.

The team has grown significantly over the last 18 months, adding lawyers across both contentious and non-contentious competition. Even so, demand hasn’t eased. The workload remains heavy, and the partners are now looking to bring in another junior to mid-level competition litigation associate.

The work: complex, high-stakes and at the cutting edge

You’ll be working on some of the most significant competition disputes before the CAT and the courts, typically acting for major corporate defendants across sectors such as technology, transport and financial services. The work includes:

• Collective proceedings: defending multi-billion-pound opt-out claims under the CPO regime, an area where law and procedure are still being written.
• Follow-on damages claims: large-scale, often multi-jurisdictional actions arising from cartel and abuse of dominance decisions.
• Cartel-related disputes: complex litigation that draws on economics, evidence and strategy in equal measure.
• Competition investigations with contentious elements: guiding clients through regulatory scrutiny where enforcement and litigation risk overlap.
• Regulatory enforcement: working at the interface between competition authorities, economic regulators and the businesses they oversee.
• Competition-related commercial litigation: cases where competition law arguments are central to wider commercial disputes.

Because the team sits within a firm known for its disputes practice, you’ll have access to deep litigation expertise, in-house advocacy capability and a collaborative network of specialists across the wider competition, regulation and trade group.

Specialise early and build a career in a growth market

This role offers a genuine chance to specialise in competition litigation early in your career. It is one of the most in-demand skill sets in the London market, and that demand is set to keep growing. You’ll take real responsibility on substantial matters, work directly with highly regarded partners, and develop expertise that will set you apart.

• PQE: you have around 1-4 years' PQE.
• Competition expertise: you have genuine competition litigation experience, backed by strong knowledge of substantive competition law. Depth matters here, so candidates who have only touched on a competition matter are unlikely to have the grounding the team needs.
• Background: you come from a strong Magic Circle, US or top UK firm.
• Experience, in order of preference: A dedicated competition litigation associate.
• A competition associate with meaningful contentious experience.
• A broader litigator with substantial competition exposure.
• Skills: you have strong drafting, research and analytical skills, and can manage matters and stakeholders well on complex, fast-moving cases.
• Defendant-side experience: this is particularly valued. Claimant-side lawyers are welcome to apply where they bring broad competition law knowledge and experience beyond pure collective claimant work.

Salaries are highly competitive and progress strongly at junior levels:

• £145,000 at NQ
• £165,000 at 2 PQE

Why this role?

• You’d join one of London’s leading defence-side competition litigation practices.
• You’d work on high-value, headline-making CAT and damages litigation.
• The hire is driven by real workload and growth, not just replacement.
• You’d have the chance to specialise early in a booming area of law.
• The firm offers an outstanding platform and client base, with strong salary progression.