Competition Litigation Associate

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

Job summary

Buchanan is seeking a junior to mid-level Associate for its London Competition Litigation practice. The role offers exposure to high-value disputes, across defences and regulatory matters, with opportunities to work on complex follow-on damages and collective actions.

The ideal candidate has 1–4 PQE in competition law, strong drafting and research skills, and a track record from a leading firm or comparable environment.

Qualifications

• 1–4 PQE in competition law or related disputes.
• Experience in competition litigation would be valuable.

Responsibilities

• Work on follow-on damages claims and collective actions.
• Support litigation before the Competition Appeal Tribunal and other courts.
• Advise on cartel-related disputes and investigations with contentious elements.
• Assist with regulatory enforcement matters and competition-related commercial litigation.
• Conduct detailed legal and factual research.
• Draft submissions, witness materials and case documents.
• Coordinate with clients, counsel, economic experts and international teams.
• Manage defined aspects of complex matters with increasing responsibility.

Skills

Competition law

Drafting

Legal research

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Job description

Overview

A leading international law firm is seeking a junior to mid-level Associate for its growing London Competition Litigation practice.

The team has expanded considerably over the past 18 months and continues to experience strong demand across contentious competition and regulatory matters. This is an opportunity to specialise in Competition Litigation while working on complex, high-value disputes for an impressive institutional client base.

What You'll Do

• Work on major follow-on damages claims and collective proceedings.
• Support litigation before the Competition Appeal Tribunal and other courts.
• Advise on cartel-related disputes and competition investigations with contentious elements.
• Assist with regulatory enforcement matters and competition-related commercial litigation.
• Conduct detailed legal and factual research.
• Draft submissions, correspondence, witness materials and other case documents.
• Coordinate with clients, counsel, economic experts and international teams.
• Manage defined aspects of complex matters with increasing responsibility.

About You

• Approximately 1-4PQE.
• Genuine Competition Litigation experience and strong competition law knowledge.
• Experience gained within a leading international, US or top-tier UK firm.
• Exposure to CAT proceedings, collective actions or follow-on damages claims would be particularly valuable.
• Strong drafting, research and analytical skills.
• Effective matter-management and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Comfortable working collaboratively on large, fast-moving disputes.

Applications may also be considered from competition lawyers with meaningful contentious experience or broader disputes associates for whom competition work is a substantive part of their practice.

Claimant-side candidates are welcome where they can demonstrate broad competition law expertise, transferable litigation skills and experience extending beyond exclusively claimant-focused collective proceedings.

Why Apply?

• Join a highly regarded and expanding Competition Litigation practice.
• Work on sophisticated defendant-side and contentious antitrust matters.
• Develop a specialist practice at an early stage of your career.
• Gain exposure to complex litigation, regulatory enforcement and economic evidence.
• Work with leading practitioners and sophisticated institutional clients.
• Benefit from competitive salary progression, benchmarked at £145,000 for NQs and approximately £165,000 at 2PQE.
• Complete a focused interview process, typically involving two stages, with a possible third meeting where appropriate.