Ashurst's Competition team

About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with a history spanning almost 200 years, and clear strategy for our future growth. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing exceptional standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit here.

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.

Team overview:

Ashurst is a leading international law firm providing advice to organisations across the world on some of the most interesting, topical and high-profile cases around.   The firm's Competition Department is widely recognised as a long established and award winning practice and is seeking an exceptional economist to assist on a wide range of competition, litigation, regulation and policy matters. Candidates should have strong academic credentials and an interest in applying economic analysis to a variety of projects across multiple sectors.

The Department is unique amongst city law firms in having a small team of first class industrial economists, which allows Ashurst to offer integrated legal and economic advice in a field where such a multi-disciplinary approach has become essential. The team advises on a wide range of matters including mergers; market investigations and market studies; industry regulation; cartel and abuse of dominance investigations; as well as the calculation of damages in competition litigation cases. The team has advised on many leading cases across a wide range of industries, each raising its own unique economic issues.

Recent cases the team have worked on include advising:

• Morrisons in relation to the merger of Sainsbury's and Asda.
• Arla in relation to its acquisition of Yeo Valley Dairies.
• Lloyds Banking Group on the CMA's retail banking market investigation.
• Virgin Media in relation to the successful appeal of an Ofcom decision.
• A claimant in relation to a follow-on claim for damages in the EU trucks case.

Job overview:

In this role, you would enhance your skills by applying economic theories and empirical techniques across a range of sectors. The combination of law, economics, innovative thinking and practical knowledge of how markets work has proved decisive in many cases. You should have strong numerical skills, and have first rate written and communication skills so as to provide clear and concise advice that is accessible for non-economists. You should also have the ability to develop client relationships and contribute to the competition department's goals.

There will be opportunities to develop by applying economic techniques to real world cases, and you will gain first-hand experience by working alongside an exceptional team of competition lawyers and economists. You will also have the opportunity to engage with senior business executives as well as the competition authorities and regulators. We will support your progress through team working, exposure to clients and training when you need it.

Ashurst has offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, as well as in the USA, which means that our knowledge-sharing extends beyond any particular office, and London-based economists have the opportunity to become involved in projects led by other offices.

Responsibilities include;

• Carrying out quantitative economic analysis in relation to merger, antitrust, market investigation, regulation and competition litigation cases.
• Providing support in preparing and drafting written submissions to UK, EU and potentially other global competition authorities and sector regulators.
• Providing support in preparing regulatory risk assessments for clients (e.g. in relation to potential mergers and abuse of dominance queries).
• Contributing to the group's marketing and Business Development initiatives, and to the internal training programme on topical issues in competition law/economics.
• Opportunity to publish articles on topical issues in competition law/economics in leading academic and professional journals, and to be involved in pro bono projects.

Essential skills and experience:

• Excellent academic record. Degree in economics (minimum 2:1). A masters degree with experience of industrial and competition economics would be an advantage.
• Experience of data analysis with a good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and STATA.
• The ability to draft and present complex economic concepts and arguments in a clear and concise manner.
• Experience in competition and/or regulatory economics gained either in consultancy, industry, government or in a regulatory agency would be an advantage.

Salary:  Competitive