Senior Associate, Competition Disputes in London

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals. Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you, particularly in energy, infrastructure and resources. We’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world. All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

The Opportunity

• Main areas covered: competition litigation, general competition (antitrust), cartels and other behavioural investigations, merger control, regulatory matters, state aid, public procurement, EU, WTO and international trade.
• Sector expertise includes: energy and natural resources, financial institutions, consumer goods, infrastructure, transport, manufacturing and industrials, retail, telecoms, media and technology.

The Team

Our Competition, Regulation and Trade group is consistently rated as one of the leading practices in its field, with a team of lawyers based in Europe (London, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Madrid and Paris), Asia and across Australia. Amongst our clients are leading financial institutions, top Fortune and FTSE companies from all industry sectors, regulatory bodies and national governments.

Our team covers the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious competition, regulation and trade work globally, including:

• Competition litigation (private enforcement and appeals) including both follow-on and standalone claims and multiple collective actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
• Cartel and other behavioural investigations.
• Merger control.
• Antitrust advice.
• Regulatory matters.
• State aid, public procurement, WTO and trade.

The Role

This role will have a predominant focus on contentious matters, in particular private enforcement and other competition disputes. We have a market-leading competition litigation practice integrated within the Competition, Regulation and Trade group. We have particular expertise in defending follow-on, hybrid and stand-alone claims across multiple jurisdictions and in collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

This includes acting on many of the most complex recent and ongoing cases in the UK, as well as providing expert strategic advice on private enforcement risks and the relationship with the public enforcement process.

The role would involve – in addition to other matters – assisting in the defence of damages actions in the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal, and managing the response to multi-jurisdictional claims.

Recent Matters include:

• Meta in connection with a proposed collective action in the CAT alleging an abuse of a dominant position based on allegations of unfair terms and unfair pricing in respect of the Facebook social media platform.
• Google in connection with claims in the CAT and across Europe seeking damages against Google for abuse of dominance on grounds similar to those raised by the European Commission in the Google Search (Shopping) and the Google Search (AdSense) decisions.
• Google in connection with a collective action on behalf of an online publisher class alleging that Google has abused a dominant position in ad tech tools.
• Amazon in connection with two CPO applications alleging abuse of a dominant position in respect of the Buy Box.
• Iveco and Fiat Chrysler as European coordinating competition litigation counsel in relation to follow-on damages claims stemming from the European Commission's settlement decision in Trucks.
• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group in connection with litigation stemming from the European Commission's infringement findings in relation to foreign exchange trading.
• Severn Trent in relation to an application for a CPO alleging an abuse of a dominant position in respect of alleged misreporting of sewage discharges.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage work to support optimal utilisation; acting as lead lawyer, proactively managing and progressing matters with partner oversight where appropriate; manage a team, including delegating and providing feedback to juniors and communicating progress on tasks to supervisor and team members; consulting and offering solutions on difficult technical client issues; and manage the billing process as appropriate.
• Manage, develop and strengthen client relationships through anticipating client needs and expectations; and provide prompt responses and updates on progress.
• Support the firm and others - establish effective relationships with individuals and groups, across the global network; uphold the firm’s values; contribute to the firm’s initiatives (e.g. corporate social responsibility and diversity and inclusion activities); mentor and support juniors; raise profile by being involved with external bodies and supporting and attending marketing/industry events; and assist with internal training and preparation of legal precedents.
• Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation and contribute to billing, engagement and client acceptance processes.

Qualifications, skills and experience

We would expect the successful candidate to have had between six and eight years of post-qualified experience in this area but are willing to consider those with less or more experience providing they meet the required competencies. Academic excellence is essential for all positions within Herbert Smith Freehills. We would always expect a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) and solicitors' examinations to have been passed first time. All applications should include full academic details including grades, subjects and transcripts where appropriate.

Hands-on competition experience is essential, including of competition disputes in the High Court and/or the Competition Appeal Tribunal (experience of collective actions in the CAT is particularly welcome). Candidates will need to be bright self-starters looking for a challenge. All candidates will be expected to display excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with individuals at all levels. All candidates must be willing to supervise and develop Junior Associates and Trainees within the group.

Competencies include:

• Personal leadership: Takes initiative and ownership, embraces challenge and brings energy and drive to their work.
• Technical capability: Seeks opportunities to grow and develop to deliver value for our clients.
• Collaborates with others: Works as a team player, learns from and supports others.
• Plans and delivers outcomes: Operates as an effective legal project manager.
• Enhances the client experience: Builds relationships and innovates for the firm’s future.
• Contributes to building the firm: Builds relationships and innovates for the firm’s future.

Working Pattern: Full time

Location: London

Contract type: Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion: We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.