Managing Associate (Non-Contentious/Contentious) - Group Actions and Competition

What we will offer

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when we experience physical or mental difficulties.

Team Structure

We are currently seeking an enterprising Managing Associate with extensive UK and EU competition law experience to join our Competition team, who enjoys leading on cases and driving forward business development ideas. The ideal candidate shall have a mix of both non-contentious and contentious competition law experience.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the areas set out below:

• Merger control and foreign direct investment rules (especially the National Security and Investment Act);
• Cartel and abuse of dominance investigations;
• Dawn raids and competition law compliance;
• Providing pre-action advice and support to clients in relation to potential competition law claims;
• Preferably some experience of the new opt-out regime in the Competition Appeal Tribunal;
• Preferably some experience in funded claims, be it bringing them or defending them;
• Market studies and investigations;
• State aid and subsidy control, including the EU Foreign Subsidy Regulation (ideally but not a requirement).

Furthermore, the perfect candidate will be interested in or have worked in CMA consumer protection cases. We see consumer protection as an area of great expansion in the competition world and are looking for an ambitious associate to help us grow this area of the practice.

Main Responsibilities

• Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation and drafting of competition documentation
• Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
• Assisting in the preparation of legal articles
• Liaising with clients under the supervision of a partner
• Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
• Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within Stephenson Harwood
• Attending business development and profile-raising events (client seminars, graduate recruitment activities)

Attributes/Skills Required

• The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the areas set out below:
• Merger control and foreign direct investment rules (especially the National Security and Investment Act);
• Cartel and abuse of dominance investigations;
• Dawn raids and competition law compliance;
• Competition litigation including abuse of dominance and cartel claims;
• Group actions more generally - including preferably opt-outs;
• Some High Court competition/commercial litigation experience would be helpful;
• Pre-action analysis of disputes and support for clients;
• Market studies and investigations;
• State aid and subsidy control, including the EU Foreign Subsidy Regulation (ideally but not a requirement).

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About the Firm

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our values:

Individuality- We encourage creativity and develop talent

Commitment- To be the best and deliver the highest standard

Teamwork- We work together to build close, long-term relationships

Straight talking- We say what we mean and do what we say

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.

This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: energy transition; life sciences and healthcare; private capital and funds; technology; transportation and trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.