Senior/Principal Associate - Competition Law

This role can be based in any of our seven Mills & Reeve offices. 

What does the role involve?

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior competition solicitor to work in our new national competition practice.  You will be working within a growing team that has been launched to support the firm’s national and international corporate client base with their acquisitive and organic growth strategies. You will provide a broad range of UK and EU competition law advice to clients across several sectors, including life sciences; food and agriculture; technology; health; and mid-market. The work is wide ranging and will be a combination of merger control and advisory / behavioural competition law advice.

This new opportunity will suit an ambitious Solicitor who has experience in advising on high profile, complex projects and is keen to take a leading role in building and growing a new practice area.

The role could be based in any of Mills & Reeve’s offices.

What experience is required?

Applications are welcomed from competition lawyers from 4 years PQE upwards.

You will have a good background in transactional and advisory work and be able to demonstrate that you can work as part of a team on transactions and/or large projects, as well as being comfortable with running matters as the day-to-day fee earner. You will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of, and an interest in, helping to grow a team and a practice, as well as experience in developing client relationships.

The role will provide plenty of opportunity for your career to grow and develop, supported by an ambitious and progressive law firm.

What skills and attributes would I need?

• Good academics
• Technically strong
• Experience of running matters as the day-to-day fee earner
• Evidence of understanding what is needed to help grow and develop a practice area
• Evidence of developing client relationships
• Willingness to initiate and participate in marketing and business development activities
• Excellent drafting and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and team skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation and prioritisation - keenness to support colleagues and work as part of a supportive team
• Able to cope with the demands that tight timescales can bring and thrives in a busy and dynamic environment

Who will I be working with?

You will work alongside Partner,  Kate Newman.  Kate is recognised as a leading competition law practitioner and heads up the competition practice.  You will be part of a busy corporate and commercial team that operates across one national service line (“NSL”) and across our seven offices and internationally with our global network of best-friend firms, led by  Kevin Lowe (NSL head).  You will also work with several sector leads, including  James Fry (life sciences),  Craig Hodgson (food and agriculture),  Doug McDonald (technology),  Jill Mason (health) and  Jayne Hussey (mid-market). The NSL is supported by professional support lawyers.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check and security clearance

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (to check for any previous criminal convictions and cautions) and, given the nature of the work-type, you may also be required to undergo national security vetting to SC level – the latter can be undertaken following commencement of employment.

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment in which all our people can thrive. We hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our firm stronger, and we have a collaborative culture that celebrates different perspectives and values respect for one another, working together, and openness and integrity. Our approach to flexible working means that we work in a way that achieves the right balance for our people, our clients and for our business.