Competition lawyers (also known as 'antitrust' - primarily in the US) advise businesses and other organisations on the laws and regulations designed to maintain fair competition in the marketplace.
Their work ensures companies comply with rules aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices like monopolies, price-fixing, and market manipulation. They also help clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes in mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions.
Competition lawyers at large law firms often work closely with their colleagues in the corporate department on M&A deals. They assess whether the deal might harm competition and prepare submissions to competition authorities, like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the European Commission.
Typical tasks for competition lawyers include assessing whether transactions or agreements comply with relevant competition law, preparing merger notifications and filings for competition authorities, and engaging with relevant competition authorities during merger reviews or investigations.
Competition lawyers at the leading London law firms can expect to earn between £120,000 - £150,000 at the junior end of the associate scale (up to 2/3 years’ PQE).
Mid and senior-level associates can expect to earn north of £200,000.
We have a list of salaries paid by all of the UK’s top law firms here.
The leading competition law firms are dominated by the Magic Circle.
Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May are considered to have the leading practices in London.
Other highly-regarded competition practices include Herbert Smith Freehills, Ashurst, and Cleary Gottleib.
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