Graduate Competition Economist

Ashurst
London - United Kingdom
S: Competitive

Description

Ashurst is a major international law firm, advising financial institutions, corporates and governments. Our core business areas are finance, corporate, energy, resources and infrastructure. We currently have 28 offices in 16 countries, as well as an associated office in Jakarta and a best-friend referral relationship with an Indian law firm. With over 420 partners and 1,700 lawyers in total, we offer the international insight of a global network combined with local market knowledge. We provide consistently high quality, commercially relevant legal advice worldwide, and build teams that are specific to our clients' needs, combining specialist legal skills, industry experience and regional know-how.

The role of economists at Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading international law firm providing advice of the highest quality 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 industrial economist to assist on a wide range of competition, litigation and policy matters. Candidates will be recent economic graduates or post-graduates.

The Department has a team of five first class industrial economists from a variety of backgrounds allowing Ashurst to offer integrated legal and economic advice in a field where such a multi-disciplinary approach has become essential. The team advises on mergers, market investigations and market studies, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, as well as competition litigation cases. The team has advised on many leading cases across a wide range of industries, each raising its own unique economic issues.

In this role, you would enhance your skills by applying economic theories and empirical techniques in a professional setting across a range of sectors. The combination of economics, innovative thinking and practical knowledge of how markets work has proved decisive in many cases as it allows concerns raised by regulators to be assessed against the available data using cutting edge empirical tools of analysis as and where appropriate. Although the analysis may sometimes be complex, our advice must always be clear, concise and accessible so you must also show the potential to become a first-rate communicator.

You will work alongside the other economists and lawyers in the group consistent with our collaborative approach. There will be opportunities to develop by applying cutting edge techniques from industrial economics and econometrics to real world cases, to engage with senior executives and competition authorities, and to publish articles in leading professional and academic journals. We will support your progress through team working, exposure to clients and training when you need it, allowing your career to develop quickly.

Ashurst has offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, as well as New York and Washington, 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. The Competition Department has also been awarded the prestigious title of Competition Team Of The Year three times in the last five years at the Legal Business Awards.

Location:

Based in Ashurst's London offices. Some international travel to our overseas offices may be required.
Hours:
Monday to Friday, 09:30 - 17:30.

Main tasks:

· Carrying out market analysis using advanced economic and quantitative techniques, and communicating the results in a clear and concise manner
· Assisting in the preparation and drafting of submissions, responses to information requests and other filings in relation to merger, antitrust, and market investigation cases to UK, EC and potentially other global competition authorities including preparing stand-alone economic reports as required
· Undertaking general research of markets using available resources – e.g. internet, market reports, information provided by clients, etc.
· Contributing to the policy debate on key economic issues, for example by drafting responses to consultation papers published by competition/regulatory authorities and government
· Contributing to Ashurst training programmes including in-house training to lawyers and the other economists in the group on topical issues in competition and regulatory economics
· Opportunity to publish articles on topical issues in competition law/economics in leading academic and professional journals
Essential skills and experience:
· Excellent academic record. Degree in economics or related subject (minimum 2:1). A masters degree with experience of industrial and competition economics would be an advantage
· A keen interest in industrial economics
· The ability to draft and present complex economic concepts in a clear concise manner
· Experience of data analysis with excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel
· Knowledge of additional statistical/econometric programmes (such as STATA) would be an advantage, although not essential
· Must be an energetic and motivated individual who is keen to get involved and work as part of a team

Benefits:
· Competitive starting salary (plus potential for a bonus) with excellent progression opportunities
· Excellent learning and development opportunities including an extensive training programme which includes both in-house and externally delivered training as well as on-the-job training from senior economists and lawyers in the team
· Access to a firm-wide mentoring programme which provides additional support and guidance on career development
· Opportunities to use your skills and expertise to further the causes that you value by undertaking pro bono work

Job summary