Junior Antitrust/Competition Associate

Job Overview:
A prominent law firm is seeking junior-level associates with 1 to 4 years of experience to join its Antitrust & Competition practice. This position involves working on high-stakes merger reviews, investigations, and litigations, often in direct engagement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and state attorneys general. The ideal candidate will have experience with second request investigations, merger litigation, or prior government agency work, and be interested in building a career handling complex and often fast-moving antitrust matters.

Location:

• Palo Alto, CA

Duties:

• Support antitrust counsel on merger investigations, enforcement actions, and related litigation

• Assist with second request responses and regulatory strategy in M&A transactions

• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda, pleadings, and agency submissions

• Interact with clients, regulators, and internal teams on investigatory and compliance matters

• Analyze antitrust risks and advise on premerger notification and clearance strategy

• Participate in litigation against federal agencies or state attorneys general, when applicable

Requirements:

• 1 to 4 years of relevant antitrust or competition law experience

• Exposure to second request investigations and/or merger litigation strongly preferred

• Experience working at or with the FTC or DOJ Antitrust Division is advantageous

• Strong interest in working on complex transactional and enforcement matters

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

• Excellent academic credentials required

Certifications:

• Admission to the bar in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

Skills:

• Strong legal research and writing skills

• Analytical thinking and ability to manage multiple deadlines

• Effective communication and client-service orientation

• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in high-pressure environments

Benefits:

• Competitive salary structure aligned with role, experience, and internal benchmarks

• Comprehensive benefits package provided to attorneys and staff

The Northern California law office opened nine years ago. Fifteen very skilled attorneys comprise their law office. There are two core practice disciplines. Areas of concentration are intellectual property and private equity. Both practices areas have received top honors from well-known legal periodicals.