Mid-Entry Associate - Competition at Baker McKenzie

Responsibilities:

• Advising clients on a wide range of matters, with a particular focus on merger control work and the opportunity to be involved in compliance and market investigations work. Associates work in a collegiate environment, for a range of partners, and can expect a good variety of work.
• Developing relationships with clients including gaining a good knowledge of the client’s businesses, economic drivers, market and sector requirements in order to ensure advice is relevant and commercial.
• Associates are given regular and direct contact with clients, with a culture based on associates being given the level of responsibility they are ready for, rather than a PQE based method of work allocation.
• Engaging in business development activities and being active in the promotion of the firm and seeking opportunities for new work.
• Working as part of a team including assisting with the supervision of junior lawyers’ work, and taking an active part in sharing knowledge and experience with the team.
• There are regular opportunities for secondments with clients. Posting to other offices under the firm's associate transfer programme is also a possibility.

Job Holder Requirements

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate all or the majority of the following:

• A qualified lawyer with excellent academics credentials
• Experience in the Competition department of a leading South African firm
• First rate technical skills needed to support the client work of the department
• Commerciality and demonstrable business development experience
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills
• Initiative and proactivity
• Maturity and gravitas
• Strong service orientation - a "client first" culture
• Ability to develop strong relationships with clients and to take responsibility for this relationship
• High work standards
• Flexible work practices
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to adapt style as required
• Ability to work well in both a team and individually
• A keenness to learn