The UK competition law market is moving fast and the hiring market is moving with it. With antitrust enforcement picking up, the CMA taking a closer look at labour markets and businesses operating under continued economic and trade pressure, the profile of the “ideal” competition lawyer is changing.

From a recruitment point of view, this is no longer just about hiring strong cartel or merger specialists. Firms and in-house teams are increasingly looking for lawyers who can sit comfortably between regulation, economics and real-world commercial decision-making.

Here’s what we’re seeing on the ground, and what it means for competition law recruitment in the UK.

Economic Pressure Is Driving New Hiring Needs

Trade-related issues such as tariffs, sanctions, subsidies, and supply chain disruptions don’t always fall neatly within competition law, but they are increasingly shaping the behaviour that creates antitrust risk. Ongoing global uncertainty, post-Brexit changes, and rising costs are pushing businesses to rethink how they set prices, where they source from, and how they work with competitors and suppliers.

From a hiring perspective, this has pushed demand towards competition lawyers who understand how economic pressure plays out in practice.When markets are under pressure, the risks around price coordination, information sharing, joint purchasing, and even hiring practices increase and regulators are watching closely.

It’s not tariffs alone that matter. What really matters is how businesses respond when the pressure is on and firms want lawyers who can help manage that risk early.

Enforcement Is Expanding

Traditional competition work, cartels, mergers and abuse of dominance, remains core. But enforcement is clearly widening and recruitment priorities are widening with it.

Labour market issues like no-poach agreements, wage-fixing, and sharing sensitive HR information are now firmly on the CMA’s radar, in line with trends in the EU and US. At the same time, regulators are pursuing more complex cases involving pricingbehaviour, economic evidence, and detailed market analysis.

As a result, firms are increasingly looking for lawyers who can work across jurisdictions, collaborate closely with economists and advise on compliance in newer or less settled risk areas.

What We’re Seeing in the Recruitment Market

Broader Candidate Profiles

Across both private practice and in-house, the most in-demand candidates tend to offer:

● UK competition experience plus EU and/or US exposure

● Strong commercial awareness, particularly around pricing and market dynamics

● Experience with, or a genuine interest in, labour market antitrust issues

● Comfort engaging with economic and data-driven analysis

Pure technical strength still matters, but on its own, it’s no longer enough.

Expansion of Specialist Teams

We’re also seeing continued growth in specialist competition boutiques and focused teams within larger firms. Many of these teams are blending competition law with areas such as trade, subsidy control, consumer regulation, and regulatory litigation.

For candidates, this has created attractive opportunities to work on complex, high-value matters without moving into broader corporate roles.

Economic Cycles Are Sustaining Demand

Historically, competition enforcement increases during periods of economic stress and the current market is no exception. Disruption and cost pressures lead to more investigations, disputes, and compliance work, which in turn supports steady hiring across PQE levels.

How Candidates Can Position Themselves

For lawyers considering a move in the UK competition market, a few things consistently stand out:

●Cross-border experience (UK with EU and/or US exposure)

●A practical understanding of pricing behaviour and market dynamics

●Experience or interest in labour market antitrust and HR compliance

●Flexibility across advisory, compliance and contentious work

Lawyers who can pair strong technical skills with commercial judgement are consistently the most competitive in today’s market.

Recruiter takeaway: Firms are increasingly hiring competition lawyers for their breadth, judgement, and commercial awareness,not just their technical competition expertise.

Our Team