Germany - Associate - Litigation & Trial - Antitrust & Competition

Job Locations | DE-Frankfurt | DE-Hamburg
Job ID
2026-6643
Minimum Experience
Newly Qualified
Department
Litigation & Trial
Practice Group
Antitrust & Competition

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers globally and offer unmatched expertise and resources to help you grow from an intellectually curious self-starter into an exceptional lawyer. If you aspire to be the best, this is where you belong.

About the Practice Group

Latham’s globally top-ranked Antitrust & Competition Practice helps clients navigate the world’s antitrust regimes, secure merger approvals, and avoid, resolve, or defeat challenges from litigants and enforcement bodies.

We solve the most vexing antitrust and competition challenges companies face. Our integrated team brings deep experience across every aspect of antitrust and competition law, everywhere in the world. We address all dimensions of risk locally and across borders. Our team includes practitioners and enforcers with experience shaping and enforcing antitrust laws in the major global jurisdictions, helping clients clear make-or-break mergers and defend against high-stakes enforcement and litigation actions.

Our deep bench of first-chair antitrust litigators and trial lawyers regularly defeat or resolve competition and trade-related litigation brought against corporations and governments in venues throughout the world. We defend clients facing the full spectrum of charges in private and public damages litigation, competitor actions, class actions, and administrative actions. Our team represents some of the world’s leading multinational companies, which informs our practical and commercial approach.

As one of the most experienced merger clearance practices in the world, we operate at the center of global merger and buyout activity, representing some of the largest and most active dealmakers. We secure hundreds of merger clearances every year and regularly handle Second Requests in the US and Phase II proceedings before the European Commission and EU Member State authorities. Our fearsome courtroom reputation serves as a powerful incentive for agencies and opponents to work constructively with our clients.

We regularly defend clients facing government investigations and enforcement actions, including cartel, price-fixing, abuse of dominance, and unfair competition charges. We have defeated cases brought by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the European Commission (EC) in court. Our expert rapid response to surprise “dawn raids” by antitrust authorities helps clients avoid critical pitfalls and mount an effective defense within the critical first hours and days of such actions. Whatever the jurisdiction, accusation, or government agencies involved, we bring vast local and global experience, trial know-how, and a track record of winning similar cases on behalf of our clients.

About the Role

Associate – Antitrust and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (m/f/d) – Frankfurt or Hamburg

Latham & Watkins LLP is one of the world’s leading law firms. In Germany, around 180 lawyers work across our offices in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf as one integrated team, advising German and international clients on all aspects of business law.
Our German offices are part of a global network of more than 3,500 lawyers in around 30 offices worldwide, enabling us to provide seamless, cross-disciplinary and cross-border legal advice from a single source. We value dynamic teams, close collaboration without rigid hierarchies, and creative solutions.
To strengthen our team, we are seeking Associates (m/f/d) for our Frankfurt or Hamburg office – both committed career starters and experienced colleagues who wish to further develop their careers in antitrust and foreign investment control law (FDI).
The growing importance of foreign investment control (FDI), together with its parallel application alongside merger control proceedings under antitrust law, presents clients with complex strategic challenges. Our German antitrust and foreign investment control team provides comprehensive advice on:

- Foreign investment control approval requirements worldwide
- Structuring and successfully implementing cross-border transactions
- Coordinating parallel FDI and merger control proceedings
- Developing and implementing compliance strategies
- Representing clients in proceedings before national and European authorities and courts

Your Prospects

- Early responsibility on exciting mandates in a motivating environment
- Working in cross-office and international teams
- Excellent (inter)national training and professional development platforms such as #MyAdvancement and Associate Academies in the US, as well as national training programs
- Individual mentoring program
- Opportunities to engage in our various committees and affinity groups, e.g. LGBTQ or Parent Lawyers Groups
- Participation in a wide range of networking and business development events with clients and colleagues
- Flexible working arrangements
- Excellent technical equipment, including for mobile working

Your Profile

- Outstanding analytical skills and a strong entrepreneurial mindset
- A creative and open personality
- A team player with a high degree of agility
- Two state examinations with at least a “fully satisfactory” result
- Excellent English skills

Main Contact Details

Seyda Atli
Associate Recruiting Coordinator

Direct Dial: +49.211.8828.4674

Additional Information

Investing in the well-being of our lawyers and staff is among the firm’s highest priorities. Through our “LiveWell Latham” program, we offer best-in-class benefits and comprehensive resources designed to support you and your loved ones through all life’s moments — from building a family and taking care of loved ones, to managing your health and saving for the future.

Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.

We periodically provide demographic data to legal publications, bar associations, civic and community organizations, and in some instances, to local, state, and federal government agencies as required by law or contract. So that the firm can provide this information accurately, we request that you consider self-identifying.

Options

Sorry the Share function is not working properly at this moment. Please refresh the page and try again later.