Associate, Public Procurement

About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit www.ashurst.com .

Team overview

Ashurst is highly recognised for its expertise in UK and EU Public Procurement law. We act for both procuring authorities and tenderers on many of the largest projects procured in the UK. Ashurst has long been active at the forefront of procurement law and regularly advises on the procurement of complex and high profile contracts. We are renowned for our procurement work in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors.

Ashurst has been appointed to a number of prestigious public sector frameworks, including the Crown Commercial Service's Finance & Complex Legal Services framework, the Crown Commercial Service's Rail Legal Services Framework, Transport for London's legal services panel, and Homes England's legal services panel. This means that we are regularly required to advise on Public Procurement, subsidy control and competition law matters in connection with the delivery of the most significant public sector projects.

Our procurement lawyers have in-depth experience of advising at all stages of complex procurements, as well as acting on High Court challenges.

Our procurement team are part of the wider antitrust, regulation and foreign investment practice. Ashurst's antitrust, regulation and foreign investment practice is highly sought after and have remained at the forefront of the market across the full spectrum of UK and EU competition law for many years, advising clients on a wide range of high-profile, and often ground-breaking matters before national competition authorities and the European Commission. Our team is highly experienced across the full suite of competition law issues including merger clearances; advising on and responding to investigations and prosecutions for cartel conduct, abuse of dominance, competition and consumer law issues; advising on market investigations and market studies; competition litigation; and State aid and subsidy control investigations and appeals.

Job overview

Associate in Ashurst's antitrust, regulation and foreign investment practice, based in London. The successful candidate will be expected to spend the majority of their time advising on Public Procurement and subsidy control matters. This would primarily involve strategic non-contentious advice throughout the lifecycle of projects. For example, advising central government authorities, other public sector bodies, and utilities on the structuring of complex procurement processes, including choice of tendering procedure, preparation of procurement notices, the drafting of tender documentation and compliance with obligations during the award and debriefing stages. However, there would be scope also to advise on contentious matters.

The successful candidate will be part of the antitrust, regulation and foreign investment practice. Therefore, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to advise on the full range of UK and EU competition matters, including: merger control, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, competition law appeals of infringement decisions before EU courts and domestic courts, and market investigations.

Essential skills and experience

• England & Wales qualified junior to mid-level lawyer with at least two years' experience advising on non-contentious Public Procurement law matters
• Experience advising on High Court procurement law challenges would be highly desired, but not essential
• Experience advising on UK subsidy control regime and/or EU State aid regime would be highly desired, but not essential
• An interest in developing knowledge and expertise in UK and EU competition law
• Experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal documents and agreements in a private practice environment
• An adaptable individual who is a fast learner
• A team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels
• Client facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs
• A commercial approach

Career advancement

An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.

Recent Work

• Great British Nuclear in relation to a £20 billion procurement for the design and supply of first of a kind small modular reactors
• The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in relation to the development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) business models
• HS2 in relation to the procurement of nine packages of railway systems works with a combined estimated value of over £5 billion in connection with the HS2 project
• East West Rail in relation to the procurement of contracts relating to the delivery of a new railway linking Oxford and Cambridge
• TfL in relation to the procurement of contracts in relation to the delivery of the Crossrail Project
• the Department for Education in relation to the £2.4 billion Priority Schools Building Programme
• DEFRA in relation to the procurement of the £2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel Project
• KeolisAmey in relation to its successful bid for £5 billion contract to operate the Wales and Borders rail service and to transform, operate and maintain the South Wales Metro
• Boldyn in relation to its successful bid for a 20 year telecoms concession contract to bring high-speed 4G and 5G mobile connectivity across London below ground and at street level
• TfL in relation to the award of the £2 billion Silvertown Tunnel Project, including defending a High Court challenge from the unsuccessful bidder
• TfL in relation to the award of the award of a £1.5 billion contract to Siemens for the supply of next generation rolling stock for the Deep Tube Lines, including defending three separate High Court claims from unsuccessful bidders
• Virgin, Stagecoach and SNCF in the Rail Franchising Litigation against the Department for Transport

Secondment opportunities

Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Background checks

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.