Economics Consulting Associate Director/Director

More than you expected

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Grant Thornton’s Economic Consulting team provides specialist economics services to corporates, government, economic regulators and their legal advisors on an advisory and independent expert basis. Our advice covers regulatory, competition and commercial matters.

Frequently working alongside colleagues from across Grant Thornton, we advise on high profile issues in all major sectors of the economy in the UK and increasingly internationally.

In the competition and disputes space we cover the full range of services including market reviews, competition investigations, competition damages, merger control, investor claims, international arbitration and commercial disputes. Examples of our recent matters in this space include:

• Competition damages class actions, assessing merits and the quantum of damages for claims to the Competition Appeals Tribunal and European competition authorities.
• Independent expert appointments on securities litigations in the UK and Europe.
• Assessment of merits and quantum of damages in relation to data rights across Europe.
• Expert appointment on a FOS investigation into historical standard variable rates (SVRs) charged by a UK bank.
• Independent expert appointment on an appeal to the CAT against an adverse cartel finding in the construction sector.
• Assessment of competitive effects and efficiencies on a merger in the telecoms sector.
• Competition investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices by a leading consumer goods company.
• Competition risk assessment for an infrastructure provider who was concerned that their contractual terms may be in breach of UK competition law.
• Independent expert appointment in relation to a judicial review of a determination by an economic regulator.
• Economic advice to the PSR and FCA on market reviews.

We also provide services to other teams in Grant Thornton in the UK and internationally and this allows us to access a broader range of opportunities. For example:

• Working with forensic accountants in Grant Thornton’s forensic and investigations services (FIS) practice who specialise in contentious valuations to take on independent expert roles in shareholder disputes.
• Working alongside GT’s crypto specialists on disputes and enforcement action relating to crypto and digital assets.
• Merger control in relation to transactions being facilitated by GT’s transaction specialists.
• Expert roles on regulatory and commercial disputes and insolvencies in off-shore locations including Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

Due to the level of activity we are experiencing, we are looking for an experienced Associate Director/Director to further grow and develop our competition and disputes offer. The scope of work you might expect to do would vary across the disputes and competition space and depend upon your prior expertise and interest, but may include:

• Merits and quantum estimation in competition damages cases.
• Quantum of damages in commercial cases.
• Competition investigations including abuse of dominance claims.
• Valuation of financial instruments.
• Merits and quantum in bilateral investment treaty (BIT) claims.
• Merits and quantum in regulatory disputes.
• Merger control.

Given the nature of work often required in this area, joint marketing and delivery with Directors and Partners from across the Economic Consulting and Forensic Investigation Services (FIS) practice will be a key part of this role.

As a Competition and Disputes Associate Director/Director within our Economic Consulting team, you will be:

• Working alongside other Directors and Partners to develop and maintain relationships with legal firms, KCs and litigation funders.
• Leading on thought leadership in your area of expertise and encouraging other more junior members of the economic consulting team to contribute this.
• Responsible for leading the analysis and case management for a series of cases in the competition and disputes space.
• Working alongside Partners and Directors to produce expert reports and, if inclined, being the testifying expert on some cases. We endeavour to offer joint expert roles with our existing experts in Economic Consulting and FIS which support the transition into sole expert roles.
• Part of the senior management team responsible for the management and development of the economic consulting practice and team members.

We are seeking someone with significant experience of working across litigation cases – this maybe at the Competition Appeals Tribunal, High Court, International Arbitration or another judicial setting. You may have had your first experience of being an expert economist, you may be seeking that opportunity, or you may prefer a supporting role, but you will have been the main case handler across a number of cases.

You are likely to already have a strong network of contacts particularly with legal firms and be keen to leverage that and to build it further.

You will be educated to a post graduate level as an economist, holding an MSc and / or PhD in a relevant economic discipline. Whilst heavily quantitative in nature but with the ability to explain to an informed non-specialist audience.

You will have substantial experience within the competition and disputes space gained from at an economic consultancy and / or potentially at a law firm or competition authority.

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.