Deputy Director Of Legal Services

The CCPC has two in-house legal divisions: (i) the Competition Legal Services Division, led by the Director of Legal (Competition); and (ii) the Consumer/Product Safety Legal Services Division, led by the Director of Legal (Consumer/Product Safety). This competition is for a role in the Competition Legal Services Division.

The Competition Legal Services Division is a team of specialised lawyers who support the CCPC in delivering on all aspects of its competition law functions. The focus of the Division is on advising the Commission and case teams on mergers, competition law and enforcement. On mergers, this includes the provision of advice to the Commission and to case teams on all aspects of the CCPC’s merger review function. On competition law, this includes advising the Commission and case teams on all aspects of competition enforcement, both criminal and administrative under the novel Competition (Amendment) Act 2022. The Division also has a busy litigation function and is responsible for managing legal proceedings and legal risk on behalf of the CCPC. The Division also advises the Commission on legislation and policy relating to competition law and enforcement and on other aspects related to the CCPC’s expanding remit.

LSD Competition is led by the Director of Legal (Competition). The team consists of two Deputy Directors, one focused on mergers and one focused on competition enforcement, and a current team of seven lawyers supplemented by external consultants where required. Where appropriate, the CCPC also engages external barristers and solicitors to advise on a variety of legal matters.

Given the CCPC’s evolving remit, ambitious enforcement objectives and the continued expansion of its enforcement powers, the Competition Legal Services Division has doubled in size over the last 12 months. It is expected that the Division will continue to grow in size in the coming years meaning this is an exciting opportunity to join a Division with excellent career progression opportunities.

Role purpose

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Deputy Director of Legal Services to lead legal services in relation to the CCPC’s merger review function. This is an opportunity for an experienced lawyer, with excellent strategic leadership skills, to take on a senior management role supporting the Director of Legal (Competition) in overseeing the delivery of legal services in a dynamic and fast-paced public sector organisation.

The Deputy Director of Legal Services (Mergers) will be primarily responsible for leading a team of specialist lawyers in providing high-quality, solution-focused legal advice and support on all aspects of the CCPC’s merger review function. The successful applicant will have a critical leadership role in a challenging regulatory and enforcement environment. The post holder will be self-driven and results-oriented with experience of providing strategic advice on complex legal matters and the ability to motivate a team to meet ambitious targets and strict statutory deadlines. A key requirement for the position is the ability to anticipate and identify legal issues of wider strategic importance and put in place plans to proactively deal with them.

Reporting to the Director of Legal (Competition), the successful applicant will work closely with the wider Senior Management team in the CCPC and directly with case teams in the CCPC’s Competition Enforcement and Mergers Division on merger cases. The successful applicant will contribute to the development of the organisation through initiating, and constructive engagement in, cross-Divisional and organisation-wide projects. The primary responsibility of the role is in relation to mergers however, depending on demand, the successful applicant may be required to assist on competition enforcement matters and so experience in this area is welcome.

Key responsibilities

• Assisting the Director of Legal (Competition) in the strategic management, leadership and administration ofthe Division.
• Providing proactive, solution-focused and timely legal advice in relation to all aspects of the CCPC’s mergerreview function.
• Ensuring the demand for legal advice on mergers is met through effective delegation and supervision of theprovision of legal advice by the team and creative use of resources and efficiencies.
• Lead and manage the expanding team to ensure its operational effectiveness, setting high standards andimplementing strategies to drive team performance.
• Develop capability and capacity across the team through effective delegation, coaching and mentoring.
• Overseeing the procurement of external legal services and ensuring the effective management and oversightof external legal services providers.
• Providing any other legal services as required including the management of legal proceedings and legal risk.
• Establishing and maintaining networks of relationships with CCPC staff and external parties, including externallegal counsel, government officials, other competition enforcement agencies and the European Commission.
• Representing the CCPC at both national and international meetings and conferences when required.
• Proactively identify areas of legislative reform to assist in the performance of the CCPC’s competition functionsand oversee the drafting of proposals or recommendations to Government Departments in relation to same.
• Promoting the Vision, Mission and Values of the CCPC.

Essential

• Candidates must have been called to the Bar in the State and entered on the Roll of Practising Barristersmaintained by the LSRA or have been admitted and be currently enrolled as a solicitor in the State or hold aprofessional qualification in law which would be acceptable to the CCPC as being equivalent to the above.
• At least 4 years relevant post-qualification work experience either in a law firm, as a practising barrister, as inhouse counsel, or as a legal advisor in the civil/public service.
• Direct experience of leading and managing people/teams.
• Professional knowledge and experience in the area of competition law and in particular in advising on mergersand acquisitions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to provide clear, focused, and practicallegal advice.
• Highly developed organisational and administrative skills.
• Oral and written fluency in the English language.

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications and/or experience in law above the essential requirements.
• Experience in dispute resolution, litigation, or regulatory investigations.
• Experience of successfully working across multiple legal disciplines.

For more details please go to: Deputy Director of Legal Services (Mergers).

Application process

To apply for this role using the link on the CCPC careers page, please submit an up-to-date CV. Applicants shouldnote that canvassing will result in your exclusion from the process.

Closing date for applications is 12 noon, Thursday, 15 August 2024.