Junior-Mid Structured Debt Associate

Clifford Chance

Aug 8, 2024

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Junior, Mid & Senior Level
London

Requirements

Qualifications
We are seeking a highly motivated and versatile Junior – Mid PQE Lawyer ideally with experience in Structured Debt. Your expertise will likely have been honed at a leading practice known for its work in structured debt, where you will have developed first-rate legal skills and a reputation for delivering commercial solutions to complex problems working across a breadth of asset classes and structures.
Key Attributes and Skills:
Legal Expertise: experience in structured debt, including e.g., securitisations, asset-backed financing, and structured finance transactions. A solid background in general financing and familiarity with various financing products and transactions is desirable.
Document Drafting: good document drafting skills, with an eye for detail and precision. You will be adept at producing clear, concise, and legally sound documentation.
Transaction Management: an ability to manage complex transactions efficiently, ensuring all aspects are handled meticulously from inception to completion.
Client Relations: a reputation among existing clients for providing and/or supporting pragmatic and commercial solutions. You will have a client-centric approach, understanding their commercial and legal needs and delivering tailored advice.
Communication and Analytical Skills: excellent verbal and written communication skills, coupled with strong analytical abilities. You will be able to distil complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice.
Commercial Awareness: commercial awareness, understanding the broader business context in which legal advice is given. You will be able to anticipate and address the commercial implications of legal decisions.
Collaboration: experience of working effectively within multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams. You will be a team player, capable of collaborating with colleagues across different regions and specialisations.
Business Development: an appetite for business development, with a proactive approach to identifying and pursuing new opportunities and strengthening existing client relationships.
Additional Qualities:
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Initiative: A self-starter who takes initiative and demonstrates a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Professionalism: High standards of professionalism and integrity, with a commitment to upholding the firm's values and reputation.

Responsibilities

- Transaction Management: Managing multiple complex structured debt transactions from inception to completion, ensuring all aspects are handled timeously, meticulously and efficiently.
- Document Drafting and Review: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of legal documents, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with relevant regulations.
- Client Advisory: Providing strategic and commercial legal advice to clients, addressing their needs and delivering tailored solutions to complex problems.
- Collaboration: Working closely with multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams, coordinating efforts to deliver seamless and integrated legal services.
- Regulatory Compliance: Advising on UK and EU regulatory compliance matters, ensuring clients' transactions adhere to the latest legal standards and requirements.
- Legal Research: Conducting thorough legal research to support transaction structuring, regulatory compliance, and client advisory work.
- Business Development: Actively participating in business development activities, including client relationship management, thought leadership, and identifying new opportunities for growth.
- Mentorship and Training: Contributing to the development of more junior team members through informal and formal mentoring, training, and sharing your expertise and insights.
- Market Awareness: Staying abreast of the latest developments in the structured debt market, ensuring your advice is informed by current trends and best practices.
- Client Interaction: Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, understanding their business objectives and providing proactive legal support and knowledge updates.
- Innovation: Contributing to the continuous improvement of our legal services by identifying and implementing innovative solutions and best practices.
- Responsibility and Initiative: Exercising autonomy and taking responsibility for work and, crucially, client relationships - demonstrating initiative in all aspects of your role, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.

FAQs

What qualifications are required for the Junior-Mid Structured Debt Associate position?

We are looking for a highly motivated and versatile Junior-Mid PQE Lawyer ideally with experience in Structured Debt. Experience in structured debt, including securitisations and asset-backed financing, along with solid general financing knowledge, is desirable.

What type of transactions will I be managing in this role?

You will be managing multiple complex structured debt transactions, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed finance, consumer and SME ABS, NPLs, and more, from inception to completion.

Will I have opportunities for professional development?

Yes, you will benefit from a wealth of opportunities to enhance your skills, including personalised career development, formal training programs, and ongoing coaching and mentoring from experienced colleagues.

Does the firm encourage business development activities?

Yes, associates are encouraged to actively participate in business development activities, including client relationship management and identifying new opportunities for growth.

What is the team's work culture like?

The firm's culture is informal, meritocratic, and diverse, fostering a keen sense of community and collaboration among team members.

How does the firm support work-life balance?

This role follows a balanced hybrid working approach, allowing for flexibility as long as business needs are met, with the expectation to work from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

What kind of mentorship can I expect in this role?

You will receive active supervision and mentorship from partners and senior professionals, ensuring practical insights and hands-on experience in real-time.

Are there opportunities for secondments?

Yes, the firm offers genuine opportunities for secondments to one of our international offices or with a London-based client.

What kind of clients does the Structured Debt team work with?

Our diverse clientele includes leading arrangers, acquirers, financiers such as private capital firms, banks, investment firms, and originators across various market sectors.

Is prior experience in structured debt required for the role?

While prior experience in structured debt is ideally what we are looking for, we value strong legal skills and a reputation for delivering commercial solutions to complex problems.

Clifford Chance

We are one of the world's pre-eminent law firms, with significant depth and range of resources across five continents.

Law

Industry

5001-10,000

Employees

1987

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

We are one of the world's largest law firms with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. As a single, fully integrated, global partnership, we pride ourselves on our approachable, collegiate and team based way of working. We always strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, which include corporates from all the commercial and industrial sectors, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not for profit organisations. We provide them with the highest quality advice and legal insight, which combines the Firm's global standards with in-depth local expertise. Many of the world's leading organisations look to Clifford Chance not just for legal expertise but for advice on business critical issues.