Banking NQ - #1778722

The role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a newly qualified or one year PQE Associate to join our market leading Leveraged Finance practice with a focus on developing our expertise and market share across the North (with the successful candidate to be based in either Manchester or Leeds). We have an established banking team nationally which operate as one therefore you'll benefit from taking part in shaping the local team and brand whilst having the structure and support to help you progress in your career.

The work on offer is varied with a focus on leveraged finance, corporate financings, corporate / sponsor led transactions and growth lending / venture debt. We work across the full transaction lifecycle including drafting and negotiating facilities agreements and security documents (both LMA and non-LMA form), drafting and negotiating intercreditor arrangements, drafting standard form precedent documentation and working closely with our corporate and restructuring teams. The team also does a material amount of in life work on a portfolio basis working with lenders and borrowers on waivers, re-sets, restatements and bolt-ons.

With a consistent volume of transactions, this is an excellent platform to progress skills acquired during training contracts and early careers in a client-facing role, assume matter responsibility and there is ample opportunity to participate in client development initiatives.

The team

Our national banking and finance team advises clients on a range of financing transactions across a wide variety of sectors, often with a multi-jurisdictional element. Acting for borrowers, lenders and investors means we have a practical understanding of the needs of all parties to a financing transaction. Our expertise extends to corporate lending, leverage finance, asset finance, real estate finance (investment and development), project finance and invoice discounting both on a bilateral and a syndicated basis. We work closely with some of the UK's major banks and financial institutions, and have approved panel status with many of them.

Our Manchester office is dynamic and entrepreneurial, affording a great opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to contribute to expansion of the practice and to advance personally.

The Firm

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package

Skills And Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have be a newly qualified lawyer or have one year of PQE experience and have some leveraged finance (as well as cashflow and general banking) experience acquired during a seat in their training contract and (if applicable) the early part of their post-qualification career at their current firm. They will be naturally proactive in their approach and will be as passionate as us in what we do. You will have experience liaising with lenders, borrowers, intermediaries and/or investors on the full transaction lifecycle and have ample opportunities to take the next steps from focussing on conditions precedent and security arrangements to taking ownership of credit agreements as your know-how progresses.

As a people centric business, we invest heavily in developing our people by providing an innovative, flexible and supportive environment.

Equal opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.