Banking and Finance Associate (NQ – 18 months)

About Withersworldwide

Withersworldwide have been acting for successful individuals, families and institutions for over 100 years. We advise clients on their business and personal legal needs both at home and abroad. In this fast moving and increasingly regulated world the need for integrated and timely advice has never been more urgent.

We are recognised as the only international law firm for successful people, their families, their businesses and their philanthropic work. With offices in Europe, Asia, the United States and the Caribbean we provide coverage that other law firms focussed on the individual cannot.  We continually look for opportunities to ensure we are based in the same locations as our clients and their wealth. We have represented 51% of the Top-100 ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, as well as a significant number of people listed in the US (Forbes) and Asian (Hurun) Rich Lists.

The firm consists of three global legal Divisions: Business; Dispute Resolution and Private Client & Tax.  Each Division is headed by a Divisional CEO and Divisional Operating Officer.  There is also an overarching CEO of the global firm.

The Department

Withers comprises over 160 partners and more than 1000 people across 18 strategic offices in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific. The firm operates across multiple legal disciplines, time zones and jurisdictions and is dedicated to the creation, maintenance and enhancement of capital for successful people, businesses and institutions and enjoys a reputation as a leading service provider in the field of private capital and its financing and deployment. We have close working relations with lawyers throughout the globe and coordinate complex tax-driven and other structured transactions and multi–jurisdictional insolvency, restructurings and litigation.

The international banking and finance practice of Withersworldwide comprises lawyers across our offices with expertise in the following areas: general banking; private banking; art finance; trade finance; real estate finance; asset finance; acquisition and leveraged finance; multilateral finance; project finance; capital markets, derivatives and structured finance; fund finance; tax, trusts and agency; financial services regulatory; finance litigation, asset tracing and insolvency.

We advise clients on secured and unsecured transactions such as revolving credit, term and cash flow facilities, and draft security and facility documentation, both standard and customised.

We also advise clients in related fields such as acquisition finance, aircraft and shipping finance, art finance, derivatives, financial services, leasing, project finance, property and development finance and venture debt.

Our client list includes a number of domestic and international leading banks and financial institutions, as well as business, real estate and high net worth individual borrowers. We also advise alternative investment houses such as hedge funds on innovative financing transactions, many of which have an international aspect.  In the UK we advise some of the domestic banks, as well as foreign banks in London, such as the State Bank of India. We also work with most of the major Italian banks.

In the US, we represent financial institutions such as North Fork Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America and People's United Bank.

We also regularly act for non-profit clients in the provision of advice on commercial banking, development finance projects and innovation financing.

The Role

The banking and finance role encompasses the full range of multi-national transactions with a broad spectrum of clients which range from lenders (which include retail banks, private banks and bridging finance providers) and borrowers (which include private individuals, property developers and investors, corporates and hotels).  The banking and finance team in London acts for both borrowers and lenders but more private and international banks as some practice teams in London take an adverse position to larger banks.

The role additionally envisages a familiarity with and willingness to undertake some corporate work as an adjunct to banking and finance.  For example, advising on and documenting the issue of shares upon the conversion of debt to equity.

Person Specification

• Candidates must be NQ-18 months post qualification experience
• Be admitted to practice as a solicitor in England & Wales
• Excellent academics and the benefit of a broad training in well-regarded Banking & Finance and Corporate departments
• An enthusiastic and engaged attitude with excellent people skills and a good, clear communication style
• A willingness to take responsibility and ability to form strong working relationships across all areas of the practice and the firm
• Ability to communicate and handle client contact (both internal and external) from the outset
• Excellent technical ability, solid drafting skills and strong research skills
• Capacity and adaptability to develop a broad transactional practice
• A commercial and pragmatic outlook
• Previous experience in a private client environment will be beneficial but not necessary
• A desire to learn and expand horizons
• Familiarity with technology e.g. Excel, Word

The Essentials

• Working hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
• 6 month probation period
• 12 week notice period
• Flexible benefit package

For further information, please contact the recruitment team.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withersworldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

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