Careers

About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit www.ashurst.com.

Team overview

Our people are our greatest asset. We bring together lawyers of the highest calibre with the technical knowledge, industry experience and regional know-how to provide the incisive advice our clients need. How we share our knowledge across our business, and with our clients, is critical in delivering value to our clients.

We have more than 1,600 partners and lawyers across a network spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. With 31 offices in over 20 countries and regions, and a number of referral relationships covering numerous time zones, we are able to offer the reach and insight of a global network, combined with the knowledge and understanding of local markets.

Our clients value us for being approachable, astute and commercially minded. As a global team we have a reputation for successfully managing large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, disputes and projects, and delivering outstanding outcomes for clients in innovative ways.

Ashurst regards an inclusive and diverse environment as critical to its business success. Accordingly, the firm encourages applications from candidates representative of all talent pools. Find out more about our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy on the "About Us" section of our website.

Job overview

We are currently looking for a mid-level qualified infrastructure finance lawyer to join our team in the London office. Ashurst have a first class infrastructure practice, ranking Band 1 in Chambers 2023 and Tier 1 in Legal 500 2023.

Having advised across the most complex and cross-border financing transactions in the market, our infrastructure and energy finance teams are one of the most experienced in Europe and the UK, consistently ranked as Tier 1 in the main legal directories such as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.

As a result we understand the issues facing the underlying asset in the sector and are known for our ability to anticipate issues, facilitate smooth and rapid implementation, and negotiate to a tight timeframe on behalf of our clients.

Our first class infrastructure team are highly active in the market and have years of experience advising across all debt products, from loan financings to multi-creditor platforms (both publicly rated and unrated investment grade structures). In addition to senior debt, they regularly advise on other parts of the capital structure including Midco financing, platform financings, complex IPP financings and equity bridge loans.

Laura Ho's infrastructure practice is sector-agnostic, advising across the capital structure ranging from acquisition finance, long term refinancing solutions, whole business securitisation platforms and holdco and minority financings.

Main tasks and essential skills/ experience

You can expect to have exposure to a wide range of high quality transactions. You would typically act on all elements of a financing from term sheet stage, through to closing and post-closing. Your specific areas of responsibility will be to work with more senior members of the team to draft and/or negotiate term sheets, facilities agreements, note purchase agreements, intercreditor agreements and supervising junior lawyers and ensuring a smooth process to transaction close. Ultimately you will progress to running transactions as a senior associate and managing junior associates with limited partner supervision.

You would also be expected to manage projects that have been assigned to you, and liaise closely with colleagues, clients, counterparties and other advisers. You would be working as part of a committed and inspired friendly team that enjoys its work and considers itself a leader in its field of practice.

Essential skills and experience:

• Qualified mid-level infrastructure finance lawyer with experience from a major law firm
• An enthusiasm to understand underlying assets and complex financing structures
• Experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal documents and agreements in a private practice environment
• An adaptable person who is a fast learner, with experience practising in multiple jurisdictions.
• A team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels
• Client facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs
• Comfortable with negotiating with counterparts
• Experience running a deal team and managing a team of junior associate(s) and trainees to bring transactions to a smooth close
• A commercial approach

Recent work

• A club of institutional investors on a EUR500m holdco IPP financing to support the construction of Enfinity Global's Italian solar PV platform
• Swiss Life and Schroders Greencoat on the capex financing arrangements in relation to their acquisition in the Equans District Heating business
• GLIL Infrastructure on its acquisition and financing of a stake in Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited from Virgin Media O2, Liberty Global's UK operating company, in a deal reported to be worth c.£2.5 billion
• Underwriters providing a c.EUR 1 billion debt package supporting DIF Capital Partners and EDF Invest's successful bid for Fjord 1, Norway's largest ferry operator, from Vision Ridge Partners.
• Antin Infrastructure Partners on a €980m English law platform financing for Hippocrates Holdings, a nationwide Italian pharmacy group. including four loan facilities and notes issued to institutional investors
• Lenders on the EUR1.7 billion refinancing of the Idex Group, an Antin portfolio company
• CROSS LONDON TRAINS: Advised Dalmore, Equitix, Innisfree and Siemens as owners of Cross London Trains Limited in relation to the £1.6 billion multi-debt platform for Thameslink rolling stock
• LEEDS BRADFORD AIRPORT, an Infrabridge portfolio asset in relation to its financing arrangements

Career advancement

An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.

Secondment opportunities

Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Background checks

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.

Partner Profiles

https://www.ashurst.com/en/people/laura-ho/

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