Our Leveraged Finance team is seeking an Associate to join the Baker
McKenzie banking and finance group which currently comprises 9
partners, 2 knowledge lawyers and 25 associates and trainees. Duties include:
Advising clients on a wide range of matters, with a particular
focus on leveraged finance, syndicated loans, acquisition finance,
project finance and trade finance. Associates work in a collegiate
environment, for a range of partners, and can expect a good variety
of work
Associates are given regular and direct contact with clients, with
a culture based on associates being given the level of
responsibility they are ready for, rather than a PQE based method of
work allocation
Developing relationships with clients including gaining a good
knowledge of the client's businesses, economic drivers, market and
sector requirements in order to ensure advice is relevant and commercial
There are regular opportunities for secondments with clients.
Posting to other offices under the firm's associate transfer
programme is also a possibility
Engaging in business development activities and being active in
the promotion of the firm and seeking opportunities for new work
Working as part of a team including assisting with the supervision
of junior lawyers' work, and taking an active part in sharing
knowledge and experience with the team
The Team
This role will be primarily working with leveraged finance loan
partners, Matthew Cox, Anthony Kay, Nick O'Grady, Ben Wilkinson and
will involve collaboration with leveraged finance capital markets
partners Rob Mathews, David Becker and Ben Bierwirth.
We advise banks, private credit funds and other lenders, sponsors,
borrowers and other corporate entities on all aspects of financing
transactions - from origination, negotiation and documentation to
closing. We also advise clients on enforcement situations, workouts
and reorganisations and the full breadth of structured and capital
markets offerings. As a firm, we are noted for our expertise in
leveraged finance, acquisition finance, securitisation, bank lending,
financial regulatory work and project finance, especially advising on
bespoke complex transactions and those involving emerging markets.
The London team are an integrated part of the Firm's Global Finance
group of over 500 lawyers who cover the world's key financial money
centres, many of whom are regularly featured in the top tier of
rankings in both Legal 500 and Chambers for Banking and Finance. Some
of these entries include:
Baker McKenzie LLP is "excellent at helping clients navigate
through complex multi-region financing deals" - Legal 500 UK
Baker McKenzie LLP has "a top-class practice" - Legal 500 UK
"They have a lot of resources to provide a big team. They are
always well organised, highlight the right topics and are always up to
speed." - Chambers UK
"A great firm committed to a high standard of service to the
client." - Chambers UK
Key Skills and Experience Required
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate all or the
majority of the following:
A qualified leveraged finance associate with experience acting on
private credit and/or syndicated financings
Familiarity with debt financing in the context of competitive
auction processes
Experience with primary commitment papers including commitment
letter, term sheet and fee letter
Exposure to a wide range of finance products including, Term Loan
B, Unitranche and/or Bank/Bond Structures
Experience / skills commensurate with PQE level
First rate technical skills needed to support the client work of
the department
Commerciality and demonstrable business development experience
Excellent written communication and drafting skills
Excellent academic credentials
Ability to work independently
Initiative and proactivity
Maturity and gravitas
Strong service orientation - a "client first" culture
Ability to develop strong relationships with clients and to take
responsibility for this relationship
High work standards
Outstanding communication skills and the ability to adapt style as required
Ability to work well in both a team and individually
A keenness to learn
Respects and enjoys the diversity of cultural, social and academic
backgrounds found in the Firm
Personal qualities
These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high
performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.
Know how
Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to
anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distills a range
of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
Has the capacity to take on new ideas and develop knowledge and
think holistically about business and address media, analyst,
employee, and client audiences
Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different
approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with the agility of mind and
capacity for analysis and synthesis
Dedication
Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds
exemplary quality standards
Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is
self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
Personal Impact
Uses complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies,
adapted to people, organizations, and/or the situation, e.g. networks
Leverages direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration
across the organization
Builds partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges
individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root
belief large-scale
Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships
through collaboration and reciprocity
Negotiates to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes; shows good
judgment on when to stand strong and when to compromise
Invests in, nurtures, and builds a network of productive relationships
Humanity
Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the
respect of others by being transparent
Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others
as people
Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.
Why Join Us?
Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise
many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations
through our 13,200 people in 74 offices in 45 countries. Yet big does
not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their
role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest
standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave
in a collaborative and fulfilling way.
In London you will be part of a 1,000 person office, which is also
our largest office globally. Originally opened in 1961, Baker McKenzie
London is well established in the UK as a leading international law
firm and is regularly involved in some of the country's most
high-profile legal matters. We can offer you the work, pride and
experience of being part of a leading law firm but in a local office
environment that is hardworking, friendly and supportive.
The strength of the firm and our culture is evidenced by a number of
recent awards, including:
Thomson Reuters (formerly Acritas' Sharplegal) Global Elite Law
Firm Brand Index, 2010- 2022 - ranked 1st
The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2021-2022: currently ranked 52nd
Thomson Reuters ranked the Firm No. 1 for cross-border deals for
the last 12 years. More than 70% of our deals are cross-border.
For the 14th consecutive year, the Firm was ranked first for deals
with emerging market involvement, by both number of announced and
completed deals.
Law360 ranked the Firm as one of the 400 Largest US Law Firms in
in its annual survey in 2020.
Identified as one of the Hall of Fame for best law firms for women
by Working Mother magazine, 2011-2021.
Received a a Gold Award in Stonewall's Global Workplace Equality
Index of Top Global Employers for LGBTQ+ Inclusion.
Ranked as one of the Top 20 Employers in the 2023 Social Mobility
Employer Index.
Received Double Certification for earning top marks in the 2022
Corporate Equality Index and Equidad MX of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Winner of the Europe Mentorship Programme - International Firm
award in the Euromoney Women in Business Law Europe Awards 2021
Winner of the Gender Diversity International Firm, Talent
Management International Firm, and Work-Life Balance International
Firm awards in the Euromoney
Women in Business Law Asia Awards 2021
Have a look at our YouTube
channel to find out more about us!
To Apply
Please click on the Apply icon to start the online application
process for this role. We will then be in touch with you once we have
reviewed your application.
For more information about this position or to discuss any
adjustments you may require during the process please contact in
confidence, David Roberts, Recruitment Manager, on 020 7072 5752 or david.roberts@bakermckenzie.com
Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please clickhere
for details of our Agency Policy and commitment to sourcing directly.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
As the first truly global law firm, diversity and inclusion are
foundational to our culture and strategic vision. We are a Firm of
individuals from across the globe with different backgrounds, ideas,
and points of view who collegially work together to solve complex
problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple
perspectives come from many sources, including the diverse ethnicity,
culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, disability, parental status, education,
social background and life experience of our people.
Our global strategy is focused on our people, our culture, our
clients and the communities where we operate. In 2019 we enacted
ambitious new targets related to gender, racial and ethnic diversity
at the Firm. These targets are viewed as a floor, not a ceiling, to
advancing underrepresented groups, and they are backed by a variety of
strategic initiatives aimed at achieving our goals. Our strategic
vision is supported in London by six active employee led networks
which champion diversity, lead on a number of internal campaigns and
deliver a range of activity to celebrate differences in identity,
inclusion, and key dates throughout the year including: LGBT+ History
Month, International Women's Day, International Trans Day of
Visibility, Mental Health Awareness Week, Pride, Black History Month,
Social Mobility Week, International Day of Disabled Persons and many more!
Baker McKenzie London has been accredited by Disability Confident,
joining over 18,000 organisations that have signed up to help change
behaviours and cultures in businesses, networks and communities and
reap the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
