At a Glance
- Tasks: Draft and negotiate legal documents for public and private M&A transactions.
- Company: Join Ashurst, a leading global law firm with over 200 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy career advancement opportunities, secondment options, and a collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team handling high-profile international transactions and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 4-6 years of corporate transactional experience, excellent communication skills, and a strong academic background.
- Other info: Opportunities for mentorship and professional development in a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
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.
Team Overview
Ashurst is acknowledged as having one of the world's leading international corporate practices and has a reputation for sensible, cost-effective and commercial advice. With over 100 partners across Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, our expertise extends to advising on public and private M&A, private equity, equity capital markets, prime brokerage, investment funds, restructuring and insolvency together with a broad range of regulatory issues. Our corporate team advises across a broad range of industry sectors including energy and infrastructure, financial services, insurance, healthcare, communications, manufacturing and real estate. Our corporate practice is fully integrated with our tax, finance, competition, IP, IT, employment and pensions teams.
Job Overview
As a result of a growing pipeline of work, our Corporate Transactions team is looking to hire an experienced lawyer to join our team in London. The role will be primarily focused on public takeovers and other corporate finance transactions across all sectors, with roles acting for corporates and investment banks.
Main tasks:
- Drafting and negotiating transaction documents: Draft, review and negotiate legal documents to effect public and private M&A transactions, including offer announcements and scheme and offer documents (for public M&A) and sale and purchase agreements (for private M&A), and ancillary transaction documents.
- Due diligence: Project manage and lead large-scale due diligence exercises (both sell- and buy-side).
- Transaction management: Liaise with colleagues and other advisors to ensure clients receive seamless advice and to ensure that client objectives and timelines are met.
- Business development and networking activities;
- Contributing to department know-how and training activities;
- Nurturing and mentoring junior lawyers;
- Risk and Control: Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies.
Description of role:
- You will act with integrity to provide incisive advice to clients, and to work collaboratively with your colleagues in doing so;
- You will take day to day responsibility for matters, with suitable direct client contact, and will proactively progress complex matters with appropriate partner support;
- You will be able to demonstrate well developed verbal and written communication skills, and innovative drafting skills;
- You will be confident and effective in negotiations with clients and counterparties;
- You will be effective in communicating with clients in order to understand their needs and how best to meet them;
- You will also have the ability to assist clients in arriving at practical and cost effective solutions;
- You will be effective in forming and maintaining relationships with clients and identifying opportunities to strengthen client relationships;
- You will understand the way our business, competitors and clients are developing and work with the business development team to use this information to develop business opportunities;
- You will build and maintain a network of business contacts, both internally and externally;
- You will have excellent attention to detail, identifying inconsistencies that indicate problems with quality of work or a misunderstanding of clients' needs;
- You will gather information from a variety of sources to identify your own strengths and weaknesses;
- You will be able to identify when a team member needs support and will be approachable for advice, giving constructive feedback;
- You will contribute to the creation of a positive work environment and assist with training and development.
Skills
Essential skills and experience
The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:
- Associate/Senior associate with between 4-6 years post qualification corporate transactional experience with a focus on public takeovers and corporate finance / UK listed company transactional work
- Enthusiastic team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels
- Excellent academic track record
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- 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 of dealing with multiple jurisdictions
- Client facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs and build client relationships
- Willingness to learn new skills and expand technical knowledge beyond core transactional skills
- Technically excellent with strong attention to detail and well-developed analytical and drafting skills
- Commercial approach and an ability to advise and negotiate in a considered, confident and authoritative manner across a wide variety of contractual arrangements
- Ability to lead team on transactions or designated parts of transactions
- Passion for delivering outstanding outcomes for clients in innovative ways
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.
Associate/Senior Associate, Corporate (Public M&A) employer: Ashurst
Contact Detail:
Ashurst Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate/Senior Associate, Corporate (Public M&A)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with recent public M&A transactions, especially those involving UK listed companies. Understanding the nuances of these deals will not only enhance your knowledge but also give you talking points during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the corporate law sector, particularly those who specialise in public takeovers. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the firm's culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your understanding of regulatory requirements in M&A transactions. Being able to discuss how you would navigate these complexities can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to work collaboratively by discussing past experiences where you successfully led a team or project. Highlighting your teamwork skills is crucial, as this role requires close collaboration with colleagues and clients.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate/Senior Associate, Corporate (Public M&A)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in corporate transactions, particularly public M&A. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in drafting and negotiating legal documents.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your enthusiasm for the role at Ashurst. Discuss your understanding of their corporate practice and how your background aligns with their needs, especially in public takeovers and corporate finance.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, ensure your application materials are well-written and free of errors. Highlight any experiences where you effectively communicated with clients or colleagues.
Demonstrate Teamwork and Leadership: In your application, provide examples of how you've worked collaboratively in teams and led projects. This will show that you can contribute positively to Ashurst's team-oriented environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ashurst
✨Know Your M&A Fundamentals
Brush up on your knowledge of public takeovers and corporate finance transactions. Be prepared to discuss recent trends in the market and how they might impact the role you're applying for.
✨Demonstrate Your Drafting Skills
Since drafting and negotiating legal documents is a key part of the job, be ready to showcase your experience. Bring examples of documents you've worked on and be prepared to discuss your approach to drafting.
✨Showcase Your Client Management Experience
Highlight your ability to build and maintain client relationships. Prepare examples of how you've effectively understood and responded to client needs in past roles.
✨Prepare for Team Dynamics
As teamwork is crucial in this role, think of instances where you've successfully collaborated with colleagues. Be ready to discuss how you support team members and contribute to a positive work environment.