Associate - Derivatives and Structured Products in London

We have an opportunity for an experienced Derivatives Lawyer to join our London team.

Practice Summary

Freshfields’ Global M&A and Capital (“GMAC”) practice brings together lawyers specialising in corporate, finance and real estate. Working collaboratively to provide the best transactional advice to clients, we act for private and public companies, banks, governments, and states, amongst others. We are consistently ranked at the top of the league tables in Europe, Asia and globally. Most of our work has a cross-border element, requiring us to draw on the expertise of our global transactions’ lawyers in other offices across the network.

Within GMAC, our finance department covers the full range of finance products. The derivatives and structured products team sits within that finance department.

Derivatives and Structured Products

We have a broad and market-leading derivatives and structured products practice, with a balanced mix of transactional and advisory work. Our experience is spread across a range of asset classes, jurisdictions and product types, advising a core group of leading financial institutions as well as corporates, sponsors and other market participants. We have extensive experience of a wide range of structured equity and equity derivative products, acting for both banks and counterparties on some of the leading transactions in the market. We also have a focus on particular specialisms in cash and synthetic prime brokerage, as well as stock-lending and repo markets. We have a strong flow of rates and FX derivatives work, often in the context of much larger transactions. We work closely with our colleagues in financial services, ECM, M&A and DR, and have a global network of derivatives specialists who we work with regularly.

Requirements

• Candidates must be admitted as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales or have an equivalent common law qualification.
• Outstanding technical and commercial experience from a leading law firm (ideally 2-5 years PQE) within Derivatives.
• Strong academic record at degree and LPC level.
• A tenacious and enthusiastic approach to surpass the expectations of our clients.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and supervise more junior lawyers.
• Highly effective communicator (both orally and in writing).
• Able to take on a high degree of responsibility and manage a challenging workload.
• Proactive involvement in business development and knowledge management.
• A positive role model, who will actively share knowledge and contribute to the wider team.

Competencies

• Technical skills: excellent technical skills, recognised for own expertise, and the ability to draft complex legal documents clearly and in plain English.
• Client relationships: able to anticipate and respond to the needs of the client to deliver exceptional service whilst looking for opportunities to nurture and deepen relationships.
• Business advisor: able to identify, analyse and prioritise increasingly complex issues, and able to understand the impact of legal, business and market issues and analysis on technical documentation and the project.
• People and team: able to work effectively as part of a team (including coaching and mentoring more junior lawyers) as well as building relationships across the firm.
• Project management: able to juggle a variety of demands, and to manage time, client expectations in order to meet deadlines.
• Business development: able to contribute to pitches and activities to win new work, and to develop internal and external networks, as well as building own knowledge/expertise in at least one sector.
• Personal skills: credible, professional, able to work with a wide range of clients and people, willing to embrace change and take accountability for achieving results.

Location overview: London

Our London office is at the heart of our global network, in one of the most exciting world cities. London is arguably the world’s greatest financial centre: all of the world’s leading financial institutions have a significant presence here. It’s home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s largest companies.

Our London team has a reputation that’s second to none. They’re the team the world’s leading businesses turn to for help with their most challenging problems. They work with colleagues around the world on complex, cross-border deals and disputes. Whether you join as a lawyer, a recent graduate or in a business services role, London is a great place to work.

You will have the opportunity to work on challenging, engaging work that will give you the opportunity to make your mark and progress your career. We believe there is no better place to work.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.