Banking Solicitor / Associate

We’re looking to hire an ambitious and dynamic Solicitor / Associate (2-6PQE) to join our Banking & Finance team in London. This is a fantastic opportunity to build your career in a team that’s known for its sharp commercial edge and client‑first approach.

You’ll gain exposure to a broad range of banking transactions including:

• General corporate lending
• Acquisition finance
• Real estate finance
• Asset‑based lending (ABL)
• Project finance

You’ll work closely with senior lawyers and partners across the national team, supporting high‑profile clients and developing your technical and commercial skills. From day one, you’ll be involved in drafting facility agreements, negotiating terms, and managing transactions from start to finish. We’re committed to your personal and professional development. You’ll benefit from structured training, mentoring, and the flexibility to shape your career in a way that works for you. Hybrid and flexible working are fully supported.

The Banking & Finance team is recognised as the “go‑to” for complex transactions. We act for:

• Major UK clearing banks
• Specialist lenders including fund‑based and asset‑based lenders
• Private equity houses, management teams, and debt funds
• Borrowers across the UK, Europe, and the US.

We have one of the most active private equity and acquisition finance offerings in the market, and a strong real‑estate finance practice supporting acquisitions, investments, developments, and portfolio management. Our Banking & Finance team consists of 11 partners and over 30 lawyers in the UK (with three partners and 8 lawyers in London) and has a wealth of experience in all aspects of international and UK financing transactions in London and throughout our national network. As part of a national team, you’ll collaborate with colleagues across our offices while being based in London, a key hub for our banking work.

Gateley has made a significant investment in IT and technology including an automated drafting system for complex, leveraged finance and real‑estate finance transactions. We also have two dedicated senior banking PSL lawyers and an extensive training programme for lawyers at all levels of qualification offering training in technical legal as well as soft skills. We are serious about helping our people to achieve and exceed their potential.

We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic, commercially minded, and ready to grow within a high‑performing team. Ideally, you’ll have experience in a banking team or have completed a banking seat during your training contract. You’ll bring:

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales
• Minimum two years post‑qualification experience
• Strong technical and negotiation skills
• Drafting experience including facility agreements, LMA documentation, and credit agreements
• Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence in engaging with clients and colleagues
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work under pressure
• Drive, commitment, and a “can do” attitude
• Professionalism and discretion
• Exceptional attention to detail

We offer a comprehensive training programme covering legal, transactional, and soft skills to support your development throughout your career.

With support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around, our great development and progression opportunities will reward your commitment and loyalty. We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual performance with an opportunity to receive an annual bonus. In addition, we have a wide range of learning and development opportunities via our Learn platform to develop new skills and progress your career.

Our My Flex comprehensive rewards package includes options covering annual leave (and the benefit of purchasing extra days), cycle to work, critical illness benefit, employee assistance programme, group personal pension, health care, season ticket loan and many more benefits (grade dependent).

Finally, with Perks At Work/Home you can select a host of retail benefits that suit your needs alongside a Community Online Academy, free courses for all from fitness to coding to languages to hip‑hop dance.

We are forward‑thinking and straight‑talking, our approach is to find solutions to the problems that our clients face. Gateley is a legal and professional services group, a group of formidable experts in all areas of law and business. Passionate problem solvers, we get our kicks from finding the right answers and getting our legal and business clients where they need to be. We support more than 5,700 active clients, ranging from FTSE 100 companies to private individuals, in the UK and beyond.

Diversity, inclusion and well being is an important part of Gateley’s culture and values. We recruit talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, providing equal opportunities for all to join our team regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, or culture. We create an exciting and rewarding place to work that aims to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals. We offer flexible working patterns to help our staff achieve a good work/life balance and we encourage candidates seeking flexibility in their next role to apply for any of our vacancies.

If you are successful in receiving an offer of a role with our company, a variety of pre‑employment screening checks will be completed. Our screening checks can include but are not limited to your eligibility to work, professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers. The screening that takes place will be relevant to your role and will vary from role to role.