Restructuring Associate

Salary: £95,000-£130,000 + bonus

Location: London

High-calibre special situations work with early responsibility.

Why this role?

If you’re a 2–6 PQE restructuring or finance-focused associate who wants proper responsibility, exposure to complex, fast-moving mandates, and a clear path to progression, this is a standout opportunity. Our client is a well-established UK law firm with a growing Financial Restructuring & Special Situations practice in London. You’ll join at a key point in the team’s evolution, working on market-facing matters and building a genuinely valuable special situations skillset.

The opportunity:

• High-quality mandates, broad exposure

You’ll advise a wide range of stakeholders (including sponsors, corporates, creditors and investors) on matters such as:

• Debt restructurings and lender negotiations
• Liquidity and working capital solutions
• Liability management exercises
• Covenant and collateral analysis
• Alternative funding arrangements (including ABLs, mezzanine and PIK debt)
• Distressed and opportunistic investments, acquisitions and secondary debt trades

Collaboration and visibility:

This role offers close working with senior lawyers in the London team and strong collaboration across the wider national practice, including with a Capital Solutions / Special Situations offering. Expect meaningful exposure across financing, advisory and investment-driven mandates.

The team:

A national platform with a supportive culture. The wider restructuring team spans restructuring advisory, transactional solutions, corporate workouts and insolvency, supporting clients across the full spectrum of situations, including:

• Solvent and insolvent business sales/exits
• Distressed M&A
• Enforcement scenarios
• Complex turnaround mandates

You’ll also gain exposure to multidisciplinary matters through close work with colleagues in Corporate and Banking & Finance.

What they’re looking for:

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales
• 2–6 years’ PQE
• Experience from restructuring, insolvency, banking & finance, special situations or a related transactional practice
• Confidence working with clients and stakeholders, with strong commercial judgement
• A collaborative approach and interest in working across teams/offices

• Exposure to distressed/stressed scenarios (or a clear motivation to build this specialism)
• London experience (helpful, not essential)

Working arrangement & location:

London office-based role. Hybrid working available (details to be confirmed based on team needs and candidate preference).

Salary & benefits:

Salary guidance: £95,000-£130,000 (dependent on PQE, relevant restructuring/special situations exposure, and overall technical strength).

Benefits (typical for this level):

• Annual bonus (firm and/or individual performance dependent)
• Hybrid working and flexibility where possible
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced pension
• Life assurance
• 25+ days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (often with the option to buy/sell)
• Structured training and development (technical and soft skills)
• Clear progression framework with long-term growth opportunities

Interested? Let’s talk. If you’re a 2–6 PQE associate and this sounds like the right next step, I’d welcome a confidential conversation.

David Hawthorne-Finch
Managing Director, Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions Ltd (H-FTS)
Email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com