Solicitor in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 2-3 PQE Banking & Finance Solicitor to join our growing Banking team in London, working closely with Senior Associate Vijay Ladhani. This is an excellent opportunity to join a thriving and ambitious practice advising lender and borrower clients on a broad range of banking and finance transactions, including corporate lending, acquisition finance, and leveraged finance.

You will play a key role in transactions from inception through to completion, drafting and negotiating facility agreements, creating bespoke loan documentation, complex LMA-based finance documents and associated security packages, while helping to manage matters and build strong client relationships. You will be given early responsibility and client exposure, with the support, mentoring and supervision needed to continue developing your technical and commercial skills.

We are seeking a solicitor with strong experience gained within a dedicated Banking & Finance practice who has experience of drafting and negotiating LMA documentation, is confident taking ownership of substantial elements of a transaction and leading on the drafting and negotiation of core finance documentation. This role is suited to candidates with genuine transactional banking experience and is not suitable for lawyers whose experience is primarily focused on the property aspects of real estate finance transactions.

This is a rare opportunity to become a trusted and valued member of a growing team, with a clear path for progression, meaningful responsibility from day one, and the chance to play an active role in the continued growth and success of the practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Fee Earning: Professional integrity; understands duties as a solicitor and applies firm policies.
• Business-minded: understands the importance of developing, maintaining and strengthening client and referrer relationships.
• Ambitious: seeks opportunities to develop their career at the firm.
• Trusted adviser: under appropriate supervision, delivers technically accurate advice to colleagues and clients which is adapted to the commercial landscape of the situation.
• Positive profile: seen as a “safe pair of hands” by colleagues.
• Team player: ability to build effective working relationships in the team and wider firm.
• Flexible and adaptable: able to respond swiftly to the dynamic needs of supervisors and clients.
• Effective communicator: able to communicate accurate, succinct and commercial advice to clients and colleagues on matters of law in a timely manner and in a confident and professional style.
• People management skills: ability to manage trainees or paralegals on appropriate tasks and manage client expectations as regards content and delivery of work.
• Project management skills: ability to manage transactional work effectively and anticipate issues which may arise.
• Organised with effective time management: ability to manage multiple instructions in accordance with agreed timelines and identify, through effective communication, what work to prioritise.

Strategy:

• Understand and play an appropriate part in delivering the Banking Team’s strategic goals.
• Set personal SMART KPIs to align with team strategic goals and work towards achieving those KPIs; measuring performance periodically and at each mid and end year review.

Finance:

• Accurate and timely recording of WIP, regular monitoring of WIP against estimated fees and agreed billing dates, providing WIP updates to matter partner and, where appropriate, updating clients on WIP and agreeing and raising invoices.
• Track performance against KPIs.

Business Development:

• Support partners in building, maintaining and strengthening client relationships through business development activities.
• Develop personal profile as a banking and finance lawyer marketing internally and externally.
• Attend relevant networking events.
• Spot opportunities to collaborate with and develop an internal network within the firm to increase cross-referred work.
• Input and take responsibility for business development projects in the team including pitches.

Learning and Development:

• Continue to learn and develop by seeking feedback from colleagues to build on skills and behaviours; particularly at the conclusion of a transaction or instruction.
• Identify and seek approval for internal and external training provision to enhance your own technical knowledge and that of the team.
• Share knowledge with the rest of the Banking team through formal and informal channels already in place.

Compliance:

• Apply rules of professional conduct, anti-money laundering legislation and firm policies.
• Support other fee earners with client onboarding processes including identifying and gathering information needed regarding client and the matter.
• Where necessary seek appropriate guidance in respect of particular areas of risk that you identify.

Skills, Experience, and Attributes:

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with between 1-2 PQE relevant experience in general banking and finance in private practice.
• Strong academics at university and in the SQE.
• Desirable but not essential: experience in one of the firm’s key sectors including Real Estate/Development Finance or Health & Social Care; and experience in acting for overseas clients and on cross-border transactions.

Person Specification:

• Professional integrity; understands duties as a solicitor and applies firm policies.
• Business-minded; understands the importance of developing, maintaining and strengthening client and referrer relationships.
• Ambitious; seeks opportunities to develop their career at the firm.
• Trusted adviser; under appropriate supervision, delivers technically accurate advice to colleagues and clients which is adapted to the commercial landscape of the situation.
• Positive profile; seen as a “safe pair of hands” by colleagues.
• Team player; ability to build effective working relationships in the team and wider firm.
• Flexible and adaptable; able to respond swiftly to the dynamic needs of supervisors and clients.
• Effective communicator; able to communicate accurate, succinct and commercial advice to clients and colleagues on matters of law in a timely manner and in a confident and professional style.
• People management skills; ability to manage trainees or paralegals on appropriate tasks and manage client expectations as regards content and delivery of work.
• Project management skills; ability to manage transactional work effectively and anticipate issues which may arise.
• Organised with effective time management; ability to manage multiple instructions in accordance with agreed timelines and identify, through effective communication, what work to prioritise.

At RWK Goodman, you can enjoy a strong legal career, with exceptional client work. And you’ll be supported, every step of the way. A progressive Top 100 law firm, over 650 colleagues, 36 specialist areas, and 3 legal divisions. With offices across the South West, Thames Valley and London. Committed to collaborative growth and shared success, we’re focused on delivering sustained positive change.

Benefits:

• 26.5–31.5 days’ holiday per year
• Buying and selling holiday
• Healthcare cash plan / private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Discretionary profit and performance-related bonus
• Hybrid working
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced family leave
• Recruitment referral bonus
• Group income protection
• Salary reviewed regularly

Career Development:

We know our people are what sets us apart. That’s why we continue to nurture and develop our colleagues and attract and retain the best talent. We support colleagues with a robust programme of learning and development opportunities, underpinned by our transparent Career Development Framework (CDF), which shows exactly what you need to achieve to grow your career with us.

Inclusive Employer:

We’re on a mission to create a dynamic and inclusive culture. And that starts with our recruitment process. If you have a disability, whether visible or not, we want to work with you every step of the way. Because we want to give you the best chance of success when you apply.