Global Transportation Finance Paralegal in London

Vedder's London office is seeking a Global Transportation Finance paralegal. This high-profile position entails providing paralegal support to the firm’s Global Transportation Finance (GTF) team, working directly with attorneys, clients and opposing counsel. Tasks include preparing and organising documents for closing, filing documents, UCCs for closings, and assembling documents post-closing.

Responsibilities

• Assisting the lawyers in the London and the U.S. offices with all aspects of corporate, finance and Global Transportation Finance ("GTF") transactions, including creating closing indices, proofing and amending documents, updating closing checklists and master bible, preparing master bible and execution documents, managing post-closing activities and related matters.
• Conducting research related to transactions and filings through both print and electronic sources.
• Researching, reviewing and organising due diligence materials.
• Preparing and reviewing Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings and documentation.
• Drafting and managing closing documents and correspondence.
• Preparing or managing the preparation of closing sets and post-closing documentation, including electronic and hard-copy master bibles; distribution of original documents and closing sets to the relevant transaction parties; proofing CD and hardcopy master bibles.
• Assisting in the creation, organisation and management of physical and virtual data rooms; oversees requests for hard copy printouts from data rooms.
• Analysing and organising records and documents.
• Reviewing, reconciling and approving certain vendor invoices pre- and post-closing to ensure timely billing to the client.
• Researching areas of practice interest and circulating summaries to lawyers; legal research as requested including anti-money laundering and know your client ("KYC") research.
• Maintaining client records and minute books and responding to requests relating to same; managing CD master bible library.
• Performing on-line searches and filings on Companies House; preparing Companies House documents.
• Performing International registry (Aircraft) filings and searches.
• Performing CAA filings and searches.
• Performing Central Index and winding up searches.
• Assisting in the training and mentoring of more junior paralegals.
• Performing other tasks as assigned by the lawyers.

Skills & Competencies

• Willingness and flexibility to work overtime.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure on time-sensitive projects.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work independently.
• Discretion and diplomacy.
• High level of attention to detail.

Qualifications & Required Experience

• BA or equivalent degree.
• Experience in general corporate practice and/or commercial lending/asset based financing and transactional work preferred.
• Proficiency for project management, working with multiple lawyers on simultaneous transactions.
• Proficiency at managing closing checklists, preparing signature packs, compiling documents, preparing duplicate documents and monitoring status.
• Familiarity with UCCs is preferred.
• Experience reviewing corporate documents and other conditions precedent is preferred.
• Experience working in an aviation or shipping finance team is strongly preferred.
• Position also requires the ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.

Computer Skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Word, Outlook and Excel; proficiency using the Internet for fact research.