Leveraged Finance Lawyer
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Role Summary
The Legal Counsel will be an experienced leveraged finance lawyer who will support and help manage the legal risks of the leveraged finance business of SPD including advising front office/ origination functions, management MDs, the GM, in London and across the EMEA region on transactional matters.The Legal Counsel is an integral member of the Leveraged Finance team within STPD-Legal Group and sitting within the SPD function as a core member of the levfin team.
The person should be an experienced qualified banking/ leveraged finance lawyer from a preferably top tier law firm with strong interpersonal skills who will act as a legal advisor to front office and more senior staff of the Bank in the EMEA region as well as for SMBC group globally where required on matters of a legal nature focused on leveraged finance in particular.
The person will be liaising with and directing front office, as well as more senior stakeholders of the levfin, legal, credit departments, as well as customers/ sponsors of the bank where required in relation to a range of transactional and commercial documentation and legal issues, as well as representing the Legal department in important bank wide projects and committees.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Qualified lawyer of preferably more than 3-9 years post qualification who has solid experience in a broad range of general banking and finance and specifically leveraged finance products being prerequisite, which has been gained at a reputable law firm, open to experience on both bank and borrower side. Experience in house, gained at a Bank or Sponsor is helpful.
- A thorough understanding of the Bank’s policies, procedures and products.
- Strong expertise with market standards as well as market standard loan documentation and latest terms.
- Person will be expected to attend CPD training courses in order to keep updated in relation to market loan documentation developments and new and emerging legal issues.
- Strong expertise around drafting documentation and using bankwide systems and Microsoft office.
- To build good interpersonal relationships with stakeholders and to be a team player.
- To be able to able to manage and direct the legal aspects of the legal departments work to bankwide project committees.
- To be open and approachable.
- Participate in specific industry bodies and professional associations where appropriate.
- Able to advise on complex legal/documentation terms, structuring points, structuring points and financial law/regulation, identify risks and devise appropriate legal solutions/outcomes under time pressure.
- Robust and confident to appropriately challenge/advocate change at all levels of the organisation.
Business Area
Leveraged Finance Team - Legal
Position Description
The Legal Counsel will typically be responsible for dealing with the following:
- Review, draft and negotiate new and existing banking and finance documentation (including syndicated and loan documentation based on sponsor/ market precedent, Loan Markets Association documentation or otherwise) and associated financing and mandate documents
- Review, draft and negotiate ancillary documentation and transaction and execution support to the front office as required, ie NDA’s, release letters, review legal opinions, conditions precedent and all other deal related documentation regularly dealing and assisting the business teams directly .
- Advising, drafting and liaising with other groups as required including operational and back office teams on legal issues, structuring, documenting and negotiating deals
- Monitoring and advising on regulatory matters affecting loans eg bail-in¸ EMIR and related regulations that are important for the bank to comply with applicable laws and regulations
- Give advice to any other part of the SMFG group if requested, including Tokyo Head Office in relation to matters of English law and review/ draft documentation for overseas offices where governed by English law;
- Drafting and/or reviewing Bank wide standard documentation and drafting other miscellaneous documents required by the Bank internally or externally;
- To deal on a proactive basis with questions of a legal nature which arise throughout EMEA Region as a result of the Bank’s customer relationships, operations, regulatory obligations and corporate governance
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.