Associate

This new position exists for a technically strong, personable and ambitious lawyer, looking to pursue a career in banking and finance in the long term with one of the strongest banking and finance practices in the South East outside London.

The banking and finance team is a fast-growing and dynamic team consisting of 12 lawyers either spending all or a significant part of their time on banking and finance work, including refinancing, acquisition finance, real estate finance,  restructuring, intercreditor issues and general banking/security work.

The team is one of the larger banking and finance practices in the South East outside London and is rated in the top tier of Chambers and tier two in Legal 500.

The team benefits from strong specialist support in corporate, commercial, insolvency, private wealth, real estate, regulatory, employment and tax. We have significant international reach, with well established links in the major jurisdictions in Europe and the US with tried and tested firms of similar quality to our own.

The team is especially well known for acquisition finance, real estate finance and corporate debt financing and refinancing, especially in the mid-market (i.e. £1 to £100m transactions). Ever increasing deal flow in other areas too, such as:

• asset-based lending deals (including invoice discounting, factoring and borrowing base transactions)

• trade finance practice (including international deals for lenders financing commodities transactions)

• close alignment with S&B’s top quality Corporate M&A team on corporate deals and venture debt transactions (e.g. loan notes and convertibles injected as part of fund-raisings or by sponsors to fund fast-growing portfolio companies)

• more and more international work, with our highly effective bespoke ‘good friends’ international lawyers network

Clients include banks, mid tier businesses (quoted and owner managed), household name PLCs and other major international groups and high net worth private clients.  Highlights include deals for HSBC, Innervation Capital Partners, Merino Private Equity, Stackhouse Poland, Metropolis International publishing group and Santander.

There is plenty of opportunity for the right associate to build a career in a fast developing practice group, to do intersting and challenging work in a supportive team, with responsibility from day one (leading some deals and supporting partners and senior associates on others).  There is excellent training and supervision and business developmeing is supported and encouraged.

An appetite for business development will be a definite advantage. Successful candidates are also likely to be strong team players with good inter-personal skills, to have strong academics and high quality experience – typically with a major City or leading national/regional practice – and to possess excellent communication and negotiation skills.  First-class support and learning and development opportunities are provided and early responsibility is offered, including an expectation that all team members run appropriate cases with minimum supervision.

Stevens & Bolton is one of the most profitable firms in the south of England, and provides excellent long term career opportunities for ambitious candidates who aspire to partnership. We aim to reward Associates with market leading salaries (outside London), and a comprehensive package of benefits.

Stevens & Bolton is one of the largest teams of lawyers in the South outside London. Independently recognised as one of the UK's leading national law firms we build deep relationships with our clients, whose satisfaction with our services is the true measure of our success.

Our single office approach ensures excellent communications and efficient co-ordination of our resources. We handle complex and strategic work for our clients, but appreciate the importance of value for money, commercial awareness and flexibility. International work is as important to us as our domestic practice and we regularly work with many carefully selected law firms around the world.

We want enjoyment to be a primary driver in the working day - and a key 'reason to be here' for our employees. It's a philosophy that comes from the top and cascades through the organisation. It is upheld through a combination of factors: delivering quality in everything we do; securing stimulating, challenging work that stretches and rewards; employing truly distinctive, diverse people who willingly engage, collaborate and support; committing to continuous development for everyone; and providing a sustaining environment in which people can learn and grow.