Leveraged Finance Lawyer

Buchanan Law; England; Hybrid; GBP 178,585 - 205,183; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Hybrid working model

Job summary

A prominent law firm in the UK is seeking an Associate for their Banking & Finance practice. This role offers the chance to work on complex financing deals in a supportive and collaborative environment. Candidates should have 2–4 PQE and a strong finance background, with opportunities for training and development. The position comes with a hybrid work option and a competitive salary package.

Qualifications

• 2–4 PQE with flexibility.
• Experience on either lender or borrower side.
• Evidence of autonomy and sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Involved in sophisticated financings including major private credit deals.
• Handle meaningful pieces of the deal.
• Work closely with partners in a supportive environment.

Skills

Team-focused attitude

Strong finance training

Autonomy

Sound judgement

Job description

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This range is provided by Buchanan Law. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$235,000.00/yr - $270,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Buchanan Law

I’m currently partnering with a leading US firm to support the continued growth of their 20-strong Banking & Finance practice, one of the most cohesive, high-performing finance teams in the City. Off the back of sustained workflow and recent junior hires, the team is now seeking another talented associate at the 2–4 PQE level (Class of 2020–2023).

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone seeking top-tier work, genuine progression, and a collaborative team culture rarely found at this level of the market.

About the Team

The practice is led by two highly respected partners, supported by a well-balanced group of senior associates, mid-levels and juniors. The team expanded significantly in 2022 with a major lateral group move, and nearly all of those lawyers remain with the team today — a testament to its culture, cohesion, and development pathways. This is a close-knit group where partners work side by side with associates, and many of the senior lawyers trained under the very partners they now sit alongside. The atmosphere is supportive, progression is genuinely achievable, and teamwork is prioritised over hierarchy.

The Work

The strength of this team lies in its distinctive blend of large-cap private credit work alongside significant mandates for leading international banks. While roughly 90% of their work is lender-side, they are genuinely open to associates with borrower-side or mixed backgrounds. What matters most to them is strong technical grounding, exposure to good-quality training, and evidence that you’ve been trusted with responsibility.

You’ll be involved in some of the most sophisticated financings in the market, including major private credit deals, sponsor-led acquisitions, leveraged financings, syndicated loans, and cross-border transactions involving top-tier institutions. The team regularly works at the forefront of the private credit market, while maintaining strong relationships with international banks — a combination that truly differentiates them from many other elite firms who tend to specialise in one or the other.

Associates here are given space to grow: you will take ownership of workstreams, liaise directly with clients, and be trusted to handle meaningful pieces of the deal. The range and profile of work provide an ideal environment to develop into a well-rounded and confident finance lawyer.

Training & Development

Development is a genuine priority for the team, not a slogan. Formal training sessions take place every six weeks, offering deep dives into key areas of leveraged finance, market trends, structuring considerations, and regulatory developments. Beyond the structured training, there is extensive day‑to‑day learning through close partner engagement, deal collaboration, and cross‑practice interaction.

The team also benefits from strong cross‑selling and integrated work with other divisions of the firm, which exposes associates to the full ecosystem of the deals they work on. Partners value associates who show initiative, curiosity, and a willingness to take on responsibility — and they support that with meaningful feedback, practical learning, and a culture where asking questions is both encouraged and expected.

Importantly, candidates from a broad range of firms are welcome. They are far more interested in strong fundamentals, good training, and signs of autonomy than in how many deals you can list on a CV.

What They’re Looking For

• 2–4 PQE (with some flexibility around this range)
• Strong finance training from any reputable firm
• Experience on either lender or borrower side
• Evidence of autonomy, sound judgement, and strong fundamentals
• Team-focused attitude and willingness to learn

Salary & Package

• Discretionary bonus (based on hitting the 2,000-hour target and performance)
• Hybrid working, with minimum 3 days in the office (4 preferred)

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to join one of the most dynamic finance teams in London — a team known for exceptional work quality, strong internal cohesion, and real investment in associates’ development. You will work on market-leading transactions, collaborate with top-tier clients, and develop alongside a group that continues to grow and promote from within.

Seniority level

Associate

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Legal

Industries

Legal Services and Law Practice

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