Mid/Senior Associate - Asset-Backed Finance

0400 FBD USA LLP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshfields' Global M&A and Capital practice, including the Asset-Backed Finance team, advises on securitisation, structured finance and asset-backed transactions with a global client base. The role seeks a mid-to-senior associate with strong legal skills, industry knowledge and a collaborative approach to drive innovative financing solutions.

You'll join a market-leading team in London, working cross-border with colleagues across jurisdictions, delivering complex deals and supporting career

Qualifications

• qualification in England & Wales or another leading common law jurisdiction.
• Several years of experience in a top London finance practice working on securitisation, structured finance and/or asset-backed finance transactions.
• Ability to work on complex transactions involving innovative asset classes and bespoke secured financing structures.
• Collaborative mindset, good people and project management skills and a “team first” approach.

Responsibilities

• Work on securitisation, structured finance and asset-backed finance transactions.
• Collaborate with colleagues across practices and jurisdictions to deliver innovative funding solutions.

Skills

Legal analysis

Strategic thinking

Teamwork

Project management

Client relationship management

Education

England & Wales qualification

Job description

Freshfields' Global M&A and Capital ("GMAC") practice brings together market-leading lawyers across corporate, finance and real estate. Within GMAC, our finance team advises across the full spectrum of financing products. Consistently ranked among the world's leading transactional practices, much of our work is international, bringing together our global network to solve complex legal, commercial and structuring challenges. Our Asset-Backed Finance team sits at the forefront of the market. Our practice is increasingly focused on the fast-growing asset-backed finance sector, helping clients unlock funding from a broad range of assets and cashflows through innovative financing solutions. Our clients include investment banks, asset managers, private credit funds, corporates, fintechs and non-bank lenders.

We advise on a wide range of transactions, including:

• Asset-backed warehouse facilities and receivables financings
• Forward flow arrangements
• Back leverage financings
• Trade receivables and inventory financings
• Loan portfolio acquisitions and financing transactions
• Whole business securitisations

Our work is intellectually challenging, highly commercial and frequently cross-border. Many of our deals involve developing new structures, navigating evolving regulatory frameworks and collaborating closely with colleagues across practices and jurisdictions to bring innovative funding solutions to life. If you enjoy being at the sharp end of market innovation and working on complex transactions that are shaping the future of finance, you'll fit right in.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a talented mid or senior level associate who combines strong legal skills, specialist industry and product knowledge, good commercial judgment and a genuine interest in developing our business and helping our clients.

You'll likely have:

• Qualification in England & Wales or another leading common law jurisdiction
• Several years of experience gained within a top London finance practice working on securitisation, structured finance and/or asset-backed finance transactions
• Confidence and aptitude to work on complex transactions involving innovative asset classes and bespoke secured financing structures
• A collaborative mindset, good people and project management skills and a “team first” approach

We would also welcome applications from lawyers currently working in-house within banks, private credit funds, fintechs or other financial institutions looking to return to private practice.

Why Join Us?

You’ll join one of the market's leading asset-backed finance practices and work directly with our top-tier clients on some of the most innovative financing transactions in the market. Most importantly, you will be supported by a collaborative team that values ambitious thinking, technical excellence and offers long-term career development.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer.

Applications are considered on merit, and we welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals regardless of background.

Any offer of employment will be conditional on the candidate having or securing the right to work in the UK and providing evidence of that right before employment starts.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. Applicants are asked to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of an offer. Decisions are made case by case, taking into account the role, the circumstances of the offence and other relevant factors, with an opportunity for the candidate to discuss the matter before a decision is made.

Freshfields is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world’s leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments on ground-breaking and business critical mandates. At Freshfields we seek to create a better future for our clients, our people and the communities in which we work. Our global teams bring together individuals with different experiences, skills and strengths in a culture where we support all to belong, engage and excel.