Senior Associate - Asset Based Lending

Firmmills & Reeve; Leeds; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mills & Reeve seeks an experienced Senior Associate in Asset Based Lending to join its national Banking & Finance team, focusing on asset-based lending for domestic and international debt finance deals. The role collaborates with partners across multiple offices and offers variety and challenge.

You will handle complex structures, lead workstreams, and contribute to client relationships, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and exceptional drafting. Leeds or other offices available.

Qualifications

• Strong technical drafting ability.
• Confident negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
• Proactive, self-starting mindset.
• Ability to build lasting client relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience leading or managing workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Advise banks, lenders, fund managers and corporates on finance and security matters.
• Work across asset-based lending, leveraged finance, corporate lending with exposure to real estate finance and capital markets.
• Support corporate transactions including M&A and funding structures.
• Draft and negotiate key finance documentation.
• Build and nurture strong client relationships and contribute to business development.

Skills

Tech & drafting

Negotiation

Organisation & detail

Proactive mindset

Client relationships

Leadership

Job description

Senior Associate - Asset Based Lending

Date Posted: 2026-09-29

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, GB, LS1 3

Application Deadline: 2026-12-30T07:01:25.02

Reference: 0567

Overview

We are hiring an experienced Banking & Finance Solicitor with a specialism in Asset Based Lending, to join our national team.

The role

Ready to take your banking career to the next level? Join our highly ranked Banking & Finance team within a leading national Corporate & Commercial practice to strengthen your core specialism within Asset Based Lending. You'll work on a diverse mix of domestic and international corporate debt finance deals, with a strong focus on asset-based lending. From complex structures to first-of-their-kind transactions, this role offers real variety and challenge.

Collaborating with leading partners across Manchester, Norwich and beyond, you'll be part of a well-connected, national team known for innovation, technical excellence and market-leading work.

This role can be based out of any of our offices, except for London and Oxford.

The person

You’ll be a commercially astute banking & finance solicitor (4+ PQE) with experience from a recognised high-quality practice, having gained exposure to asset-based lending. You will bring:

• Strong technical and drafting ability
• Confident negotiation skills
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail
• A proactive, self-starting mindset
• The ability to build lasting client relationships
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience leading or managing workstreams

The activities

• Advise banks, lenders, fund managers and corporates on finance and security matters
• Work across asset-based lending, leveraged finance, corporate lending, with exposure to real estate finance and capital markets
• Support corporate transactions including M&A and funding structures
• Draft and negotiate key finance documentation
• Build and nurture strong client relationships and contribute to business development

Our clients include major lenders such as HSBC, Barclays and Wells Fargo, alongside debt funds and institutional investors - giving you exposure to top-tier, high-value work.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The benefits

As you'd expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits. Detailed information about our core benefit offerings can be found separately.

Pre-employment screening

If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three-year employment history, and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.

The firm

Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it. We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don't offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations.

Our 1,450 plus people and over 850 lawyers share one vision - achieving more for clients.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that's not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. We're also ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and have been awarded Platinum Investors in People. Our mantra is "Achieve more. Together.", which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase!

Our values are the principles that help us fulfil our purpose. Our people shaped them and live them every day:

• We're ambitious - We aim high, we embrace new ideas and we're passionate about our work
• We're open - We communicate openly and honestly to build trust, and we do what's right
• We care - We're committed to each other, our clients, our communities and the planet
• We collaborate - We're easy to work with, we offer help willingly and we get things done - together

Everyone at Mills & Reeve

brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these. To find out more about our diversity and inclusion work, visit our website.

Vacancy Details

• Title: Senior Associate - Asset Based Lending
• Office locations: Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester, Norwich
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Closing Date: 6 November 2026