Structured Finance Associate / Senior Associate

Buchanan; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Buchanan seeks a Structured Finance lawyer to join its London Finance practice. The role focuses on sophisticated securitisation transactions within a lean, partner-led team offering high responsibility and direct client contact.

Ideal candidates have 3–7 PQE with clearStructured Finance experience and strong drafting and transaction-management abilities. This specialist role offers growth in a premier UK firm.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3-7PQE with clear Structured Finance and securitisation expertise.
• Experience in a highly regarded Structured Finance practice.
• Strong knowledge of securitisation and asset-backed financing structures.
• Capable of explaining personal role and responsibility on past transactions.
• Excellent drafting, analytical and transaction-management skills.
• Commercially minded and comfortable working directly with clients.

Responsibilities

• Advise on securitisations, asset-backed financings and related structured transactions.
• Take responsibility for significant transaction workstreams from an early stage.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex financing documentation.
• Manage matters proactively with appropriate partner oversight.
• Coordinate with clients, counterparties, advisers and internal specialists.
• Gain exposure to transactions from structuring through closing.
• Supervise junior lawyers where appropriate.
• Contribute to client relationships and growth of the practice.

Job description

Overview

A leading independent UK law firm is seeking a Structured Finance lawyer to join its busy London Finance practice. This growth hire is driven by increasing workloads and anticipated demand within the firm's expanding Structured Finance practice. The successful candidate will join a lean, partner-led team offering direct client contact, substantial responsibility and exposure to the full lifecycle of sophisticated transactions. This is a specialist Structured Finance position rather than a general Banking and Finance role.

What You'll Do

• Advise on securitisations, asset-backed financings and related structured transactions.
• Take responsibility for significant transaction workstreams from an early stage.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex financing documentation.
• Manage matters proactively with appropriate partner oversight.
• Coordinate with clients, counterparties, advisers and internal specialists.
• Gain exposure to transactions from initial structuring through execution and closing.
• Supervise junior lawyers where appropriate.
• Contribute to client relationships and the continued growth of the practice.

About You

• Approximately 3-7PQE, with clear Structured Finance and securitisation expertise.
• Experience gained within a highly regarded Structured Finance practice.
• Strong technical knowledge of securitisation and asset-backed financing structures.
• Able to explain your personal role, technical contribution and level of responsibility on previous transactions.
• Capable of assuming responsibility quickly within a busy team.
• Excellent drafting, analytical and transaction-management skills.
• Commercially minded, collaborative and confident working directly with clients.
• Motivated by greater ownership, visibility and partner exposure within a lean specialist practice.

Candidates whose experience is principally in CLOs, fund finance, general banking or capital markets should also be able to demonstrate meaningful securitisation experience.

Why Apply?

• Join a busy and growing Structured Finance practice.
• Gain meaningful responsibility and autonomy at an earlier stage.
• Work across the full lifecycle of complex transactions.
• Benefit from direct contact with partners, clients and senior decision-makers.
• Develop within a lean team where individual contributions are highly visible.
• Build a career at a leading UK-headquartered firm with a distinctive collaborative culture.
• Access strong progression opportunities within a specialist finance platform.

The interview process normally comprises two stages. The first is a general partner discussion focused on experience, motivation and team fit. The second is a more technical assessment, which may include a case study or structured technical questions.

Applications are invited from technically accomplished Structured Finance lawyers who can contribute quickly and are seeking greater ownership within a high-quality specialist team.