Associate Director

Howden; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden M&A advises clients on specialist insurance and risk solutions across Asia, focusing on Hong Kong and North Asia markets. The role sits within Howden's Asia M&A platform to originate, lead and execute regional opportunities while deepening client relationships with corporates, private equity sponsors and advisers.

The Associate Director will lead transaction execution, manage key client relationships, contribute to business development and support growth of the Asia platform and country

Qualifications

• Be proactive, resourceful and commercially minded, with the ability to take ownership while working collaboratively across jurisdictions and disciplines.
• Strong understanding of M&A processes, transaction documents and key legal and commercial concepts.
• Experience in managing M&A transactions or comparable complex engagements with independence.
• Excellent client relationship skills and ability to develop opportunities with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the placement of W&I insurance and related policies from engagement to closing and post-closing servicing.
• Advise clients on risk solutions including W&I, tax, litigation and contingent risk insurance and transaction structuring.
• Support insurance due diligence for PE, infra and corporate clients and coordinate cross-border engagements across cyber, credit, political risk, financial lines, and portfolio value creation.
• Build and maintain relationships with underwriters and stay informed on market appetite and pricing across Asia.
• Collaborate with Asia teams to originate opportunities, coordinate execution and deliver a joined-up client proposition.
• Develop and manage relationships with lawyers, banks, accounting firms, and PE firms to convert opportunities into mandates.
• Represent Howden at client meetings and industry events to strengthen market relations and business development.
• Mentor junior colleagues and review technical work, supporting their day-to-day development.
• Prepare high-quality presentations and collateral for business development and transaction use.

Job description

Howden M&A advises clients on specialist insurance and risk solutions in connection with M&A transactions, disputes and portfolio matters across Asia. Our core solutions include warranty and indemnity (W&I) insurance, tax liability insurance, and contingent and litigation risk insurance, together with insurance due diligence and other advisory support across cyber, credit, political risk and other financial lines.

The team comprises former M&A and disputes lawyers, tax and accounting professionals, and experienced insurance specialists.

The role will sit within Howden's Asia M&A platform, with a particular focus on clients and transactions connected with Hong Kong and the North Asia markets of Greater China, Japan and Korea. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across Asia to originate, lead and execute regional opportunities, while helping to deepen Howden's relationships with corporates, private equity sponsors, advisers and other market participants in Hong Kong and across the region.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a specialist business advising on complex transactions and risk matters across Asia. The role offers meaningful responsibility across transaction execution, client development and the continued growth of the relevant country business and wider Asia M&A platform.

Role and ideal background

Howden is seeking an Associate Director to be a senior member of its Asia M&A team. The role will lead the execution of transactions, manage key client and market relationships, contribute actively to business development, and support the continued growth of the relevant country business and the wider Asia platform.

The ideal candidate should ideally:

• Be proactive, resourceful and commercially minded, with the ability to take ownership while working collaboratively across jurisdictions and disciplines;
• Possess a strong understanding of M&A processes, transaction documents and key legal and commercial concepts;
• Have approximately 8 - 10 years of experience in an M&A-related field, ideally gained as an M&A lawyer at a leading law firm, although relevant experience in professional services, investment banking, private equity, insurance or another transaction-focused environment will also be considered;
• Have demonstrated experience managing M&A transactions or comparable complex, time-sensitive engagements with a high degree of independence;
• Have the commercial confidence and relationship-management skills to develop opportunities, advise senior stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to business development;
• Have strong legal analysis and drafting skills, with sound judgement and close attention to detail;
• Communicate clearly and confidently with clients, advisers, insurers and colleagues, both in writing and in meetings, negotiations and presentations;
• Be able to manage multiple live matters, work effectively under pressure and resolve issues constructively;
• Be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Key responsibilities

The responsibilities of the role will include:

• Leading the placement of W&I insurance and other M&A-related insurance policies from initial engagement through policy inception, transaction closing and post-closing servicing. This includes reviewing transaction information, preparing submissions, obtaining and analysing insurer terms, negotiating with insurers, presenting recommendations to clients and managing the underwriting process;
• Advising existing clients and prospects on transaction risk solutions, including W&I, tax, litigation and contingent risk insurance, and helping to identify the most appropriate structure for each transaction;
• Supporting insurance due diligence for private equity, infrastructure and corporate clients, and project-managing engagements across cyber, credit, political risk, financial lines and portfolio value-creation solutions;
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with W&I and other specialist underwriters, and maintaining a strong understanding of market appetite, pricing and coverage trends across Asia;
• Working with Howden colleagues across Asia and other business lines to originate opportunities, coordinate cross-border execution and deliver a joined-up client proposition;
• Taking responsibility for developing and managing relationships with lawyers, investment banks, accounting firms, fund managers, private equity firms, corporates and other referral sources, and converting opportunities into active mandates;
• Attending client meetings, conferences, seminars and industry events to represent Howden, build market relationships and support business development;
• Supervising and developing junior colleagues, including reviewing technical work and supporting their day-to-day development;
• Preparing high-quality presentations, proposals, articles, data and other collateral for business development and transaction-specific use; and
• Contributing to the growth and strategic direction of the relevant country business and the wider Asia M&A platform, including business planning, market strategy, product development, new client segments and cross-selling opportunities across the wider Howden platform.

What we value

• A client-first mindset and the confidence to operate credibly with experienced legal, financial and investment professionals;
• A willingness to mentor and develop junior colleagues while contributing to a collaborative team culture;
• Commercial curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for developing solutions in a fast-evolving market;
• High standards of integrity, teamwork and accountability; and
• An interest in building a long-term career in a specialist regional M&A business.