Debt Finance Associate

Baker & Hostetler LLP; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker & Hostetler LLP in Washington, DC seeks an experienced debt finance attorney to represent arrangers, agents, lenders, and borrowers in syndicated and bilateral credit facilities. You will draft, review, and negotiate loan documents, assist in closing complex transactions, and advise on UCC Article 9 and 8 issues, security structures, and cross-border financings.

The ideal candidate will have a track record with middle-market deals, mezzanine or first/second lien structures, and the ability

Qualifications

• Experience representing lenders and borrowers in debt facilities.
• Drafting and negotiating credit agreements and related documents.
• Experience closing complex financings and coordinating multi-party teams.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate loan documents.
• Lead complex closing processes and negotiations.
• Counsel on security interests, perfection, and related diligence.

Skills

Syndicated & bilateral lending

Loan document drafting

Closing complex financings

UCC Article 9/8 knowledge

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Overview

• The role requires experience representing arrangers, agents, lenders, and borrowers in syndicated or bilateral credit facilities, including secured term loans, cash flow and asset-based revolving credit facilities, leveraged acquisitions, first lien, second lien, and unsecured deals.
• Responsibilities include drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of loan documents such as credit/loan agreements, security agreements, guarantees, intercreditor agreements, subordination agreements, promissory notes, fee letters, commitment letters, term sheets, and amendments.
• Candidates should possess familiarity with UCC Article 9 and Article 8 principles, experience negotiating and obtaining third-party deliverables (e.g., control agreements, bailee waivers), and conducting debt finance diligence from both lender and/or borrower perspectives.
• Experience organizing and running complex closing processes is essential, along with experience serving substantial clients, including debt funds, banks, private equity sponsors, or privately held middle market companies.
• For candidates with over 4 years

experience, familiarity with drafting and negotiating legal opinions and opinion diligence is expected.

• The ideal candidate will have experience with a varied scope of secured lending transactions, primarily in the middle market, but also potentially involving smaller venture stage debt financing, large investment-grade financings, cross-border work, project finance, restructuring and workout, and first lien/second lien/mezz structures across diverse industries.
• The firm's national Debt Finance team handles sophisticated, cutting-edge finance deals across multiple industry sectors and collaborates with partners and colleagues across various offices and practices.