Banking & Finance Associate (Lawyer) 2+ PQE

We are working with a leading international law firm seeking a 2-3 PQE finance lawyer to join its highly regarded European finance team. This is an opportunity to work at the heart of a genuinely international practice, advising leading private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, debt funds and financial institutions on complex cross-border transactions.

The team

The European finance team has a particularly strong private equity and leveraged finance practice, advising sponsors from acquisition through to exit and supporting portfolio companies throughout their investment lifecycle.

The work spans the full spectrum of leveraged debt structures, including:

• Term Loan B and second lien financings
• High-yield and bond issuances
• Debt fund and private credit financings
• Subscription line and NAV facilities
• Management and fund-level financings

The team also works closely with the firm's private equity and funds practices, meaning lawyers have the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the transaction and the sponsor's wider investment strategy, rather than operating solely as finance counsel.

The opportunity

This is an ideal move for a high-performing 1 PQE finance lawyer who is ready to take on greater responsibility and develop their own client relationships.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of aspects of complex, cross-border financings, from drafting through to negotiation and closing.
• Work directly with private equity sponsors, corporates, debt funds and major financial institutions.
• Gain exposure to both transactional finance and the wider fund/sponsor ecosystem.
• Advise on portfolio company financings, SPVs, JVs and other investment-related structures.
• Work alongside lawyers across multiple jurisdictions on genuinely international matters.
• Contribute to the firm's business development, thought leadership and market-facing initiatives.

The team is looking for someone who is commercial, ambitious and client-focused, with the confidence to take ownership and the appetite to develop quickly in a sophisticated international environment.

What we're looking for

• 2-3 PQE lawyer with a strong finance background.
• Experience advising private equity sponsors, corporates and/or financial institutions.
• Exposure to leveraged finance is particularly attractive.
• International or cross-border experience is essential.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with the confidence to engage directly with clients and counterparties.
• Someone who is commercially minded, energetic and keen to build a long-term career within an international finance practice.

If you're looking for a move that offers sophisticated finance work, exceptional international exposure and the opportunity to work closely with some of the market's leading private equity and debt investors, this is one worth exploring.