Company Description
Who we are
We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.
Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.
You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.
Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
Job Description
The role
Our Global Asset Finance Group is a market-leading practice with an excellent industry reputation. We are uniformly ranked as a Tier One firm within the Asset Finance: Aviation industry by both Chambers and Legal 500 and have an extensive history of advising on award-winning and ground-breaking transactions across asset finance sectors.
We believe the strength of our practice comes from our emphasis on team spirit. The London team comprises 4 Partners, 25-28 Associates and 9 Trainees.
The Asset finance practice group provides advice in relation to all major types of financing for big ticket assets including:
- Aircraft
- Maritime
- Rail
- Infrastructure
- Defence Assets
Who you will work with
The asset finance group in London is part of a much wider network of outstanding asset finance lawyers. The worldwide asset finance practice has active teams in Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, USA, UAE, The Netherlands, China, France and Singapore.
Our lawyers are positively encouraged to join teams in other offices as part of full-length secondments. Secondments to Hong Kong, Singapore and New York are regularly embarked upon by our lawyers for periods up to two years.
What you will be responsible for
Our core business is to structure, document and negotiate innovative transactions combining different sources of financing including secured lending, tax and operating leasing, export credit finance, PPP/PFI and Islamic finance. We are a sector focused team working with other areas of the firm on deals in the broader asset finance and transportation sectors (including capital markets, M&A, restructuring, repossession and disputes).
Clients in this area include banks, institutional investors and other non-bank funders, leasing companies, airlines, shipping companies, rolling stock companies, manufacturers and export credit agencies. The London team acts for banks and borrowers, and across all asset classes, allowing lawyers within the group to gain a wide variety of experience.
What you will do
As part of our asset finance practice, you will provide advice to clients in relation to all major types of financing for big ticket assets including Aircraft; Maritime; Rail; Infrastructure and Defence Assets.
You will work as part of a team in helping to structure and implement innovative products combining different sources of financing, including secured lending, tax and operating leasing, export credit finance, PPP/PFI and Islamic finance.
You will also work with other areas of the firm on deals in the broader asset finance and transportation sectors (including capital markets, M&A, restructuring, repossession and disputes).
To achieve our clients' high expectations, you will:
- Be proactive to pursue and expand legal and technical knowledge and to ensure this is up to date.
- Engage with knowledge resources effectively and collaborating in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.
- Manage matters with a disciplined practice - comprising of timely timesheet submission, adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.
- Adopt best delivery tools: e.g., templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers, Matter Balance Reports.
- Manage your self-development – ensure annual completion of mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training.
Qualifications
Your experience
Minimum Criteria/ Essential Requirements
- You will be a qualified lawyer.
- You will have gained junior to mid-level experience as a practising lawyer, working on financing transactions.
- Your experience will have been gained at a top tier law firm in a common law jurisdiction.
- You will show evidence of a desire to work in Asset finance. Although strongly preferred, previous experience in asset finance is not essential.
Skills and Knowledge
You will be able to demonstrate:
- Excellent document drafting skills.
- Strong communication and analytical skills, along with a high level of commercial awareness.
- Good exposure to collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Resilience in the workplace.
How we will support you
From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.
Additional Information
Hybrid Working
This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
Equal opportunities statement
At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.
We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.
Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.
Find out more about our inclusive culture here.