The Role
Job Overview
Clifford Chance has a leading financial regulatory practice worldwide, and as such is an interface between clients, regulators, legislators and policymakers. We help our clients comply with new rules, help rule makers understand the constraints they place on clients and help policymakers understand practical constraints. The largest financial institutions in the world depend on us not only for legal advice and project execution, but also for strategic advice on the future of the industry. We are also pioneering new approaches to help our clients manage a regulatory burden that is continually growing in scale and complexity. Our innovation in our online communications with clients on regulatory topics is noteworthy in this respect.
Who you will work with
Our financial regulatory practice advises on a wide range of financial institutions covering, sell-side, buy-side and financial market infrastructure. We also have a growing fintech practice which advises fintech disruptors and crypto services providers.
More specifically, we advise across the full spectrum of financial services businesses, including investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, insurance, wealth management, retail banking, payments services, fintech, exchanges, clearing and settlement. We also maintain close links to governmental and regulatory bodies, as well as with leading industry associations. This gives us unrivaled market insight and the ability to leverage this to the benefit of our clients.
On the fund regulatory side, the team advises on the full range for fund managers, from global private equity firms and institutional managers to niche alternative managers, on all aspects of fund regulation. Our broader global asset management team consists of over 100 funds and funds regulatory fee-earners.
Advice covers authorisations of banks and new managers, cross-border advisory, regulatory change projects, fund structuring and marketing, day-to-day compliance and M&A in the regulated sector.
What you will be responsible for
Key responsibilities will include:
- Advising on new ways of doing business for clients, usually with a significant international perspective, expansion into new geographies and new products and platforms, including surveying licensing and marketing requirements and providing structuring advice on business expansions.
- Providing advice on the UK regulatory perimeter and marketing restrictions.
- Advising on netting and collateral arrangements.
- Advising on regulatory change implementation.
- Preparing standard terms of business, depositary/custody agreements and distribution/placement agent agreements.
- Advising on bank, asset manager and investment firm authorisations.
- Advising in relation to fund formation, including advising on regulatory classification of fund; application for authorisation of funds/fund managers; and reviewing constitutional documents.
- Advising on fund marketing notification/authorisation requirements, disclaimers, PPMs and advising on application of asset stripping requirements.
- Advising on M&A and reorgs including carrying out due diligence.
- Drafting notifications of acquisition of control/major holdings.
Your experience
We are interested to hear from outstanding mid-level lawyers with broad financial regulatory experience. We would also welcome applications from lawyers with more specialised funds regulatory and fintech experience.
We expect an outstanding academic history and proven first rate legal and analytical skills, combined with a strong reputation amongst clients for providing commercial solutions, excellent transactional and management skills.
You will naturally be able to demonstrate excellent advisory and drafting skills. You should also demonstrate strong communication skills, along with a high level of commercial awareness and will have had strong exposure of collaborating with multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams.
It is crucial that you can demonstrate an appetite for business development, client relationship management and thought leadership.
Awards and Accolades
Our position as a market leading Financial Services Regulation practice is well demonstrated by the matters we advise on and by the independent recognition of our strengths. We are recognised as a Tier 1 firm for 'Financial Services: Non-Contentious Regulatory' by Chambers UK, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 UK. These rankings are supported by recently securing 'Financial Regulation Team of the Year' at the IFLR Europe Awards 2022. This award is decided by an independent panel of industry practitioners across the finance and capital markets industry.
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.
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.
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.