Leveraged Finance Associate 2-8 PQE

A leading elite US law firm is seeking a talented Competition Associate (2-6 PQE) to join its highly regarded Antitrust & Competition practice in London.

The team advises on some of the most significant and high-profile competition matters across the UK, Europe and internationally, acting for multinational corporations, private equity sponsors and major financial institutions on complex transactional, advisory and contentious matters.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work alongside market-leading practitioners on a broad range of matters, including:

• Merger control and multi-jurisdictional merger filings
• Foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign subsidies matters
• Cartel investigations and behavioural competition issues
• Competition litigation and regulatory investigations
• Competition aspects of complex M&A and private equity transactions
• General UK and EU competition law advisory work

Candidates should have between 2 and 6 years' PQE and a strong background in competition law gained at a leading international, City or US law firm.

The team is open to candidates qualified in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. Lawyers with strong UK competition law experience or those with significant EU competition law expertise-particularly candidates currently practising in Brussels-are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent technical ability, strong academics, commercial awareness and the ability to advise on sophisticated, cross-border matters within a collaborative international team.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the world's premier competition practices, offering exposure to market-leading mandates, direct client contact and outstanding long-term career progression.

For a confidential discussion or to find out more about this opportunity, please get in touch.

Leveraged Finance Associate (Class of 2025)

• Market-Leading Leadership: You will work directly under the mentorship of heavyweight partners who are widely recognised as some of Europe's leading authorities on sponsor-side leveraged finance and European private credit offerings.
• Diverse & Modern Credit Practice: Rather than being restricted to standard bank lending, you will gain exposure to the full spectrum of debt products, including premium private credit, direct and specialty lending, cross-border leveraged buyouts, and complex restructuring situations.
• Lean, High-Calibre Model: The firm operates with small, elite deal teams. This guarantees high partner-to-associate contact, accelerated professional development, and early client-facing responsibility on multi-billion-dollar transactions.
• Top-of-Market Compensation: Competing at the absolute peak of the London market, offering a top-tier US salary scale alongside an exceptional benefits package with no hours target.

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating principal debt finance documents (including facility agreements, intercreditor agreements, and high-yield/private credit structures).
• Advising premier private equity sponsors, large corporate borrowers, and major direct lenders on complex, multi-jurisdictional acquisition financings.
• Taking a lead role in transaction management, coordinating closing processes, and managing condition precedent workflows.
• Interfacing directly with sophisticated private capital providers, financial institutions, and investment banks.

• Experience: Finance / Leveraged Finance / Banking Associate from the Class of 2025. You will have completed your training and gained foundational transactional finance experience within a top-tier Magic Circle, Silver Circle, or major US law firm in London.
• Academics: Impeccable academic record (minimum 2:1 or equivalent from a top-tier university).
• Skills: Strong foundational knowledge of banking and finance law, a keen understanding of debt structures/credit products, and a rigorous attention to detail.
• Attributes: A high degree of resilience, commercial curiosity, and the confidence to operate autonomously within small, fast-paced deal teams.

The Opportunity

• High Quality Broad Training: The firm actively rejects rigid practice-area silos and you will gain exposure to premium private equity work covering public and private M&A aspects, P2Ps and sponsor represented buyouts.
• Unrivalled Deal Exposure: You will work directly with market-leading partners on multi-billion dollar, front-page transactions.
• Lean Team Structure: High partner-to-associate contact guarantees accelerated professional development, direct mentorship, and early client-facing responsibility.
• Top-of-Market Compensation: Competing at the absolute peak of the London market, offering a top-tier US salary scale alongside an exceptional benefits package.

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating principal transaction documents (such as SPAs, SHAs, and investment agreements).
• Managing multi-jurisdictional due diligence processes and coordinating specialist teams (Tax, Finance, IP/Tech, etc.).
• Taking a lead role in transaction management, closing processes, and post-closing integration.
• Interfacing directly with sophisticated private equity sponsors, management teams, and investment banks.

• Experience: Corporate / M&A / Private Equity Associate from the Class of 2025. You will have completed your training and gained foundational transactional experience within a top-tier Magic Circle, Silver Circle, or major US law firm in London.
• Academics: Impeccable academic record (minimum 2:1 or equivalent from a top-tier university).
• Skills: Strong foundational knowledge of corporate law, excellent commercial acumen, and a rigorous attention to detail.
• Attributes: A high degree of resilience, intellectual curiosity, and the confidence to operate autonomously within small, fast-paced deal teams.