Debt Finance (General Banking) Associate

Job Description

Debt Finance (General Banking) Associate

Join Stephenson Harwood, an elite international law firm where “The Deal”—our internal promise to you—ensures a career without limits. We are seeking a high-caliber General Banking Associate to join our ambitious Debt Finance team in London.

This is a role for a lawyer who thrives on variety. At Stephenson Harwood, we don’t pigeonhole our associates; you will be actively encouraged to work across diverse workstreams, from leveraged finance to real estate debt. You will join an informal, supportive culture that prizes enjoyment as much as excellence, backed by dedicated Knowledge Development Lawyers to ensure you remain at the cutting edge of the market.

The Role & Your Impact

As a Debt Finance Associate, you will act for a prestigious roster of UK and international banks, debt funds, private equity houses, and corporate borrowers. You will be a key player in high-profile transactional financings, often working cross-functionally with our Corporate and Real Estate practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Transactions: Draft and negotiate complex finance documents and manage the deal lifecycle with autonomy, supported by senior partners.

• Diverse Portfolio: Handle a mix of general corporate lending, acquisition/leveraged finance, asset-based lending, and real estate finance.

• Client Engagement: Act as a primary point of contact for clients and opposing counsel, building lasting “positive partnerships.”

• Team Development: Supervise and mentor junior lawyers, trainees, and paralegals, ensuring high-quality output and professional growth.

• Business Development: Actively contribute to the firm’s growth by identifying new opportunities and strengthening internal and external networks.

What You Bring

• Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with relevant UK post-qualification experience (PQE) and a stellar academic background.

• Experience: Essential private practice experience in general lending within a reputable banking and finance department.

• Soft Skills: High resilience, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to simplify complex legal concepts into commercial advice.

• Collaborative Mindset: A “can-do” personality who values a cooperative team environment and excels under the pressure of strict transaction deadlines.

Job Overview Data

Diversity & Inclusion Statistics

Stephenson Harwood is committed to transparency and improving representation within the legal sector. As of our recent 2024-2025 reporting cycles, the firm maintains the following diversity profile in the UK:

• Gender: Approximately 53% of our workforce are women, with a firm-wide goal of increasing female representation at the partner level (currently approximately 26%).

• Ethnicity: 24% of our UK employees identify as being from minority ethnic backgrounds (including Asian, Black, Mixed, and other minority groups).

• Socio-economic: We actively track social mobility, with 31% of our people having attended state-funded non-selective schools.

• LGBTQ+: Roughly 6% of our workforce identifies as LGBTQ+.