Associate, Front-End Banking & Finance

About the role

A specialist legal practice is looking for a lawyer with 2-6 years' post-qualification experience (PAE) to join its front-end banking and finance team. The role suits someone with a solid grounding in transactional lending who wants to run matters with more independence, work directly with clients and develop their technical and commercial skills. You will work closely with senior practitioners on a steady flow of lending and security work, running your own files from instruction through to settlement.

Key responsibilities

• Act for lenders, and sometimes borrowers, on commercial, corporate and property-backed lending transactions.
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements, security documents, guarantees and related transaction documents.
• Prepare and review mortgages, general security deeds and other security instruments.
• Run conditions precedent processes, due diligence and settlement requirements.
• Advise clients on loan structuring, security arrangements and documentation risk.
• Handle PPSR searches and registrations, title searches and security perfection.
• Coordinate settlements with clients, borrowers' solicitors, brokers and other stakeholders.
• Manage a portfolio of matters with a high level of autonomy, and help supervise and mentor junior lawyers and support staff as experience grows.

Required profile

• Admitted lawyer in Australia with 2-6 years' PAE in banking and finance, ideally with a strong front-end lending focus.
• Experience with lender-side work, property finance or debt refinancing is highly regarded.

Required skills

• Strong experience drafting and negotiating finance and security documentation.
• Working knowledge of the PPSA, real property security and settlement processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong written communication skills.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload and meet transaction deadlines.
• Confidence dealing directly with clients, financiers and opposing practitioners.

The recruiter is JLegal Australia, a specialist legal recruitment and executive search firm. Interested candidates can contact the recruiter by email or use the apply function.