Job description

We are currently recruiting for a PSL or Senior PSL to join our International Capital Markets (ICM) team on a permanent basis.

Department purpose

Our capital markets practice covers the full range of capital markets products and incorporates specialists in debt and equity capital markets, derivatives and structured finance, securitisation, corporate trust and agency and high yield.

Role purpose

The ICM Know-How & Training team are looking to recruit a Professional Support Lawyer or Senior Professional Support Lawyer, who can develop and maintain know-how resources, design and deliver internal and external training sessions, monitor developments in the law and practice relating to ICM and their impact on the practice, be involved in industry consultation responses/advocacy efforts and the development of industry standard form language and act as a contact for ICM know-how enquiries world-wide with a focus on mainstream debt capital markets.  By way of an example, the recent focus of our PSLs has been on changes in IBOR, ESG and post-Brexit EU and UK regulatory divergence, particularly in relation to prospectus regulation. Candidates will ideally be 3+ years qualified with some experience of mainstream debt capital markets transactions

This position will be permanent and will report to the ICM Know-How & Training Partner.

Role and responsibilities

• To maintain and update existing know-how resources, including the ICM intranet pages and online services available internally and to clients.
• Prepare updates in line with legal developments to inform colleagues and clients of implications.
• To design, plan and deliver ICM training programmes (including induction programme for new joiners and trainees) and, when appropriate, deliver relevant training sessions and help with preparing training and presentation materials and to provide ad-hoc training for external clients.
• Monitor relevant legal, regulatory and other relevant developments in order to keep updated existing (or prepare new) know-how resources, including standard form documentation, and to assist fee earners with being able to provide the latest analysis when giving client advice.
• Be the first point of contact for legal queries relating to ICM transactional work and product lines.
• Respond accurately and in a timely way to specific requests from partners and associates on complex legal matters within own area of expertise.
• Brief fee earners going on client secondments on the know-how resources available to them whilst on secondment, be a first point of contact for them for queries whilst on secondment and to obtain on-going and post-secondment feedback from them on client know-how provision.
• To work closely with other ICM Professional Support Lawyers and the ICM Documentation team to provide timely responses to relevant queries sent to the ICM Documentation and Know-How Enquiries e-mail address/directly to the ICM Professional Support Lawyers.
• To attend meetings of relevant external trade associations as necessary in order to keep the Practice Group up to date with developments, and to assist with the production of papers for such associations if required.
• To develop and maintain links with Professional Support Lawyers in other relevant Practice Groups (e.g. Banking, Corporate, Restructuring, Tax) within the firm to ensure that areas of common interest to more than one department are appropriately covered.
• Under general guidance about priorities, produce and maintain high quality documentation to provide partners and associates with cost effective and timely precedents which help progress client business.
• Prepare effective guidance material such as practice notes to enable colleagues to access material which is fully up to date with precedent and practice.
• Gather, synthesise and produce good quality, up to date and readable material for inclusion in the firm’s thought leadership/opinion pieces.
• Assist and when necessary, participate, in important Practice-wide projects designed to ensure A&O’s knowledge base and documentation is maintained in line with new legislation, regulation, significant case law etc.
• Work with AD&S/IT to identify, support and influence new opportunities for innovation on knowledge projects/projects with knowledge implications.
• Maintain and develop own knowledge.

Key requirements

• Qualified lawyer – minimum 3 years PQE or similar
• Will have worked successfully as a PSL or transactional associate
• Technical competence in capital markets law and transactional experience, advising on regulation at level of qualification
• Sound experience of working with senior management within a complex international organisation
• Confident self-starter with the desire and ability to continuously acquire, build upon and share knowledge
• Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the partner and fee-earner community, building and developing strong (internal and external) client relationships
• Resilient; able to understand that credibility has to be earned in this environment and may take time
• An individual who enjoys both the operational and strategic sides of this role and shows great flexibility
• Detail-focused and self-motivated approach
• Collaborative team player with the ability to develop and work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment
• A person of sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility in the organisation and act as a trusted advisor to fee-earners
• Intellectual curiosity and versatility
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Flexibility and a willingness to expand areas of practice for both the team and personally
• International outlook

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of Allen & Overy’s recruitment team who will work with you to provide any reasonable adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At Allen & Overy, we recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Allen & Overy recognises the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together. If you would like additional flexibility we will of course consider this in line with business needs.


Additional information - External

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. We work on some of the most challenging and important deals and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal solutions that help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. The legal industry is changing, and we're committed to leading that change, putting our people first, embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work. Our business teams work hand-in-hand with our lawyers, Consultants and other specialist teams, and are ambitious, driven and leaders in their field.

With us, you will constantly be learning and growing. We invest in you by offering exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. We offer rewarding careers that are built around your strengths and designed to ensure you can achieve your personal and professional goals, recognising that those may look different for everyone.

We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re determined to play our part in advancing a workplace where progress is made by harnessing our differences – whatever defines you, we ask you to bring your whole self to work.

What truly defines a career at Allen & Overy? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We provide challenge, support and a place for you to belong. And together we excel, working on meaningful projects of global significance.