Solicitor (Digital Finance) - Belfast

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

About Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a leading global law firm. We advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. With over 4,000 people, including 2,400 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.

HSF Kramer Digital Legal Delivery (Digital) is a fast-growing, innovative and fully integrated part of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's international network. The Digital team works closely with other practice groups, seamlessly delivering high-quality and cost-effective legal services for clients, deploying sophisticated technology and offering truly bespoke solutions. Since the launch of the Belfast office in 2011, our Digital offering has continued to evolve and now offers a broad range of services to clients across Finance, Corporate, Real Estate and Construction, Employment and Disputes. Through a compelling combination of flexible and agile resourcing, cutting-edge technology and process efficiencies, our HSF Kramer Digital Practice Group offers a cost-competitive, bespoke offering which can be tailored to individual clients' requirements.

We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and talent of our people. Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals. Diversity and inclusion are a key part of our culture where we celebrate the uniqueness of our people. Our inclusive environment means people feel valued and able to perform at their best by being their authentic selves at work.

About HSF Kramer Finance practice

HSF Kramer Finance practice is a well-established international Banking and Finance practice, with a strong reputation for executing high-profile and complex finance deals with accuracy and at speed. The London Finance Division provides advice to lenders, borrowers, advisers and other key players in the financial markets on all types of financings and cutting-edge transactions, including 'first to market' novel structures and cross-border deals.

HSF Kramer Finance practice encompasses a wide range of specialist finance areas, including real estate finance, securitisation and structured finance, energy finance, project finance and leveraged finance.

About HSF Kramer Digital Finance

HSF Kramer Digital Legal Finance team is part of the Digital Legal Delivery practice group of the firm. The HSF Kramer Digital Finance team provides cost-effective, high-quality managed legal service offerings across a wide range of finance transactions and also works collaboratively with the HSF Kramer Finance teams on market-leading finance mandates.

The Role

The successful candidate will work closely with the HSF Kramer Digital Finance senior team, and will be part of an ambitious, highly successful and growing banking and finance legal team in Belfast. The Digital Finance team works closely with the London Finance Division and other finance teams across the firm's network. There will be the opportunity to be involved in exciting, high-profile banking and finance transactions across a range of different specialist areas, such as real estate finance, securitisation, energy finance and leveraged finance. As part of this client-facing role, the successful candidate will also foster and develop strong business relationships with key clients.

The role will also encompass working on outsourcing projects involving negotiation of BAU finance and related documents such as NDAs and release letters, working as an extension of the client's in-house legal team.

Limited travel, including to the HSF Kramer London office, may be required from time to time.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting in a range of financing deals, including conducting company searches, drafting corporate authorisations and ancillary documents, drafting security and other transaction documents, managing conditions precedent and assisting with the execution of documents at closing.

• Assisting in outsourcing negotiation projects which may involve reviewing and negotiating on behalf of the client a range of finance documents, for example: banking bilateral documents, trade finance documents or NDAs.

• On appropriate projects or transactions, as required, working directly with other HSF Kramer practice groups across our global network to deliver high-quality legal service delivery to clients.

• On appropriate projects or transactions, as required, supervising Trainees or Legal Analysts in relation to individual matters, dealing with complex legal issues or generally as directed by Senior Solicitors, Managers or Senior Managers of the Finance practice group.

• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of areas of law relevant to the practice.

• Ensuring compliance with financial disciplines on matters (e.g. daily time recording).

• Providing any other assistance to the business on client matters and related tasks as required.

The responsibilities outlined above cannot totally encompass or define all tasks that may be required of the post-holder. The outline of responsibilities given above may, therefore, vary from time to time without materially changing either the character or level of responsibility or grade.

Qualifications, skills and experience

Essential

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, but Republic of Ireland or other common law jurisdictions will be considered. If not qualified in England and Wales then willing to complete process to requalify as such, if required.

• 1-3 years PQE, with at least 6 months' experience gained in Banking & Finance Law.

Desirable

• Experience working in a legal environment, ideally a private practice law firm or in-house.

• Knowledge and experience of Banking & Finance transactional work.

Team

Digital Legal DeliveryFull time

Location

Belfast

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.