Associate - Debt Finance

White & Case

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. Our long history as an international firm means we are perfectly placed to help our clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may be. With lawyers operating from more than 40 locations, working around the world, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality full-service practice competing at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in the world’s key financial markets and our strengths in handling complex cross-border work. It’s not just about our global network of offices; it’s the global interconnectedness of the Firm that our people, and our clients, value most. We work well together across geographic and practice boundaries. It’s one of the reasons we attract and retain cross-border work. Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages. With established teams in every major financial market, we are trusted by many of the world’s largest financial institutions, alternative capital providers, private equity funds and corporates to handle their largest and most complex multijurisdictional transactions. Widely recognized as leaders in our field, we offer both international reach and a depth of local resources—advising on the full spectrum of financing matters, and structuring innovative, often ground-breaking deals. From the moment you join us, you will be working alongside leading practitioners, supporting multi-disciplinary teams composed of colleagues from within our group and across the firm’s M&A, Capital Markets and Project Finance groups. An exciting, fast-paced practice, we expect our associates to deliver outstanding work to tight deadlines, and to display the cool head and positive mindset to flourish in a pressurized environment. As an associate, you will be expected to take a lead on many of the day-to-day tasks involved in ensuring that deals are running smoothly and will have a high degree of contact with clients, opposing counsel and other parties. Your core responsibilities will also include vital contractual work, such as reviewing initial drafts of commitment letters and loan documents, preparing succinct issues lists and preparing revised drafts reflecting client comments. Supported by your team at every step, you will find the work both challenging and rewarding, with excellent opportunities for learning and professional development.

Requirements

J.D., LL.M., or U.S. equivalent in law plus 6 years of professional experience as an Attorney, Associate, Law Clerk, or any occupation, job title, position providing legal advice on domestic and cross-border debt finance transactions at an international law firm.
Must be admitted to the New York State Bar.
Must also have experience with the following special skills: 6 years of professional experience advising both large and small cap private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, commercial and investment banks and other clients in the energy/infrastructure, technology, financial services and telecommunications industries on all aspects of financing transactions and the financing life cycle on both the borrower and lender side; 6 years of professional experience advising on leveraged finance transactions, both domestic and cross-border, for leveraged buyouts, including syndicated and direct lending facilities, asset-based facilities, refinancing facilities and recapitalization transactions; 6 years of professional experience providing advice on Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code regarding the creation and perfection of security interests in personal property; and 3 years of professional experience providing advice in liability management transactions, restructuring and distressed finance, including representing both sponsors/borrowers and creditors and investors in work-out, distressed or other special situations with respect to renegotiating or restructuring debt, up-tier exchange offers, debt repurchases, drop-down transactions, double-dip transactions, consent solicitations, amendments, debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financings and exit financings relating to the U.S. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commitment letters and term sheets as well as primary loan and security documentation and ancillary deliverables.
Prepare and review issues lists and summary grids as well as conduct legal research, depending on client needs.
Manage deal teams and processes from initial discussions through closing and post closing matters.
Conduct due diligence.
Assist clients with ongoing deal administration, including joinders, amendments, interpretive questions, and collateral matters.
Review initial drafts of commitment letters and loan documents, prepare succinct issues lists and prepare revised drafts reflecting client comments.
Provide direct assistance to Partners on matters arising in the course of day-to-day provision of legal services to leading international and domestic corporate clients.
Attend and present educational seminars and have a high degree of contact with clients, opposing counsel, and other parties.
In consultation with Partners, lead negotiation of debt financing documentation, including the review of legal and potential business issues, providing advice directly to clients on potential legal issues and solutions and on the structuring the of the transaction.
Lead the drafting of the main debt financing documentation on transactions, including the drafting of commitment letters, term sheets, credit agreements, security agreements, guaranties, intercreditor agreements, fee letters, preferred equity documentation, and all amendments and subsequent revisions to the foregoing documents.
Represent clients in a wide range of credit facilities and transactions on both borrower-side clients: private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers and issuers; and lend-side clients: agents, lead arrangers, lenders, investors and financing sources.
Mentor and train junior team-members on client development initiatives, drafts, reviews and workload management.
Instruct and supervise Junior Associates on the preparation of ancillary debt financing documentation, including the preparation of legal opinions, secretary certificates, resolutions, closing certificates, disclosure schedules, exhibits, and reviewing and revising the foregoing work products.
Participate in business development initiatives, including firm efforts to generate new business from both new and existing clients, legal training sessions for clients and client events.

Benefits

White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

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