Investec
Legal Counsel - Direct Lending
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Investec – Where Out of the Ordinary Happens
At Investec, we do things differently. We're a leading international bank and wealth manager built on a culture of curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit and human connection. Ideas are heard, ambition is celebrated, and impact is encouraged. As part of a team that challenges convention and strives for outperformance, you'll help shape bold solutions for clients who expect something more than the ordinary.
What does the Direct Lending team at Investec do?
The Direct Lending team provides financing to businesses (typically with EBITDA £2m-£75m) in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe (specifically Benelux and DACH regions) for (predominantly) financial sponsor backed owners and large corporates. We also support the Private Debt Funds platform which falls under Investec alternative investment management.
Finance provision is typically event driven and includes growth capital, acquisition finance & management buyouts, leveraged finance & syndicated debt, refinancings & recapitalisations, asset based lending and structured corporate lending. Our core capabilities include originating, structuring and arranging capital for mid-market companies and, thereafter, portfolio and balance sheet management.
We have been supporting UK and European businesses for more than 10 years and currently have c. £3bn AuM supporting 150+ clients.
We have a proactive, flexible and solutions-driven approach and seek to customise debt solutions that fit the client's needs. Structures are typically senior secured debt and unitranches, integrated asset-based & cash flow solutions, subordinated debt, working capital and capex/acquisition facilities with the ability to provide underwrites and/or bridge structures. This provides our empowered investment professionals a wide platform to optimise origination efforts and to deliver financing certainty, rapidly, to clients all day, every day across the business lifecycle.
Investec is a specialist bank, serving a select client base in its two home markets of the UK and South Africa and globally. Our culture gives us our edge: we look for those with entrepreneurial thinking, and give them the freedom to share fresh ideas and build real relationships.
What does the role involve?
You will be Legal Counsel embedded in the Direct Lending team at Investec Bank plc. In particular, you will perform the following key functions:
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- Prepare, negotiate and execute all transaction documents for the full Direct Lending business (including term sheets, commitment papers, facility agreements, security agreements and all related documentation). Review and comment on legal due diligence reports and take/recommend appropriate action/mitigation steps.
- Structuring of transactions and the documenting of credit and investment proposals as required as part of a deal assessment process.
- Coordinating the execution process in relation to a transaction.
- Ensure that legal documentation entered into by the Bank or relevant debt funds is appropriate for the transaction. You will manage external counsel where necessary, identify legal risks and ensure the transaction reflects the Bank's risk appetite and complies with our internal credit approvals and policies from time to time.
- Build and effective relationships with key stakeholders (external and internal) including our clients, external finance providers, external counsel, team members and business support functions, to ensure seamless transaction execution and management of legal risk.
- Review and negotiate NDAs and release letters for the business.
Core skills and experience
What kind of skills and attributes are we looking for?
- A qualified lawyer with 2-4 years PQE gained in the banking and finance team at a leading UK or US law firm (previous in-house experience would be beneficial but not essential).
- Significant experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of banking and finance documents, including LMA based finance documents.
- Excellent organisational and prioritising skills with the ability to manage multiple work demands. You will show stamina and resilience under pressure.
- Ability to assess and interpret legal risks, particularly as flagged by any relevant credit conditions.
- Ability to flag any regulatory or compliance issues and raise these with the appropriate internal contacts.
- Interest in developing a broader understanding of commercial issues relevant to the Direct Lending business and wider Bank.
- Establish strong working relationships with your colleagues with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. You will embrace our philosophy of treating customers fairly.
- Have empathy and help foster a diverse and inclusive team and workplace.
- Strong client-centric approach based on promoting a distinctive offering with an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Strive for distinctive performance underpinned by passion, energy, stamina, and tenacity.
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As part of our collaborative & agile culture, our working week is 4 days in the office and one day remote. We believe that being together enables us to live our values and support our clients and communities in an extraordinary way.
Investec offers a range of wellbeing benefits to make our people feel healthier, balanced and more fulfilled in their lives inside and outside of work. You can find a list of our benefits here.
Embedded in our culture is a sense of belonging and inclusion. At Investec we want everyone to find it easy to be themselves, and to feel they belong. It's a responsibility we all share and is integral to our purpose and values as an organisation. We believe that innovation thrives when everyone feels respected, included, and empowered to contribute.
We actively seek out diverse talent and foster an inclusive environment, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. Here, you'll find networks, benefits, and development opportunities designed to support your career journey, wherever it may lead.
If this role excites you but you don't meet every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we are looking for. Get in touch!
At Investec, we're deeply invested in our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. It's more than a mindset; it's how we show up every day.
Be part of something Out of the Ordinary.
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We commit to ensure that everyone is fairly assessed during our recruitment process. To assist candidates in completing their application form, Recite Me assistive technology is available on our Careers pages. This can be accessed by clicking on the ‘Accessibility Options' link at the top of the page. The Recite Me tool includes a screen reader, styling and customisation options, a series of reading aids, a translator and more. If you have any form of disability or neurodivergent need and require further assistance in completing your application, please contact the Careers team at CareersUK@investec.co.uk who will be happy to assist.
Documents
- Legal Counsel - Direct Lending.pdf (292.21 KB)
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