Rodeo
Get started

Shoosmiths

Senior Associate / Principal Associate

Leeds
Posted about 21 hours ago
Sign up to applySee more jobs like this

How your CV stacks up

1Upload CV
2Analyse CV
3Improve CV

Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role

?%

The Role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Senior or Principal Associate to join our market leading Leveraged Finance practice with a focus on developing our expertise and market share across Leeds and the North. We have an established banking team nationally which operate as one therefore, you'll benefit from taking part in shaping the local team and brand whilst having the structure and support to help you progress in your career.

The work on offer is varied with a focus on leveraged finance, corporate financings, corporate / sponsor led transactions and growth lending / venture debt. We work across the full transaction lifecycle including drafting and negotiating facilities agreements and security documents (both LMA and non-LMA form), negotiating intercreditor arrangements and working closely with our corporate and restructuring teams. The team also does a material amount of in life work on a portfolio basis working with lenders and borrowers on restructures, re-sets, restatements and bolt-ons. Our work is local, national and international.

With a consistent volume of transactions, this is an excellent platform to assume matter responsibility and there is ample opportunity to participate in client development initiatives.

The Team

Our national banking and finance team advises clients on a range of financing transactions across a wide variety of sectors, often with a multi-jurisdictional element. Acting for borrowers, lenders and investors means we have a practical understanding of the needs of all parties to a financing transaction. Our expertise extends to corporate lending, leverage finance, asset finance, real estate finance (investment and development), project finance and invoice discounting both on a bilateral and a syndicated basis. We work closely with some of the UK's major banks and financial institutions and have approved panel status with many of them.

Our Leeds office is dynamic and entrepreneurial, affording a great opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to contribute to expansion of the practice and to advance personally. As a core Shoosmiths office, Leeds is at the centre of the firm's development and growth strategy.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

See breakdown
Save jobNot relevant
View details

It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

See breakdown
Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

See breakdown
Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

Skills and Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have at least 6 years PQE and have strong leveraged finance (as well as cashflow and general banking) experience at their current firm; they will be naturally proactive in their approach and will be as passionate as us in what we do. You will have experience liaising with lenders, borrowers, intermediaries and/or investors on the full transaction lifecycle.

As a people centric business, we invest heavily in developing our people by providing an innovative, flexible and supportive environment.

The Firm

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

To discover more about our benefits, please visit: [Benefits Package](Benefits Package)

Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme replaced the Two Ticks Positive about Disabled People scheme. We had been accredited as a two tick employer for many years - Disability Confident broadens and develops that original commitment, and demonstrates we have adopted a proactive approach to employing disabled people and developing their abilities.

Get help with your application

Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.

Get help applying for this job

As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received.

Further information on the Disability Confident scheme is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on Experienced.Hire@shoosmiths.com. We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.

Equal Opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

Trusted by 25,000+ job seekers

“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Jessica, London

Get help applying for this job

Skills

Leveraged Finance
Corporate Financing
Drafting Facilities Agreements
Negotiating Security Documents
Intercreditor Arrangements
Venture Debt
Growth Lending
LMA Documentation
Client Development
Matter Responsibility
Corporate Lending
Asset Finance
Real Estate Finance
Project Finance
Invoice Discounting
Syndicated Lending

Location

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Sign up to applySee more jobs like this