Associate: Real Estate Finance – Emea

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading corporates, funds, 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 in virtually every country of 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. And why we attract a diverse group of people.

Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Diversity is a core value of our Firm and it has been recognized with numerous awards and top rankings around the world. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages.

Our Practice Area

We offer market-leading advice across all Real Estate asset classes.  Trusted by developers, owners, investors, corporates, lenders and underwriters around the world to manage the intricacies of their transactions we provide the legal and commercial knowledge required to achieve successful outcomes. In addition to our expert grasp of deal structures and Real Estate markets, we also provide advice across all areas of Real Estate lending, including loan origination, back leverage, syndication and development financing, and across the capital stack 

From the moment you join our practice, you can expect to be working alongside leading partners within our group. A collegial working environment, we place a strong emphasis on professional development and are keen to give associates significant responsibility.

Highly varied, the projects you work on will often feature a cross-border dimension, giving you the benefit of working with—and learning from—lawyers across the firm’s international offices. Ideally positioned to integrate yourself into the firm’s global network, you will also be interacting regularly with clients and colleagues internationally.  The work can be demanding but is always rewarding—both in terms of the opportunities to improve and expand your knowledge, and the satisfaction of contributing to your team’s success.

Position Summary

We are currently looking for a strong mid-level Real Estate Finance associate to join our London office.

In addition to strong academic credentials, you should possess excellent technical skills and good knowledge and experience of the property sector. Bright and adaptable, you should be willing to work outside your comfort zone, advising on legal areas and asset classes that are not generally handled by a typical Real Estate Finance practice.

Strong oral and written communication skills will be significant assets, enabling you to explain complex legal concepts to non-lawyers, including overseas clients. Working on a relatively high volume of matters at any one time, you will need to be highly organized, adept at managing multiple workstreams and producing outstanding results within the short deadlines often demanded by our clients’ timings.

Collaborative and cooperative, you should enjoy working as part of a team, but also demonstrate an independence of thought and action—proactively anticipating clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations by developing creative and original solutions to their problems.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Assisting on a wide range of cross border Real Estate Finance transactions, on the sponsor and the lender side, and across the capital stack.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating facility agreements, security documents and other Real Estate Finance related documents.
• Managing transactions, including other White & Case offices and local counsel.
• Work closely with other members of the Real Estate Finance team as well as colleagues from other practice groups, such as Real Estate and tax, to deliver integrated legal services to clients involved in cross-border transactions.
• Provide guidance to trainees / junior associates and support staff within the Real Estate Finance practice group.
• Stay abreast of developments in Real Estate Finance law across different jurisdictions, conducting legal research and analysis as needed to ensure that clients receive accurate and up-to-date advice.   

Qualifications

• Between three and five years of post-qualification experience.
• Strong academic record and intellectual curiosity, creative thinker
• Experience and understanding of the fundamentals of Real Estate Finance transactions, from both the lender and borrower side
• Experience of Real Estate investment financings and development financing transactions
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Able to prioritise and multi-task particularly when working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Able to interact positively at all levels and be a good team player
• Methodical approach to work with a strong focus on accuracy
• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects
• Excellent drafting skills
• Driven by professional growth
• Strong professional presence  

Location & Reporting

This is a London based role with potential for international travel. This role reports to the London Real Estate Finance Partners.    

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

If you require assistance and/or accommodation to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email the recruiting contact listed for the relevant position. We will be happy to work with you.