Junior to Mid-Level Associate - Financial Institutions Group

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
 

The role

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is part of the corporate practice area and focuses on transactional and advisory work in the financial services sector. The group has a pre-eminent position within the UK and international legal marketplace (tier 1 for high value Corporate/M&A and Corporate Insurance in the legal directories). FIG's clients include banks, insurers, asset managers, private equity investors and other financial institutions. The group's work is varied and includes corporate finance transactional work such as mergers and acquisitions, complex group restructurings, capital raisings, take-overs, IPOs, joint ventures and distribution agreements, as well as corporate advisory and insurance regulatory advice.

The group is key to the Firm's ranking in the Global Insurance Sector – in which we advise the world's leading insurers and reinsurers on complex transactions, financing, regulatory and commercial matters. The team is an award winning, Tier 1 Chambers ranked global practice of over 200 fee-earners providing first class domestic and cross-border advice across the world's financial centres and the emerging markets.
 

Who you will work with

We have a reputation for advising financial institutions on complex strategic transactions. Our global corporate finance practice advises on the full range of public and private transactions.

The group consists of five partners, twelve associates, and a dedicated PSL. Our team works closely with regulatory, banking & finance, capital markets, antitrust, tax, real estate and IP specialists on many of our matters allowing us to provide our clients with an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge.
 

What you will be responsible for

As an associate in our leading practice, you will work at the forefront of the market advising financial sector clients across banking, insurance and asset management.

• You will be working as part of cross-border and interdisciplinary teams to advise on corporate finance activities, ensuring compliance with local laws and business requirements.
• You will provide legal and commercial expertise on and lead and manage complex M&A transactions, large scale re-organisations and joint venture arrangements as well as corporate advisory work for listed financial institution clients and insurance regulatory work.
• Developing relationships with clients and actively engaging in business development and thought leadership initiatives and seeking out opportunities for new work.
• Drafting legal documents clearly and concisely, creating solutions using legal knowledge and commercial judgement to advise and support leading multi-national financial institutions.
   

Your experience

You will have a solid background in corporate work, with solid transactional experience gained through working in a similar group probably at a City firm, or at an overseas common law practice with a highly regarded profile. You will have M&A experience of advising clients and a strong desire to develop a career as a corporate lawyer.  Some experience of advising Financial Institutions on these types of transactions would be beneficial but is not essential.  You will naturally be able to demonstrate excellent document drafting skills. You should demonstrate strong communication and analytical skills along with a high level of commercial awareness.

You will be expected to demonstrate resilience and the ability to sustain high‑quality work while managing demanding workloads and time‑critical matters. Success in this role requires thriving under pressure, maintaining exceptional professional standards, and consistently delivering commercially focused, client‑driven outcomes. You should also be able to show substantial experience collaborating effectively with multi‑jurisdictional and multi‑disciplinary teams on complex matters. 

It is essential that you demonstrate a genuine commitment to business development, proactive client relationship management, and contributing to the firm’s thought leadership agenda. You should be able to show that you take initiative in identifying opportunities, nurturing client engagement, and enhancing the firm’s market profile.
 

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

• You will be working for a firm which is ranked #1 in both Chambers UK and Legal 500 for this group.
• You will be working with a broad range of clients and the firm's other teams and practice areas, not only in London, but across the globe.
• You will be exposed to work which often involves complex, high value matters that frequently headline in the financial and business press.
• You will have extensive client contact both as part of your daily working routine but also have the opportunity to develop client contacts through recognized seminars for our key clients, including providing client training.
• You will develop an unbeatable multi-disciplinary skill set as well as client facing skills whilst working with some of the best-known market leaders in their respective practice areas.
• We will provide the opportunity for you to develop as a recognized practitioner in the field.
   

Hybrid working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
 

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site. 
 

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.