Job Description
The role
Our global Private Equity group lies at the heart of the Firm's business strategy and, in London, the group sits at the hub of our Corporate practice. It offers unparalleled opportunities to work on the most high-profile and market-leading mandates. The group advises an impressive range of clients, covering a wide variety of financial sponsors (including many leading international private equity houses, infrastructure and other investment funds, banks and other financial institutions), their portfolio companies and management teams. The group is supported by the Firm's integrated network of offices (providing the largest geographic coverage of any single law firm) as well as expertise in other key complementary practice areas (including acquisition finance, capital markets, funds and regulatory) and industry sectors to offer clients unrivalled strength and depth of resource.
Our global team is best known for our capacity to lead on PE transactions of any nature and anywhere in the world. Having been leaders in PE since its inception 40 years ago and with over 700 private equity lawyers across our offices, the diversity of our clients and product areas, the geographies we work in, and our wider industry knowledge gives us a global perspective on private equity trends and issues.
We continue to be recognised by leading industry bodies for our market leading work with some of the largest global PE houses choosing to repeatedly work with us.
Over the past 12 months, our London private equity team has advised the following PE clients on multiple deals: Ardian, Blackstone, Carlyle, Cinven, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, CVC, Davidson Kempner, Elliott, EQT, KKR, ONEX, PAI Partners, Partners Group, Permira, Rivean Capital, TPG.
Recent Awards include:
- Chambers 2023 – Infrastructure (UK)
- Legal 500 2023 – Infrastructure (UK)
- Chambers 2023 – Private Equity (UK)
Below is a sample list of our notable PE Deals:
- EQT on the acquisition of AMCS from Insight Capital and other
- Permira on its sale of alterDomus to Cinven
- Partners Group on its transaction to increase its equity stake in Swiss watchmaker Breitling
- CD&R portfolio company WSH on their acquisition of Notes Coffee
- Blackstone on the merger of its portfolio company The Office Group (TOG) with Fora
- a PE bidder on its proposed acquisition of Fedrigoni, the Italian paper manufacturer, from Bain Capital
- Onex on its acquisition of Independent Clinical Services from TowerBrook Capital
- CVC and Cinven on their acquisition of the NewDay Group for £1.1 billion
Who you will work with
The lawyers in our Private Equity group are at the centre of market leading transactions, not only as legal advisers but working closely with clients at a strategic and business level. The entrepreneurial nature of the Private Equity deals that we work on requires lawyers with a unique blend of specialist skills. In today's challenging market environment, we play a key role to our clients as a strategic adviser, requiring practical, commercially minded legal advice to help them and their portfolio companies respond swiftly and effectively to the challenges and opportunities they face.
A core part of our private equity offering is our portfolio asset management team, who work with private equity clients and their investee companies during the lifecycle of their investment. This is primarily an opportunity to work within that team.
What you will be responsible for
- Working on certain aspects of fund and asset management, including the following workstreams:
- overseeing implementation of end-of-life liquidity solutions for funds, including summarising underlying investment related liabilities and advising on and coordinating workstreams to implement insurance solutions, trust set ups, escrow structures or similar to address such liabilities.
- overseeing, coordinating and drafting documents related to secondary transactions and restructurings, including the transfer of fund and/or direct investments across private equity, infrastructure, real estate and debt.
- reviewing, summarising and advising on conflict provisions and the implication of these in relation to specific transactions
- assisting GPs with any legal matters that may come up during the life of their fund investments, including term extensions, LPA amendments or similar
- Developing relationships with clients and actively engaging in business development and thought leadership initiatives and seeking out opportunities for new work.
- Assisting with various corporate matters relating to portfolio companies of sponsors.
- Drafting legal documents clearly and concisely, creating solutions using legal knowledge and commercial judgement to advise and support leading multi-national corporates.
- Project managing and supervising paralegals and trainees as part of a matter team.
Qualifications
Your experience
You will have a background in private fund work, with solid technical skills gained through working in a similar group probably at a city firm or equivalent in house role, or at an overseas common law practice with a highly regarded profile.
An outstanding academic history and proven first rate legal skills, combined with a strong reputation for providing commercial solutions, excellent transactional and managements skills, and be recognised as a lawyer that is sought out by existing clients.
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 need to demonstrate that you can thrive in a team with high professional standards and a flexible client-friendly commercial approach. You will have had strong exposure of collaborating with multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams.
It is crucial that you can demonstrate an appetite for business development, client relationship management and thought leadership.
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.
Company Description
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.
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.
Additional Information
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 statement
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.
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