The Role This is an excellent opportunity to work within a specialist finance practice outside London and with a team that is top-ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500. This fast-growing and dynamic team carry out a wide variety of work, covering acquisition/leveraged finance, real estate finance, asset based lending, trade finance, general corporate lending, venture and shareholder debt and corporate cross-over debt products. We are one of the few firms located entirely outside London who can comfortably manage high value syndicated finance transactions and smaller value bilateral deals. We also have significant international reach, with well-established links across the world with tried and tested partner firms who frequently engage us on the English law aspects of banking and finance transactions. Recent highlights include work for Lloyds,Oaknorth, HSBC, RBC, Innervation Capital Partners, Crosstree Real Estate Partners, Aspria, Cove Hill Partners, Prax Petroleum and Samsung. Training and knowledge management is first class. So too supervision and coaching. Like the firm as a whole, the team environment is friendly and supportive and all team members have the opportunity to do interesting and challenging work and to participate in business development, knowledge sharing, training and CSR/ESG/pro bono initiatives. Qualifications and Experience We are looking for a technically strong, personable, versatile, commercially minded and ambitious lawyer with high quality experience and good academics – typically with a major London or leading national/regional practice – to pursue a career in banking and finance with us in the long term. The role requires a commercial approach with excellent technical, communication and negotiation skills. An appetite for business development will be a definite advantage. The Opportunity Competitive base salary Pensions Scheme (5% employer contribution) Private medical insurance Permanent health insurance Life assurance Receive either the sum of £750 per annum as a travel allowance or reimbursement of carparking expenses via a pay as you go card at a local carpark (likely to be Farnham Road carpark) Travel – option to apply for an interest free loan for a season ticket or parking permit Enhanced maternity/paternity pay (after sufficient service) Cash back scheme Comprehensive flexible benefits package including: Critical illness insurance Buy/Sell holiday scheme Dental insurance Cycle to work schemes Taste card Fun pass Give as you earn Discounted gym memberships and shopping Profit share and discretionary bonus schemes The Firm Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce. We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the upcoming Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both “Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year” – Legal Business Awards 2023 and “Law Firm of the Year” – SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for “Law Firm of the Year: The Independents” – The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for “UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm” – The British Legal Awards 2023 and “Workplace Fit-out of the Year” – Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation. We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service. We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities. Diversity & Inclusion We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.