Associate

The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity to join Trowers & Hamlins’ growing banking and finance practice in Muscat, Oman.

We are market leaders in Islamic finance and the firm has been ranked in the top tier by numerous legal directories for almost a decade in the Middle East. The firm has also acted on numerous domestic and international (Reg S) bond and Sukuk issuances including several debut and award winning issues in the Middle East.

We are looking for an experienced associate/senior associate with three to six years’ experience of banking or capital markets (debt capital markets and/or Sukuk), to work on a variety of matters with a primary focus on transactional banking, Islamic finance (particularly, Sukuk deals), corporate reorganisations, restructurings, regulatory advice and capital markets (debt capital markets) transactions representing banks, financial institutions, alternative lenders, issuers and large to medium corporates.

What you’ll be doing

• Dealing with a range of banking and finance and capital markets matters of varying sizes and complexity
• Managing due diligence processes and coordinating multidisciplinary teams
• Working closely with the corporate teams (particularly the M&A and ECM teams) to provide advice related to banking, structured finance, high yield and other capital markets matters
• Initiating, building and maintaining effective client relationships
• Pro-active involvement in marketing initiatives
• Willingness to work across a variety of banking and capital markets specialisms

What you’ll need

The firm has a Career Development Framework which sets out the competencies we expect of those at this grade. In particular for this role we require:

• Up to 3 years’ post qualification experience
• Ideally someone who is UK trained and qualified or has gained experience within the UK.
• Flexibility, positivity and an ability to work effectively in a close-knit office.
• Have an interest in, and an aptitude for, developing the firm’s business and a willingness to assist in the development of client relationships, through meetings, presentations, producing knowhow and other business development initiatives.
• Strong drafting and communication skills (you will be expected to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with key clients of the practice).
• Strong transactional track record. Significant experience of leading on transactions independently and the capacity to work with autonomy as well as part of a team.
• Extensive experience in either or both: drafting and negotiating term sheets, security documents, intercreditor agreements and LMA based facilities agreements or structured finance transactions. This is including capital markets (Sukuk and/or debt capital markets), securitisations and derivatives (ISDAs, GMRAs both Islamic and conventional). A good understanding of equity capital markets transactions will be an advantage;
• Capital markets focused candidates should have experience structuring (in case of Sukuk), drafting, reviewing, and revising prospectuses and offering circulars for a variety of offerings, underwriting and purchase and placement agreements, and fiscal agency agreements/trust deeds and closing opinions. They should have familiarity with liability management exercises; and
• Demonstrable interest in Islamic finance and the sectors in which we operate in the Middle East.