Associate, Restructuring & Insolvency

Department: Restructuring & Insolvency
Duration: Permanent
Reports to: Partner
Direct reports: None
PQE: 0-2 years

Req nr: 8368

The Department

Dentons' Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice has one of the largest, most highly regarded teams of diverse specialists in the world. Our UKIME group comprises a core team of 20 collaborative lawyers, supported by a cross-departmental group of lawyers from the fields of dispute resolution, finance, corporate, real estate and employment, all of whom are market-leaders in their own right. Much of our work is cross-border, and we work closely with our global colleagues, leveraging our unique footprint and scale.
 
We have worked on almost all of the high-profile restructuring and insolvency cases of recent years, including Lehman Brothers, Carillion, Silicon Valley Bank, British Steel, NMC Healthcare, Toys 'R' Us, Travelodge, Intu, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Hurricane Energy, Britishvolt, Empire Cinemas and Hertz. We have in-depth experience of advising every type of stakeholder in a restructuring and insolvency scenario, from creditors (including major financial institutions) to corporations, directors, insolvency practitioners and beyond. We have also advised HM Government on a number of sensitive and strategically important matters with a potential insolvency angle.

 
The Role

You will have access to a high quality and varied caseload, working closely with the partners and senior associates, and, on larger matters, other team members. The work includes: 

• Matters arising in connection with all types of debt restructuring and insolvency situations and procedures, and for the full range of stakeholders, including financial creditors of all types, borrowers and their boards, insolvency office holders, investors and public bodies;
• A wide variety of mandates, spanning transactional, advisory and contentious, including for example:
  - Advising on debt restructuring strategies and transactions;
  - Advising on the appointment of insolvency office holders and assisting them in their roles (including contingency planning);
  - Advising on the enforcement of security in non-consensual situations (including security reviews);
  - Advising on the delivery of insolvency transactions such as administration business sales and funding arrangements;
  - Advising on insolvency disputes (for example retention of title), officeholder claims (such as wrongful trading and clawback claims), other contentious insolvency situations (for example the use of insolvency officeholders' powers of investigation, the application of statutory provisions preventing suppliers from terminating contracts and arguments around set-off) and non-contentious applications to Court (for example to extend an administration appointment).
• Advising HM Government, and public agencies and regulators, on strategic matters involving actual or potential insolvencies;
• Business development, including training and seminars;
• Developing internal know-how and business development collateral.

Required Experience, Skills and Attributes

• NQ to 2 years PQE, with experience in restructuring and insolvency law and practice;
• Clear understanding of finance and security documentation;
• Well-developed contractual drafting and negotiation skills (including experience of debt restructuring agreements, insolvency sale agreements and similar);
• Clear understanding of English civil litigation procedures generally, with specific experience in preparing Insolvency Act applications for Court (including drafting evidence);
• Enjoy working in a successful team-based environment with team members based across the UKIME and beyond;
• Client handling skills and ability to instil client confidence;
• An enthusiasm for restructuring and insolvency law, as well as the ability to give advice in a commercial context;
• An excellent academic background.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity.

Equal Opportunities

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurodiversity, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We also offer flexible working hours.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com. 

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email  recruitment.matters@dentons.com. Enquiries only please – applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, nor will we accept any associated terms of business.