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Diavin International

Diavin International

LEVERAGED FINANCE / HIGH YIELD ASSOCIATE

London On-site 2-5 yrs exp Staffing and Recruiting 1 employees£206k – £340k / year
Leveraged FinanceHigh YieldDraftingNegotiationTransaction Management

Requirements

Candidates should have 2-4 years of post-qualification experience in leveraged finance or high-yield law at a leading firm. Strong drafting skills and experience with complex cross-border financing are required.

Job Description

LEVERAGED FINANCE / HIGH YIELD ASSOCIATE

London | 2–4 PQE | Permanent

Top-of-market US remuneration | Visa sponsorship available


THE OPPORTUNITY

Diavin International Recruitment is working with an elite US law firm seeking a leveraged finance and/or high-yield lawyer to join its growing London finance practice.

The team is being developed as a genuinely integrated leveraged finance and high-yield practice, combining English-law leveraged lending with New York-law capital markets capability.

This represents a rare opportunity for an associate to build a balanced practice across both loans and bonds, rather than becoming confined to one product area. Candidates whose current experience is weighted towards either leveraged finance or high yield will have the opportunity to develop meaningful capability across both.


THE PRACTICE

The team advises leading investment banks, commercial banks, private lenders, sponsors and corporates on complex European, US and cross-border transactions, including:

• Syndicated TLBs and acquisition financings

• Secured and unsecured high-yield offerings

• Bridge facilities and loan commitments

• Private credit and direct-lending transactions

• Refinancings and recapitalisations

• Liability-management and restructuring transactions

The London platform is at an important stage of its development, offering the entrepreneurial appeal of joining a growing team alongside the deal flow, resources and reputation of one of the world’s leading leveraged finance practices.


THE ROLE

The successful associate will work closely with leading London and New York finance partners across transactions spanning the capital structure.

Responsibilities will include:

• Drafting and negotiating financing and transaction documentation

• Managing key workstreams across complex cross-border matters

• Coordinating with clients, opposing counsel, local counsel and specialist teams

• Supporting transaction execution from initial structuring through signing and closing

• Advising clients on market developments and financing terms

• Developing experience across both leveraged lending and high-yield products


CANDIDATE PROFILE

The firm is interested in candidates who have:

• Approximately 2–4 years’ relevant post-qualification experience

• Strong leveraged finance and/or high-yield experience gained at a leading law firm

• Experience working on complex, cross-border financing transactions

• High-quality drafting and transaction-management skills

• Strong commercial judgement and attention to detail

• The ability to take responsibility for substantive workstreams

• An interest in developing a genuinely balanced loans and bonds practice

Candidates are not expected to have equal experience across leveraged finance and high yield. The opportunity may be particularly attractive to lawyers whose current practice is concentrated on one side and who want to broaden their long-term technical capability and marketability.


WHAT THE FIRM OFFERS

• A genuinely integrated leveraged finance and high-yield practice

• Exposure to both English-law lending and New York-law capital markets work

• The opportunity to work with leading finance partners in London and New York

• Complex, high-value European and cross-border transactions

• The chance to join a growing London team at a formative stage of its development

• Top-of-market US remuneration

• Visa sponsorship for suitable international candidates


APPLICATIONS

Please apply through LinkedIn with an up-to-date CV.


All applications and conversations will be treated in strict confidence. Candidates who would prefer an initial confidential discussion before applying are welcome to contact:


Ciarán O’Connor

Director, Diavin International Recruitment

Ciaran@diavin-international.com


Education

Postgraduate Degree

Skills

Leveraged FinanceHigh YieldDraftingNegotiationTransaction ManagementCross-border FinancingEnglish LawNew York LawCapital MarketsSyndicated LoansPrivate CreditLiability Management

About Diavin International

Diavin International Recruitment advises leading law firms and exceptional lawyers on strategic hiring across London and international markets. We specialise in Private Equity, Corporate M&A, Investment Funds and Banking & Finance, working closely with US, Magic Circle, Silver Circle and other leading international firms. Our work spans associate, senior associate and partner-level mandates across London, the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our approach is deliberately relationship-led. We partner closely with a select number of clients and candidates, enabling us to provide thoughtful, informed advice rather than transactional introductions. Each instruction is managed with discretion, clarity and full accountability from start to finish. What distinguishes Diavin is our focus on long-term alignment. We invest the time to understand the commercial priorities of the firm and the career ambitions of the lawyer, ensuring every introduction is measured against genuine strategic fit rather than short-term movement. Candidates work directly with a dedicated advisor who understands their situation in depth. Communication is consistent and transparent throughout the process. CVs are handled with care and are never circulated without clear instruction and consent. We believe legal careers and strategic hires are significant decisions that deserve judgement, discretion and partnership. We believe the best outcomes are built on trust, judgement and long-term partnership — not volume.