Location: Leeds or London
Practice Area: Social, Sustainable & Green Finance
PQE Level: 5+ PQE
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Overview
A leading national and international law firm is seeking an experienced Managing Associate (5+ PQE) to join its premier Social, Sustainable and Green Finance practice. This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior finance lawyer to work at the forefront of impact-driven finance, advising on transactions that directly address some of the UK’s most urgent environmental and social challenges.
The team is recognised as the market leader in Affordable and Social Housing Finance and is widely regarded for its technical excellence, innovation and unmatched depth of expertise. You will join a supportive, collaborative and high-performing team with a strong pipeline of work and significant opportunities for long-term career development.
About the Social, Sustainable & Green Finance Team
The team is the UK’s pre-eminent practice in:
- Affordable and social housing finance
- Sustainability-linked funding
- Green finance and environmental impact transactions
- Debt capital markets for social and sustainable issuers
- Public sector and third sector funding structures
Clients include:
- Housing associations & registered providers
- Major funders & investors
- Banks, debt funds and institutional lenders
- Developers and sustainability-focused corporates
They act on all aspects of social, sustainable and green funding, including complex financing, refinancing and restructuring mandates.
Independent testimonials describe the team as:
- “A market-leading team with exceptional sector knowledge.”
- “Second to none for social housing finance expertise.”
- “A collaborative, highly experienced group that consistently adds value.”
What to Expect in This Role
High-Impact Transactional Work
You will advise on major, cutting-edge transactions, including:
- Sustainability-linked loans
- Green and social bonds
- Private placements
- Syndicated and bilateral loans
- Refinancing & restructuring
- ESG-driven lending strategies
- Funding for decarbonisation and environmental upgrades
Client Engagement & Relationship Development
- Act for leading investors, funders, registered providers and public bodies
- Build and maintain long-term client relationships
- Deliver commercially focused, innovative and practical solutions
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead on complex matters with autonomy
- Supervise and mentor junior associates, trainees and paralegals
- Support team development and contribute to a collaborative culture
Strategic Input & Business Development
- Play a meaningful role in growing the practice
- Participate in client pitches, thought leadership and sector initiatives
- Work closely with colleagues across finance, real estate and corporate teams to deliver seamless, multidisciplinary service
Professional Development
This team invests heavily in continuous learning. You will have access to:
- Legal and technical training
- Leadership and development programmes
- Coaching and mentoring
- Opportunities to broaden and deepen sector expertise
About You
You will:
- Be a qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE in finance, banking or structured finance
- Have strong technical ability (specific sector experience welcome but not essential)
- Be enthusiastic about impact finance, sustainability and ESG-driven work
- Have proven experience managing and leading complex transactions
- Be a confident communicator with excellent stakeholder management skills
- Demonstrate leadership qualities, with the ability to mentor junior colleagues
- Be commercially aware, collaborative and client-focused
- Bring energy, curiosity and a desire to work on matters that drive real social and environmental change
Why This Firm?
You will join a firm known for:
- A supportive, inclusive and ambitious culture
- Market-leading clients and high-value matters
- A commitment to innovation and sustainable finance
- Genuine opportunities for progression and leadership
- Investment in people, development and wellbeing
- A strong reputation for excellence across the finance sector
The firm celebrates diversity, values individuality and empowers its people to reach their full potential.
Why This Role?
- Work on transactions that directly contribute to social impact and sustainable development
- Join a practice with genuine market leadership and reputation
- Gain exposure to high-profile, innovative and complex financing structures
- Enjoy significant responsibility from day one
- Build a long-term future within a growing, high-impact team