Associate Finance Innovation Economy & Private Capital

Latham & Watkins is one of the worlds leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers globally and offer unmatched expertise and resources to help you grow from an intellectually curious self-starter into an exceptional lawyer. If you aspire to be the best this is where you belong.

Lathams Banking & Private Credit Practice leads the market in every major financial center worldwide. We advise a diverse range of credit providers including banks financial institutions and private credit funds as well as borrowers ranging from major public companies and sponsors to startups and growth companies. This vast scale and deep experience provide Latham with an unmatched 360-degree view of public and private markets.

Always Ahead of the Market
We see more deals than any other law firm annually advising on hundreds of financings valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. Our practice distinguished by its breadth and sophistication covers every key product and deal type in every major market. With a track record of firsts we consistently top global league tables and industry rankings and remain ahead of market shifts.

Leveraged Finance Leader
Lathams deep understanding of the sponsor market and trend-setting capabilities uniquely position us to advise both lenders and borrowers on leveraged and acquisition financings. We navigate the complexities of syndicated and private credit markets providing strategic advice to major players across all industries. Our pioneering work in the direct lending market enhances our ability to guide direct lenders and their borrowers through complex deals leveraging market-leading capital markets M&A and restructuring experience to develop innovative structures and facilitate efficient dealmaking.

Prowess in Syndicated Lending
Our broad and sophistication practice covers every key market structure and deal type in the syndicated market. With our global footprint we regularly top the legal advisor league tables for syndicated lending and have worked on many of the largest and most complex leveraged buyouts in multiple jurisdictions. With decades of experience guiding clients through broadly syndicated loans and asset-backed lending transactions we are a key port of call for investment banks and borrowers alike when navigating this complex marketplace.

Private Credit Pioneer
Our practice built on a foundation of innovation and experience counts as clients the most active lenders funds credit platforms and investment managers as well as borrowers in a wide range of transactions from the middle market to large-cap. We routinely guide sophisticated private capital providers through:

First and second lien loans
Unitranche loans
Mezzanine loans
Asset-based loans including first-in last-out (FILO) loans
Preferred equity and other junior capital transactions
Our experience spans deal sizes from the middle market to complex multi-billion dollar unitranche transactions. We design and implement multi-tiered capital structures addressing subordination security intercreditor issues restructurings equity co-investments and tax and regulatory matters.

Excellence Across Syndicated and Private Markets
Clients benefit from our profound market understanding and strong relationships with key players including leading global banks private capital funds financial sponsors information sources and other market participants. We collaborate across Lathams global private capital platform to deliver seamless services tailored to each clients strategy and transaction objectives. We draw on our vast network to answer niche questions meet client needs and make transactions work for all parties.

Built for Complexity
Our Banking & Private Credit Practice is built for complex cutting-edge and consequential deals. This vantage point allows us to anticipate market shifts and tailor solutions to specific financial goals and risk appetites accelerating growth and unlocking shareholder value through creative and innovative financing strategies. Our team is strategically positioned to advise and address the needs of our clients in any market drawing on a winning complement of deep product expertise innovation and exceptional execution capabilities.

Latham & Watkins is seeking outstanding mid-level and senior finance associates to join our growing Innovation Economy Finance practice in the Bay Area.

Our lawyers help the companies and investors shaping the next generation of technology life sciences AI fintech digital infrastructure and other high-growth industries access capital through sophisticated and innovative financing solutions.

Working closely with our market-leading Emerging Companies & Growth Private Equity M&A Capital Markets and Investment Funds practices we advise founders venture-backed companies growth-stage businesses private equity sponsors venture capital funds growth equity investors private credit funds banks and other institutional lenders on complex financing transactions across every stage of the business lifecycle.

This is a unique opportunity to build a finance practice that sits at the intersection of banking private capital and innovation.

Representative Matters
Associates will advise on a broad range of financing transactions including:
Venture debt and growth capital facilities
Bilateral and syndicated credit facilities
Acquisition financings
Recurring revenue and cash flow-based financings
Asset-based and structured financings
Convertible and hybrid financing structures
Subscription and NAV facilities
Warehouse and other specialty finance transactions
Cross-border financing transactions
Bespoke financing solutions supporting strategic investments acquisitions and other transformational transactions
Our practice is driven by creativity. Many of our matters involve developing financing structures for companies and investors operating in rapidly evolving industries where traditional lending models do not always fit. Associates are encouraged to think commercially collaborate across practices and help clients execute transactions that support growth and innovation.

Meaningful Responsibility
Associates are expected to:
Lead transaction execution and manage financing processes
Draft and negotiate credit agreements commitment papers collateral documents and related financing documentation
Work directly with borrowers lenders sponsors founders and investment professionals
Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across corporate tax intellectual property restructuring executive compensation and regulatory practices
Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to business development initiatives

Qualifications
We are seeking candidates with:
Approximately 37 years of experience in banking finance leveraged finance private credit venture lending or related financing transactions
Strong experience representing borrowers lenders sponsors or investors
Excellent drafting negotiation and project management skills
Outstanding academic credentials and communication abilities
California bar admission (or eligibility for admission)
Candidates with experience in acquisition finance private credit venture lending structured finance fund finance or other sophisticated financing transactions are encouraged to apply.

Why Latham
Latham offers something few firms can: a finance platform that works seamlessly with one of the worlds leading private equity emerging companies M&A capital markets restructuring and investment funds practices.

Our Bay Area finance team is deeply integrated into the regions innovation ecosystem while leveraging the resources of a premier global finance practice. Associates work on cutting-edge financing transactions collaborate with market-leading lawyers across disciplines and offices and help develop creative capital solutions for some of the worlds most innovative companies and investors.
If you are looking to build a finance practice that goes beyond traditional lending and helps shape how innovative businesses are financed we invite you to join us.

Lateral Recruiting Finance

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