Council, Fixed Income

Job Title: Counsel, Public Fixed Income

Location: London, UK

The Position:

Barings is looking for an attorney to join its Legal Department in the Public Fixed Income Team. The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for providing advice with respect to issues related to syndicated leveraged bank loans, bond investments and trading of distressed debt.

The role will primarily support the Barings London-based operations but will frequently work with the legal team in the US and report to the Head of the Public Fixed Income Legal Team based in the US.

The Team:

The Global Legal function is responsible for the management of legal risk and the provision of legal services for Barings' business worldwide. The function also encompasses company secretarial and governance support across the Group.

Principal Responsibilities

Key tasks

• Provide day to day support to fixed income research analysts and portfolio managers on issues related to investments in high yield bonds and syndicated leveraged loans, including legal analysis of credit documents and bond indentures
• Reviewing, negotiating and finalizing documents related to trading of syndicated bank loans
• Provide legal analysis for distressed credits and support for workouts and restructurings
• Assist with drafting and negotiating investment management agreements and sub-investment management agreements
• Provide internal legal advice for new and existing Barings investment funds (UCITS, QIAIF, QIF, SICAVs-SIFs, RAIFs, and limited partnerships) and managed accounts
• Liaise with Legal, Compliance and Risk professionals internally and externally including fund administrators to ensure that high quality advice is provided to the global business
• Build relationships with and work alongside teams within the business including Product Management, Distribution, Operations, Compliance and Risk functions and other members of the global Legal Team, as appropriate
• Assist with the identification of general corporate, tax, risk, regulatory, legal and compliance issues and retain and interface with external law firms in order to render appropriate legal advice regarding the same
• Assist with organisation of legal training programme

Skills and Experience Required:

• Qualified lawyer with 3+ PQE experience working in leveraged loans, corporate finance, bankruptcy or distressed debt department of a law firm or financial institution
• Previous in-house experience is preferred but not required
• Experience working on broadly syndicated loan documentation, particularly covenant provisions.
• Familiarity with New York law governed credit agreements
• Experience with credit documentation including credit agreements, indentures and intercreditor agreements.
• Strong contract skills are essential as well as experience in, and understanding of, general corporate matters
• Ability to appropriately prioritize tasks, organize, and coordinate work while showing initiative and sound judgment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Ability and willingness to take ownership and responsibility for tasks
• Detail-oriented and flexible with a strong work ethic
• High standards of personal integrity
• Diverse problem solving skills in the investment arena
• Significant interpersonal skills and the ability to successfully deal with internal colleagues, external counsel and other third parties at senior levels
• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel