Incentives Associate - London Area, United Kingdom - Slaughter and May

Description

We are offering a fantastic opportunity for a professional, technically strong and ambitious individual to join us as an Associate in our highly regarded Incentives practice.

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised throughout the business community for its exceptional legal service, commerciality and commitment to clients. We advise across the spectrum of legal matters including high-profile, ground-breaking and complex transactions, contentious matters and all aspects of risk. We deliver innovative and bespoke solutions to our clients, domestically and internationally, providing clear legal advice that spans the globe whilst tackling the cultural nuances between jurisdictions. Our lawyers understand how to coordinate and manage matters in the jurisdictions most relevant to our clients.

At Slaughter and May, with over 1,400 partners and employees worldwide, everyone's contribution is valued, and we all enjoy an open, friendly and supportive environment. We have an underlying sense of pride in who we are and what we do, and our inclusive culture gives rise to a unique diversity of thinking, which is critical to our success and helps maintain our position as a true market leader. To support our employees in achieving their professional development objectives, we offer an unrivalled variety of learning and development opportunities to everyone, as well as a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

The matters we work on are generally challenging and sophisticated. We do, however, aim to give associates as much responsibility and client contact as they are ready for.

Group structure of our Incentives practice

Our Incentives practice is part of our integrated Pensions, Employment and Incentives group which is led by 5 Partners and currently has 28 Associates, 6 professional support lawyers and 7 Trainees advising on employment, incentives and pensions. Many of our lawyers advise in two or more of these areas. As an incentives associate with us, you will potentially work with any of the incentives partners and senior counsel in the PEI group and also with partners and other colleagues from the Corporate, Private Equity, Financial Institutions and Tax practices.

The group's work in relation to incentives includes some of the largest transactions such as takeovers, private M&A deals business transfers, IPOs, demergers, outsourcings and restructuring and insolvency scenarios. .

Our incentives work also involves advising public and private companies on incentivisation and remuneration arrangements for their executives, including the design, implementation and operation of cash and equity based incentive arrangements such as long-term incentive plans, growth share schemes and phantom plans. We advise on the management incentivisation aspects of private equity transactions on UK corporate governance requirements relating to executive remuneration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES //

The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed.

• Acting as the day-to-day contact for advising clients on a wide range of share plan and incentives issues, including remuneration and corporate governance
• Drafting, reviewing and amending the legal and commercial aspects of incentives documentation
• Taking responsibility for the share plan and incentives aspects of corporate transactions of all kinds
• Delivering first line support to clients on some matters, and working within a larger team of colleagues, at a range of experience levels, on others
• Managing/supervising the work of others including trainees
• Taking responsibility for working with other parts of the firm in advising on all of these areas
• Developing the practice by promoting the firm and its work – both to existing and potential clients and by contributing to the creation of know-how, including client bulletins and other client and firm-facing training events

CANDIDATE PROFILE //

Suitable candidates for this position must have:

• At least three years' post qualification experience, at least partially in incentives, although we are interested to meet candidates whose primary experience is corporate / private equity work but would like to focus on management incentivisation going forward. Experience of private equity management incentivisation arrangements and related tax would also be beneficial
• A strong academic background and a demonstrable, high level of intellectual rigour and outstanding analytical abilities
• The flexibility and willingness to support on straightforward employment or other matters, as required
• Ability to draft, advise and negotiate in relation to complex transactions and cases, identifying and explaining key technical issues commercially and succinctly
• First rate legal/commercial knowledge and technical skills
• Excellent client relationship skills
• Excellent transaction management skills
• Pragmatism and commerciality
• Ability to develop and work in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging environment
• Resilience under pressure and an ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines
• Experience in running negotiations/meetings under minimal supervision
• A high level of professionalism and integrity