Derivatives or Structured Products Associate
The Stephen James Partnership · London, England ·
Are you a Derivatives or Structured Products Associate ready to stop being a small cog in a huge machine? I'm working with a top-tier US law firm that is urgently hiring two mid-senior associates into its Derivatives & Structured Products (D&SP) team - and this is not your typical big-firm opportunity.
You'll be joining right at the ground floor of a team being built from scratch, working directly alongside the practice leads rather than buried under layers of hierarchy. Real ownership, real visibility, and a genuine path to partnership as the team scales - this is the kind of opportunity that comes around once in a career.
The team: One role sits alongside the D&SP Team Lead, focused primarily on Derivatives - Infrastructure, Real Estate Finance, and Leveraged Finance hedging across IR, FX and Commodities, alongside fund-level ISDA work. The other role sits with the Structured Products lead, focused on Structured Products, with flexibility for candidates who want broader exposure across both areas.
The team is already expanding into Prime Brokerage buy-side work for the fund formation team - you'd be getting in before that growth really takes off.
Key responsibilities include
Advising on ISDA documentation and derivatives across infrastructure, real estate finance and leveraged finance hedging. Structuring and negotiating IR, FX and Commodities hedging arrangements. Supporting fund-level ISDA and structured products work.
Playing a key role in shaping the team as it expands into Prime Brokerage and fund formation work. Who we're looking for: Mid-senior PQE associates with strong Derivatives and/or Structured Products experience. Solid ISDA documentation knowledge.
Lawyers who want ownership, not just another seat on a big team. Ambitious candidates looking for a genuine, accelerated path to partnership. This is a rare chance to join a top-tier US firm at the start of something significant - with compensation to match, including flexibility to match end-of-year bonuses for the right candidates.
If you're interested in hearing more, or know someone who may be suitable, I'd be very happy to have a confidential conversation.