Legal Counsel jobs in United Kingdom

We are seeking an experienced in‑house lawyer to join our Legal team supporting the Fixed Income division within the public trading business of the investment bank. The successful candidate will provide legal advice and transactional support across a broad range of fixed income products, with a particular focus on trading and settlement of par and distressed loans, bonds, credit claims, litigation claims, restructured and post re‑org assets.

Relevant experience in the UK practice of a leading international law firm or financial institution will be an advantage, however, the candidate need not have direct experience in all areas listed above but should be a lateral thinker, enthusiastic and keen to learn and step outside their comfort zone. The Legal team sit on the trading floor which is a fast‑paced environment which requires the confidence and technical knowledge to respond quickly. This is a unique opportunity for a self‑motivated team player with excellent communication skills, looking to join a dynamic company and provide significant value‑add to the business.

• Advise on legal and regulatory issues relating to fixed income products, including bonds, loans, claims and structured credit.
• Provide specialist support on market making and trading of distressed debt transactions, loan restructurings, and secondary loan trading, including par and distressed trades.
• Draft, review, and negotiate trade documentation, settlement agreements, and related contracts (e.g., LMA/LSTA standard documentation and bespoke documentation as required).
• Liaise with front‑office teams, operations, compliance, and external counsel to ensure timely and accurate execution of transactions.
• Monitor and interpret relevant legal and regulatory developments impacting the fixed income and loan trading markets.
• Assist in managing legal risk and implementing best practices for documentation and settlement processes.
• Support internal governance, policy development, and training initiatives for the Fixed Income business.

• Qualified lawyer (UK or Commonwealth jurisdiction) with 4+ years PQE (private practice or in‑house).
• Strong experience in debt restructuring, distressed debt, and loan trading (including par and distressed).
• Familiarity with LMA/LSTA documentation and settlement mechanics.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g., UK/EU financial regulations, insolvency laws).
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions and stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment.

• Be prepared to be responsible for a wide variety of enquiries and matters and be able to juggle and prioritise a demanding workload;
• Be able to provide advice in a concise and timely manner to senior and junior members of the business teams;
• Have a sound commercial head and an instinctive ability to get to the heart of issues as they present themselves;
• Be comfortable negotiating with external counterparties.
• Ability to work collaboratively across business lines and jurisdictions.

Jefferies is a leading global, full‑service investment banking and capital markets firm that provides advisory, sales and trading, research, and wealth and asset management services. With more than 40 offices around the world, we offer insights and expertise to investors, companies, and governments.

At Jefferies, we believe that diversity fosters creativity, innovation and thought leadership through the infusion of new ideas and perspectives. We have made a commitment to building a culture that provides opportunities for all employees regardless of our differences and supports a workforce that is reflective of the communities where we work and live. As a result, we are able to pool our collective insights and intelligence to provide fresh and innovative thinking for our clients.

Jefferies is an equal employment opportunity employer, and takes affirmative action to ensure that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, genetic information, reproductive health decisions, or any other factor protected by applicable law. We are committed to hiring the most qualified applicants and complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws. As part of this commitment, Jefferies will extend reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, as required by applicable law.