Job Description

We are currently recruiting for an Associate to join our Corporate ECM team in London.

Department purpose

Our Corporate department advises across the broad spectrum of corporate work including ECM, public takeovers, private M&A, complex joint ventures, disposals and corporate redomiciliations and restructurings, as well as general commercial, antitrust and corporate governance issues. We regularly act for the world’s leading corporates, investment banks and for private equity and similar investment houses.

Our London based ECM practice is renowned in the market. We are ranked Tier 1 across all three leading legal directories, Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR 1000 and won “Equity Deal of the Year” and “Equity Team of the Year” at the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Europe Awards 2024, as well as “Equity Deal of the Year” at the IFLR Europe Awards in 2026 and 2023.

Our broader corporate team is a leading adviser having advised on more over 693 M&A deals totalling over USD457bn globally from Q1 2024 - Q1 2026 (source: Mergermarket). Our consistently high rankings in the corporate league tables highlight the strength of our practice.

The ECM team has 4 full-time partners (2 English and 2 US law qualified) based in London, in addition to a number of other London-based partners who undertake ECM and other corporate finance and M&A work involving public companies. The work is a balance of both issuer and underwriter side roles, acting on deals in the UK and across EMEA. The team is part of our broader Global ECM and EMEA M&A practices, with top tier practices in a number of jurisdictions.

Recent highlights of the ECM practice include advising on:

• the IPOs/listings of Airtel Money (the largest London IPO in more than 5 years), Dauch Corporation, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, CAB Payments, Raspberry Pi and Ithaca Energy, among the most high-profile transactions on the London Stock Exchange in the period from 2022-2026;
• the IPOs on the London Stock Exchange of Softline, Eurowag, Allegro (the largest IPO in Polish history), Moonpig, and Ninety One, as well as significant European IPOs including Czechoslovak Group (the largest European IPO in 2026), Pfisterer, Doosan Skoda Power and EnergyVision;
• rights issues for Great Portland Estates, TUI, Videndum, easyJet, Marks and Spencer, TP ICAP and Rolls Royce, and placings for Informa, WH Smith, Severn Trent, Entain, Ocado Group, Network International, Hiscox and SIG (including the first PIPE transaction in a London listed company since 2009);
• a number of IPOs on Middle East exchanges, including Dubai Investments Park, ADNOC Gas, Asyad Shipping, American Restaurants, Dubai Taxi Corporation, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Catering, Borouge, ADNOC Logistics & Services and ADNOC Distribution (x2).
• some of the most high-profile cornerstone arrangements for European IPOs, including for Norges Bank Investment Management on the EUR 9.9bn IPO of Porsche and for the Saudi Public Investment Fund on the EUR 2.5bn IPO of Thyssenkrupp Nucera, both on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange; and
• a broad range of follow-on transactions in the UK, European and Middle Eastern markets.

In addition, the ECM practice has been at the forefront of regulatory developments in the UK and Europe, helping to shape thinking around the recent reforms of the UK financial services and listings landscape. We are involved with numerous government and regulatory bodies, industry groups, trade associations and policy initiatives with respect to financial services laws, regulations and market practice.

Associates coming to this team will join one of the most successful teams in the city, will obtain some of the best experience available in the market, and will be experienced in a broad and varied spread of ECM and corporate finance work, as well as public and private M&A. Experience on secondment in the ECM legal, execution or sponsor team at a major investment bank will be of additional interest. We are focused on growing our people so that they can fulfil their potential and become the best transactional lawyers.

Role & responsibilities

• Providing strategic and transactional advice and guidance to clients
• Transaction management, and team coordination / development
• Managing client coordination and project delivery appropriately
• Drafting, reviewing, amending and negotiating documentation
• Advising on risk management, corporate governance and broader ESG matters
• Business development - development of personal plan, assistance with and implementation of ECM business development campaign

Key requirements

• English law qualified lawyer - 3-6 PQE
• Strong technical knowledge with regards to ECM and corporate finance / public company law and regulation
• Strong transactional experience in ECM and M&A transactions involving public companies
• Intellectual curiosity and versatility
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Excellent client relationship skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Collaborative team player
• A person of sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.