Legal Counsel, Corporate and Securities

THE ROLE

We are looking for an ambitious junior qualified solicitor to join our Corporate and Securities team based in London and New York, working with several senior lawyers and a paralegal.  The role will involve a wide range of transactional and advisory work.  The ideal candidate will be a proactive self-starter with excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously and efficiently to meet competing deadlines while maintaining the utmost professionalism.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate and securities transactions 

• Support management in a wide range of financing transactions such as bank financings, bond issuances and securitizations and M&A activity.    
• As appropriate, lead legal support on lower risk matters such as obtaining incremental lending on existing financing platforms/extension of existing loans or work alongside more senior lawyers on more complex matters.  
• Lead internal documentary due diligence/disclosure exercises in complex and/or large transactions and provide other transactional review/input as appropriate.
• Advise on terms of existing financings and acquisitions/disposals to answer queries raised by management.

UK & US corporate governance

• Lead day to day company secretarial support with Sotheby’s subsidiary companies in the UK,  and the US,  e.g. timely Companies House filings, board minutes/resolutions, shareholder resolutions, powers of attorney, arranging subsidiary board meetings.
• As requested, support the activities of the Sotheby’s group board of directors.
• Maintaining US and UK corporate records on Diligent and iManage, ensuring good housekeeping.
• Partner with colleagues in tax, finance and treasury to support the internal capital, liquidity and financial reporting needs of the group on matters such as:
• Capital injections e.g. subsidiary share issuances
• Intra-group loan arrangements
• Dividends and distribution
• Annual statutory accounts for UK companies
• Deal with a broad range of questions and requests from colleagues 
• Prepare, maintain and update standard form template documents 

Group wide subsidiary management

• Act as the day-to-day operational lead on the subsidiary management framework, liaising with local teams to drive compliance and good governance. Work with local office teams to connect them with local providers of corporate secretariat services and train on expectations.  
• Advise on legal and governance aspects of setting up new legal entities (including in new countries) and closing entities no longer required.
• Identify and manage implementing processes or systems and reviewing policies and processes to help ensure good management of the organisation or compliance with legislation 
• Oversee management of the D&O indemnity program

General

• Ensure processes are in place to deal with incoming Know Your Client obligations around corporate legal information and group holding structure, providing and coordinating responses.
• Support the DGC in managing the budget of the team.
• Manage external counsel and other providers including setting, tracking and reporting on spend.  
• Take on projects as requested by DGC.
• Assisting with the Legal Department's global workload where required.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

• Must be a qualified solicitor in England & Wales.  Likely to be 0-2 years PQE. Strong academic record with minimum 2.1 degree.
• Completed a training contract at a large or medium sized law firm or an inhouse legal function, with experience of corporate and/or financing matters. 

• Able to perform and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously and efficiently meet competing deadlines while maintaining the utmost professionalism.
• Takes clear ownership of matters, project manages with colleagues as required and follows through on delivery.
• Excellent communication skills (written and spoken).
• Enthusiastic, with a flexible approach balanced by appreciation of the need for discretion / confidentiality.
• Strong team player and confident in dealing directly with a variety of colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of seniority in a purposeful and constructive manner, often in highly pressurised situations.
• Keen to learn and grow professionally.
• Ability to interact calmly, patiently, and professionally in challenging situations.
• Must demonstrate the highest degree of integrity and ethical judgment.
• Any other language that overlaps with Sotheby’s footprint is beneficial but not required.
• Art related experience is not required.