Attention all law students with an interest in finance or infrastructure projects, and a keen eye for detail! Are you on the hunt for a clerkship that offers a fast-paced and rewarding experience in the legal and financial world?
Look no further than the Banking + Project (B+P) team!
About the B+P team
The B+P team consists of experts from Banking + Finance (B+F), Energy + Infrastructure (E+I) and Restructure + Insolvency (R+I) teams. Each work stream is vastly different yet equally intriguing.
The B+F team advises clients on complex financial transactions, such as acquisition, debt and equity offerings, and structured finance transactions. They review and negotiate transactional documents, including loan agreements and security documents, and work closely with clients to ensure that the transaction is structured in a way that meets their needs and is compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
The E+I team is highly experienced in advising on a range of matters in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including project financing, construction and development agreements, and acquisitions and disposals. They are also known for their expertise in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms. The E+I team has a growing portfolio of work, making it an exciting and dynamic team to be a part of.
Finally, the R+I team is known for their expertise in managing insolvency matters, including receiverships, liquidations, and voluntary administrations. In addition to transactional work, R+I lawyers are actively involved in litigations. In recent years, the R+I team has responded to a rising demand by expanding their expertise and resources to help clients navigate rapidly evolving economic landscape.
The B+P team is made up of lawyers with a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, including lawyers with experience in top-tier law firms, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions in Australia and overseas.
What it is like working at G+T in the B+P team
Working in the B+P team at Gilbert + Tobin is an incredibly engaging experience. From early days, you are encouraged to take on as much responsibility as you are comfortable with. The wide scope of expertise in the team means that B+P lawyers work with clients in different industries and on transactions of different sizes and complexities, from bilateral loans to large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
As a junior, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced lawyers in the industry, and you will be given the chance to contribute to high-level workstreams on some of the biggest deals in the market. This includes the chance to communicate directly with clients or counterparties to a transaction. Even as a clerk, you are never just observers, but you will be given the opportunity to work on real deals, contributing your insights and ideas to help the team achieve successful outcomes for clients.
Additionally, B+P lawyers may spend a significant portion of their day negotiating and drafting contracts. They may negotiate loan agreements, project agreements, and other documents related to financial transactions. The B+P work facilitates the development of negotiation skills and a deep understanding of the legal and financial implications of these agreements.
A day in the life of a junior in the B+F team
I will now zoom in on my typical week as a junior in the B+F team.
My week starts with a whole B+P team meeting at 9am on Monday morning catered with a breakfast and coffee to fuel the day ahead. We not only discuss important updates and everyone’s work capacities, but also catch up on each other's weekends or any interesting things they are up to.
After the meeting, I will dive into my emails to stay up to date with any urgent matters and plan my schedule for the day. Throughout the day, I may be attending trainings run by our specialist knowledge lawyer, going to meetings with clients or colleagues, or assisting senior lawyers with drafting or reviewing documents, conducting searches or doing other discrete tasks. When I am put on a deal, I will be working on one suite of documents for a few weeks, helping the senior lawyer and supervising partner exchanging feedbacks on documents with the counterparties. You always feel a sense of achievement when all contracts that you have worked on from scratch get signed and the funds move from the lender to the borrower. Then a few days later I may read on the news the exciting projects that the borrower has done using the financing structure we helped design.
The work in the B+P team can be demanding at times especially when it comes to document execution or when you are on a cross-border deal involving foreign counsels and counterparties. However, you would always feel appreciated for your time and effort. Whether it's a simple thank you, a note of appreciation, or a more formal recognition post or an honourable mention in the media release, you are regularly reminded of the important role you play in the team's success.
Outside of work, we have opportunities to attend a variety of social events and gatherings organised by our wonderful social committee. From bowling, go-karting, clay pigeon shooting to casual drinks at local bars, we always find time to unwind, relax and bond with our colleagues.