2027 Summer Associate – Debt Finance

About the role

Cooley LLP is recruiting JD 2028 students to join its Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Washington, DC offices as summer associates in its Debt Finance practice for the 2027 Summer Program.

Responsibilities

• Representing debt and lease financing sources – including US and international banks, business development companies, leasing companies, insurance companies, investment banks, commercial finance lenders, mezzanine investors, factors and asset-based lenders – as well as the companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, and other investment funds that seek debt financing.
• Representing banks and non-bank funds investing in emerging companies that do not have long histories of profitability or, in many cases, revenue.
• Assisting issuers, underwriters/initial purchasers, institutional investors and placement agents in a wide range of debt securities transactions.
• Advising clients on the intricacies of debt instruments in a variety of industries.
• Structuring a diverse range of registered public offerings, 144A debt placements (convertible and high-yield bonds) and traditional private placements.
• Counseling clients on alternative deal terms in appropriate circumstances.

Requirements

• Exceptional academic achievement and professional excellence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Sound judgment with proven problem-solving skills.
• Initiative, motivation, and a service-oriented mindset.
• Meaningful prior work experience.
• Engagement in extracurricular or leadership activities.
• Effective teamwork skills.
• An entrepreneurial, business-minded perspective.

Qualifications

• A finance background is helpful, but not required.

Skills

• Exceptional academic achievement and professional excellence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Sound judgment with proven problem-solving skills.
• Initiative, motivation, and a service-oriented mindset.
• Meaningful prior work experience.
• Engagement in extracurricular or leadership activities.
• Effective teamwork skills.
• An entrepreneurial, business-minded perspective.

Benefits

The expected salary is based on an annualized rate of $225,000, with semi-monthly base pay of $9,375.00, subject to payroll withholdings and deductions.

Pay

The expected salary is based on an annualized rate of $225,000, with semi-monthly base pay of $9,375.00, subject to payroll withholdings and deductions.

Schedule

This is a summer associate position.