Sovereign Finance Associate Attorney - Junior to Mid-Level

Job hosted by: Kendall Barnett

About us

A globally recognized law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across 16 offices is expanding several elite regulatory, transactional, and finance practices. The platform advises more than half of the Fortune 100 and is especially differentiated by its ability to combine sophisticated regulatory insight, high-stakes litigation strength, and complex transactional capability across more than 40 practice and industry groups.

Ranked among the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer's 2025 A-List, with 173 lawyers ranked by Chambers and 202 recognized by Legal 500 in 2026. Collegial, team-oriented culture with meaningful responsibility, direct client exposure, and interdisciplinary work across offices and practices.

About the role

Advise sovereigns, sub-sovereigns, state-owned enterprises, and international financial institutions on bond offerings, financings, refinancings, derivatives, liability-management transactions, and sovereign debt restructurings. Work on market-shaping structures involving collective action clauses, equal-ranking provisions, guaranteed issuances, sukuk bonds, and diaspora bonds. Advise leading companies and financial institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean on capital markets and strategic transactions. Collaborate on matters involving institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, IFC, IDB, EBRD, AIIB, EIB, CAF, and other development banks and funds. Assume meaningful responsibility and interact directly with clients, counterparties, and globally recognized practitioners.

Responsibilities

• Advise sovereigns, sub-sovereigns, state-owned enterprises, and international financial institutions on cross-border capital markets and financing transactions.
• Handle bond offerings, financings, refinancings, derivatives, liability-management transactions, and sovereign debt restructurings.
• Work on innovative structures such as collective action clauses, equal-ranking provisions, guaranteed issuances, sukuk bonds, and diaspora bonds.
• Advise companies and financial institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean on capital markets and strategic transactions.
• Collaborate with global institutions including the IMF, World Bank, IFC, IDB, EBRD, AIIB, EIB, CAF, and other development banks and funds.
• Engage directly with clients, counterparties, and leading practitioners worldwide.

Requirements

• JD earned between 2022 and 2025.
• Fluency in both Portuguese and Spanish.
• Experience in capital markets, finance, sovereign debt, project finance, or related cross-border transactional work.
• Outstanding academics, drafting, analytical ability, and interest in sophisticated international transactions.
• Eligibility for admission in the selected jurisdiction.

Benefits

• Robust associate development through formal partner, counsel, peer, and group mentoring; annual retreats; practice-specific training; Trial School; deposition-skills workshops; and a proprietary in-house learning platform.
• Up to 100 hours annually for a shadowing program to observe trials, hearings, client meetings, and other advanced professional activities.
• 2,000-hour annual bonus threshold, with approximately 1,800 client-billable hours and up to 200 qualifying hours for pro bono and other approved activities.
• Flexible hybrid culture allowing approximately 50% remote work, subject to client, team, office, and firm expectations.
• Exceptional pro bono platform with over 107,000 pro bono hours recorded in 2025 and recognition from the Financial Times and Bloomberg Law.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid leave, mental-health and well-being resources, medical concierge support, and commuter benefits.

Pay

$225,000 - $310,000 per year