Assistant Vice President, Structured Finance & Securitisation Counsel/Lawyer

About the Role Morningstar DBRS' European Structured Finance team is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented lawyer to join as an Assistant Vice President in London. In this role, the successful candidate will focus on legal analysis, collaborating closely with rating analysts to assign ratings to European structured credit transactions and fund finance transactions, including SME CLOs, Private Credit CLOs, Credit Fund ABL loans, Feeder Fund debt, and Subscription Loans. The ideal candidate will hold a law degree and have experience with structured finance and/or fund finance transactions across multiple European jurisdictions (including the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France), gained either at a law firm or as in-house counsel. They will combine strong legal and reputational risk awareness with financial literacy and commercial acumen, and be able to communicate complex legal and rating criteria clearly to both internal and external stakeholders. Candidates should thrive in a collaborative, team-focused environment, demonstrating a strong work ethic, analytical mindset, and attention to detail. The successful candidate will also possess excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, enabling effective engagement with colleagues at all professional levels as well as external contacts, including external counsel. Job Responsibilities Reviewing the loan/transaction documents to be executed in the context of structured finance and fund finance debt issuances rated by DBRS on consistency with the DBRS's methodologies Support and advise analysts and rating committee with regards to legal aspects of the structured finance and fund finance transaction that may affect credit ratings Communicate DBRS's position on legal matters to issuers and relevant third parties Engage and manage the document review process of external counsel, if appointed Provide day-to-day legal analysis support and assistance to rating analysts and other members of the structured finance legal team by interpreting and analysing documentation Summarise legal terms of complex structured finance and fund finance documentation (including, among others, term-sheets, prospectuses, cash management agreements) for further consideration and analysis by rating analysts and other members of the structure finance legal team; compile, organise and present summarised legal terms in a well written and concise fashion in rating committees Provide support to analysts and other members of the structured finance legal team in the preparation and review of rating reports, and other related documentation Perform research and analysis on various legal issues (including legal issues dealt with by newly enacted legislation) in connection with the structured finance and fund finance debt issuances rated by DBRS Monitor legislative and case law developments and advise on changes as appropriate Support drafting legal criteria and commentaries, contribute to the development of rating methodologies from time-to-time, as required Represent DBRS in meetings with market participants and at industry events Qualifications University degree in law with strong academic credentials 5+ years of experience in European structured finance and/or fund finance, at a recognised law firm or in-house Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills Proactive, adaptable, and effective both independently and in collaboration with others Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks, balancing long-term projects and urgent daily work with careful attention to detail and effective time management Permission to live and work in the United Kingdom; this position may require occasional European travel Nice to have Knowledge of rating agency methodologies Experience and understanding of multiple jurisdictions legal frameworks Fluency in another European language/s Knowledge of analytical programming languages (VBA, Python, etc.) Base Salary Compensation Range GBP 67,500.00-98,500.00 Bonus Target: 20% Annual We expect the compensation and target bonus for this role to fall within the stated range. The specific compensation offered will depend on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and other job-related factors. Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues. R07_DBRSRtgsLtdUK DBRS Ratings Limited - UK Legal Entity How to Apply for a Job at Morningstar Step 1 When you find a position you're interested in, click the 'Apply' button. Please fill out this form completely, attaching your resume and cover letter in the approved format. Read the job requirements carefully and make sure to attach writing or design samples as required. Applicants must submit their resume and other information through our corporate website to be considered for a job at Morningstar. No phone calls, please. Step 2 You will receive an email notification to confirm that we've received your application. Step 3 If you are called in for an interview, a representative from Morningstar will contact you to set up a date, time, and location. Be prepared for a rigorous interview process. To make sure you're a good fit for Morningstar and we're a good fit for you, we'll schedule time for you to meet with multiple staff members at all levels of the company. Expect to return for multiple interviews as part of the process. A representative from Morningstar will contact you with the results of your interview—either with a job offer or to let you know our plans for the position. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call +1 312 384-3900 or email AskHR@morningstar.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please note: We only accept calls from applicants who need accommodation related to a disability. Please, no calls with unrelated questions or requests. Please be sure to include the title and location of the open position you're interested in when you leave a message. US Applicants: Morningstar is an E-Verify program participant. Learn more: This Organization Participates in E-Verify (English) This Organization Participates in E-Verify (Spanish) Right to Work (English) Right to Work (Spanish) EEO is the Law Pay Transparency Notice Morningstar is strongly committed to creating and preserving equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. We make all employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and other personnel matters—without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, gender identity and expression, parental status, or other legally protected characteristics or conduct.