Legal Counsel Corporate, M&A and Finance

gategroup is a global food and hospitality company offering a full spectrum of culinary experiences and services for all tastes and preferences. We deliver operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving more than 700 million passengers annually in over 60 countries worldwide. We bring together the best culinary minds to shape the future of cuisine.

We are looking for a Legal Counsel Corporate, M&A and Finance to join our Zurich based team. Reporting directly to the gategroup General Counsel Corporate, M&A and Finance, the role supports all functions of the organisation on corporate, M&A and finance matters, with particular emphasis on finance projects and capital markets financings.

The role supports all functions of the organisation on corporate, M&A and finance matters, with particular emphasis on finance projects and capital markets financings.

• Provide expert guidance on finance-related legal matters, with a focus on complex domestic and cross-border finance projects and capital markets transactions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable financial regulatory requirements and EU and Swiss stock exchange and listing regulations.
• Support the structuring, drafting and negotiation of international bank financings and capital markets transactions, including syndicated and bilateral loans, structured finance (e.g. securitization, asset-backed lending) and debt capital markets transactions (e.g. term loan B, high-yield bonds, mezzanine financings, private placements).
• Draft and advise on finance documentation relating to security packages, guarantees, subordination arrangements, credit facilities, term loan agreements, lease agreements, intercompany and third-party guarantees, cash pooling and recharge agreements, and related ancillary documentation, and drafting relevant documentation.
• Advise and efficiently support stakeholders in group finance, treasury, controlling and tax teams as well as legal teams on group and regional level.
• Support and negotiate domestic and international M&A transactions, including the due diligence process, and drafting relevant documentation.
• Provide high-quality legal advice and efficiently support gategroup and its subsidiaries on general corporate and commercial matters, including with the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of all types of national and international commercial contracts related to procurement, corporate, HR as well as other legal matters with internal customers, suppliers and other third parties.
• Support in legal fields of Swiss law like domestic litigation, enforcement law, employment law and similar legal issues.
• Identify risks and propose solutions and guidance to support the reduction of risks and avoidance of disruptions to the business.
• Draft internal policies, including general directives, and procedures regarding professional standards, quality and risk management and related matters.
• Manage the group’s contract template repository and advise internal customers on use of standard contractual documents.
• Develop and provide relevant training to legal teams and stakeholders.
• Manage and collaborate with external experts and international legal, finance and tax advisors, as needed, while effecting strict budget control.

• Law degree from a reputable law school/university and admitted to a bar in the European Union, the UK or Switzerland.
• Ideally supplemented by a post-graduate degree from a reputable law school/university.
• Excellent academic credentials.

• 3 - 5 years of relevant experience in an international law firm, financial institution, or multinational corporate environment.
• The majority of experience in areas of immediate relevance to the role, i.e., handling of international finance transactions and as a second priority, experience in international M&A and corporate.
• Comfortable working with senior stakeholders, advising and influencing on relevant decision-making levels.
• Proven track record of working successfully in or with a wide range of jurisdictions and broad working knowledge of various legal systems.
• Ability to perform each essential…