2028 Summer Associate, Debt Finance

Company: Cooley LLP

About the Role

Cooley LLP is recruiting 2L students (JD 2029) for a Summer Associate position in its Debt Finance practice for the 2028 Summer Program. The program will take place in the Boston, Chicago, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Washington, DC offices.

Key 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.
• Representing 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.
• 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.
• Structuring registered public offerings, 144A debt placements (convertible and high-yield bonds), and traditional private placements.
• Counseling clients on alternative deal terms.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 2L students (JD 2029)
• Exceptional academic achievement
• 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
• Ability to work effectively in team settings
• An entrepreneurial, business-minded perspective
• A finance background is helpful but not required.

Application Requirements

• Cover letter describing interest in Debt Finance
• Resume
• Undergraduate transcript
• 1L law school transcript (can be submitted later if not available at the time of application)
• Please apply to only one office.

Compensation

• Expected salary based on an annualized rate of $235,000.
• Semi-monthly base pay of $9,791.67, subject to payroll withholdings and deductions.