Tactical Opportunities Distressed Credit Research Analyst

Latham & Watkins is a global law firm consistently ranked among the top firms in the world. The success of our firm is largely determined by our commitment to hire and develop the very best and brightest, creating a team that provides our clients with the highest quality of work and service. We are driven by our core values: respect, innovation, and collaboration.  

The Tactical Opportunities Distressed Credit Research Analyst is an integral part of Latham’s Financial Accounting team. This role will be responsible for taking the lead to identify and research potential stressed targets in the relevant market while also advising Restructuring and Special Situations (R&SS) partners on industry opportunities, while monitoring the market to identify corporate distress and convert it into a pipeline of targets with broad coverage across sectors, jurisdictions, and company sizes. This role will be located in our New York office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence. 

About the Tactical Opportunities Team

The candidate will be an integral part of the Tactical Opportunities team, a unique new concept for the legal industry, which blends financial and market investment research with internal firm strategy to identify industry shifts and market dislocations culminating in new business opportunities for the firm and its clients. Team members have prior experience in investment banking, equity research, management consulting and the legal industry, at industry-leading institutions. With this blend of skillsets analyzing a range of asset classes, sectors and jurisdictions, the team provides strategic direction to the Firm on positioning into market shifts, as well as targeted market intelligence to current and prospective clients.

The team works very closely with the US and European R&SS practices and has been actively involved in monitoring and forecasting distressed single-names in a range of sectors such as oil and gas, consumer and travel. More recently, they have actively assessed a range of stressed situations during the early phases of the pandemic. The team presents actively to global clients ranging from investment funds, including PE, Special Situations & Private Credit fund managers, Corporates and State Enterprises, across the firm’s platform (US, UK, Europe and Asia). The team also engages with advisory intermediaries to discuss relevant trends and situations.

About Latham & Watkins’ R&SS practice

With one of the world’s largest R&SS practices, Latham is widely acknowledged as a top tier practice with broad restructuring and insolvency capabilities. It is strong on both the creditor and debtor sides and well-known for its work with investment fund managers on financial and operational restructurings, special situations and alternative investments across the capital structure.  The US R&SS practice has recently been involved in include several of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of 2023 as well as representing distressed companies and creditors on some of the most recent successful restructurings.

In return, we will provide you with multiple opportunities to push your thinking in new industries and regions with exposure to internal and external stakeholders across the Latham & Watkins network, whilst contributing to the success of the firm.

Other key responsibilities include:

• Preparing detailed internal credit analysis for such situations, assessing liquidity, debt capacity, and other areas of financial and operating performance to evaluate areas of weakness in companies, or potential financing needs for the firm’s capital markets group
• Developing workflow from ideation to marketing presentation, supported by credit reviews, and creating a go-to-market strategy for how Latham’s R&SS practice can best position itself into the opportunity
• Contributing to pitches, particularly through financial and commercial analysis of the company situation
• Working closely with the Chair and Co-Chairs of the R&SS practice, as well as R&SS Partners, counsels, and associates
• Promoting effective work practices, working as a team member, and showing respect for co-workers

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Demonstrate strong teamwork and collaborative skills and the ability to foster such skills
• Display strong written and oral communication skills
• Exhibit strong analytical and problem-solving skills

And have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably with a finance or economics component
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in stressed/distressed debt or broader corporate credit analysis

Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional Development programs
• Employee discounts
• And more!

Additionally, we have a range of diversity programming including Global Affinity Groups. These groups provide a firmwide platform to share experiences and advice as well as an opportunity to participate in a supportive network with common interests to help make life at the firm even better.

Please click here to view the full job description for this role.

Latham & Watkins is committed to diversity, equal opportunity, sustainability, and pro bono legal services. We draw from a remarkable wealth of talent to create one of the world's leading law firms, and advance these commitments through the work of our Global Citizenship department. Our lawyers, paralegals, and professional staff worldwide comprise a rich mixture of different races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, cultures, and primary languages. Our diversity makes us who we are. 

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