Associate - Debt Finance

The Cleveland office of BakerHostetler is seeking a midlevel associate with 3–6 years of experience to join its Debt Finance team, part of the firm’s Business Practice Group. This role offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated financing transactions for a diverse client base, representing lenders, borrowers, agents and arrangers across a broad range of credit facilities and financing structures. Qualifications Include
• Experience representing arrangers, agents, lenders, and borrowers in connection with syndicated or bilateral credit facilities
• Experience with an array of credit facilities, such as secured term loans, cash flow and asset-based revolving credit facilities, leveraged acquisitions, first lien, second lien, and unsecured
• Appropriate experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating loan documents, including credit/loan agreements, security agreements, guarantees, intercreditor agreements, subordination agreements, promissory notes, fee letters, commitment letters, term sheets, and amendments
• Involvement and general familiarity with principles and procedures relevant to secured personal property transactions, including UCC Article 9 and relevant elements of UCC Article 8
• Experience with negotiating and obtaining third-party deliverables, including control agreements, bailee waivers, credit card processing agreements, and insurance endorsements
• Experience with standard diligence surrounding debt finance transactions, from the lender and/or borrower perspective, including review of searches, review of organizational documents, management agreements, and preparation of disclosure schedules
• Experience organizing and running complex closing processes
• Experience with substantial clients, whether debt funds, banks, private equity sponsors, and privately held, middle-market companies
• For candidates with greater than 4 years of experience, familiarity with drafting and negotiating legal opinions and opinion diligence
• A strong academic record, having earned a J.
D. from a nationally recognized and accredited law school
• Must be admitted to practice law in the state of Ohio Preferred Experience
• Experience with a reasonably varied scope of secured lending transactions primarily in the middle market but also spanning smaller venture stage debt financing and some large investment grade financings, including (some, but not all) cross-border work, some project finance, restructuring and workout, and first lien/second lien/mezz, in a wide variety of industries Successful Candidates Will Have Demonstrated
• Professional commitment and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in a collaborative team environment
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Clear and concise communication style (oral and written) with clients and team members Why BakerHostetler? Join our nationally recognized firm, known for its collaborative culture, commitment to professional development, and high-caliber client work.
• Ranked No. 11 in Vault Law’s 2026 “Best Law Firms to Work For”
• Cleveland ranked No. 1 in The American Lawyer’s 2025 Midlevel Associate Survey
• Work on sophisticated matters with mentorship from industry leaders
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial environment with opportunities for professional and business development
• Competitive salary and top-tier benefits
• A commitment to the legal profession and our local community

Location:
This position is located in Cleveland, Ohio. The expected annual salary range for this position is $240,000
- $300,000. The salary offered in any location will be determined by a wide range of factors, including, but not limited to, experience level, education/training, geographic region, and relevant skills. Associates also participate in a performance
- and hours-based bonus program. Application Submission Information Qualified Candidates – Self-Apply: Please apply via link in posting and attach your cover letter, resume, and law school transcript. If you have any questions about the position or process, please contact Recruiting Coordinator, Glori-June Gyorfi, at [email protected] . Search Firms If your search firm has a fully executed search firm agreement in place with BakerHostetler, please submit application materials including introduction, resume, and law school transcript to Glori-June Gyorfi, Recruiting Coordinator, at [email protected] . If your search firm does not have a fully executed search firm agreement in place with BakerHostetler, please submit only blind candidate profiles to Glori-June Gyorfi, Recruiting Coordinator, at [email protected] . Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Baker & Hostetler LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.