Allen & Overy Application for Associate Banking, FS Regulatory NQ Associate Role

Dear Recruitment Team

I would like to submit this covering letter in support of my application for the financial services regulatory associate role with Allen & Overy LLP.

I have decided to apply for this role because during my employment, I have received quality exposure to the financial and banking sectors, mostly through the litigation spectrum. For example, whilst at [Law Firm], I worked on a case involving the misselling of interest rates hedging products and was required to deal with many regulatory issues. At [Law Firm], I was actively involved in a banking matter involving an investigation into the collapse of multiple banks in [countries]. As part of this case, we dealt with local and international banking regulatory issues, examined bank documents, loan agreements and even financial accounts. I feel that this role will enable me to build on this experience. I am a very fast learner and keen to advance my knowledge of this practice area. I find the practice’s prestigious client base to be very appealing as it will present me with work of the highest quality and expose me to different business models and the most complex legal issues facing banks and financial institutions. The cross-border nature of the work will allow me to work with professionals from the firm’s international offices and gain an understanding of how different elements of a transaction come together. Similarly, I feel that the broad scope for international work will afford me the opportunity to leverage my language skills and New York qualification to the advantage of the firm. I believe that this role will present me with a chance to apply my creativity when structuring unique strategies for clients against the backdrop of regulatory regimes and political and economic climate.

The firm’s inclusive and collegiate culture will give me a chance to work in one of the largest international law firms with the intimacy of a smaller office, which will allow me to get to know my colleagues and clients on a more personal level whilst still having access to the depth and breadth of the firm’s global resources. 

During my employment at some of the leading international and US law firms, I have received direct exposure on some of the most high-profile legal matters. This experience helped to develop my entire set of skills which will enable me to operate successfully as a newly qualified solicitor. I was vested with high levels of responsibility and have demonstrated an outstanding ability to manage my workload and prioritise competing deadlines.

I possess very good teamwork skills, which will allow me to work successfully with lawyers and clients from different countries and jurisdictions. I have very good communication and drafting skills. In my previous roles, I helped to draft witness statements, expert reports, a prospectus for an IPO of a luxury goods company and regularly corresponded with clients via email, conference calls and in-person. I had attended a board of directors EGM where I explained complex issues to clients and lawyers in a very simple and understandable language.

During my employment, I have received quality exposure to multiple industries and legal practice areas, including oil and gas, telecoms, banking and financial services, real estate and some others. This has developed my commercial awareness which, in turn, allows me to align all of my work with the requirements of clients and their respective businesses. I have received a lot of direct contact with very high-profile clients and their associates, which has developed my client-facing skills. I always undertake my work with utmost attention to details. My language skills will allow me to add value to international cases and forge effective relationships with overseas lawyers and clients. I possess very good problem-solving skills and enjoy working on complex cases to devise cutting-edge solutions to problems without any precedents.

I am very motivated and enjoy new challenges. In my spare time, I regularly do [sport] and help to coach others. [sport] has helped to hone my discipline and resilience to pressure and new challenges.

I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely