Associate, Private Equity

About the role

Our Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice is globally recognized as a top-tier leader in both public and private M&A transactions. We deliver unparalleled legal services for complex corporate deals, offering strategic planning, due diligence, negotiation, and execution of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other business combinations. Serving a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, private equity firms and banks, our team ensures regulatory compliance, manages risk, and structures transactions for optimal outcomes.

We are currently looking for a mid-level associate with private equity and/or M&A experience to join the M&A Corporate practice in our Chicago office. This role will advise privately held and high growth companies, as well as venture capital funds, private equity funds and corporate strategics, in connection with equity financings, mergers, acquisitions, divestures, joint ventures and general corporate matters.

Responsibilities

• Advising and leading drafting efforts for all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity transactions, joint ventures and investments for sophisticated public and private clients
• Leading on due diligence
• Conducting and overseeing legal research
• Ensuring clients' interests are properly represented and protected at all times

Qualifications

• 4+ years of substantive M&A and Private Equity experience at a leading law firm, with a strong foundation in public and private company transactions
• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and financial sponsors in domestic mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity financings and joint ventures
• Ability to run discrete aspects of transactions independently, with appropriate supervision
• Exercises sound legal and commercial judgment; identifies issues early and proposes practical, business-oriented solutions
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creative thinking when addressing complex legal and structural issues
• Anticipates client needs and maintains a service-oriented mindset consistent with our client expectations
• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, and internal stakeholders
• Strong academic record and excellent legal drafting and analytical skills
• Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing deal team culture
• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree (LLM or foreign equivalent) from an accredited law school
• Admitted to the Illinois bar (or the ability to become admitted) and in good standing
• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects
• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self-starter
• Fluency in English

Skills

• Excellent drafting, writing and analytical skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Organizational, verbal, interpersonal and project management skills
• Experience in drafting and negotiating purchase and merger agreements, LLC and LP agreements and other ancillary transaction documents
• Ability to meet the day-to-day requirements of private equity fund and portfolio company clients
• Mentally agile—adept at thinking on your feet, and quickly adapting to changing circumstances
• Excellent oral and written communication skills—enabling you to negotiate effectively, and to seamlessly manage the flow of information between practice groups, clients and stakeholders
• Collaborative approach and ease interacting with a wide range of legal and business professionals

Pay

US$310,000 - $390,000 plus bonus eligibility