Legal
M&A / Private Equity Associate
Associate · Corporate / M&A
St. Louis, MO or Chicago, IL
About the role
A prominent US law firm is seeking a mid-level M&A and Private Equity Associate to join its Corporate practice. The role offers high-impact responsibility within a collaborative environment, with approximately 60–70% of time focused on running corporate transactions end-to-end and the remainder dedicated to broader corporate advisory and governance matters. Working closely with partners in a lean structure, the appointed individual will gain substantial client-facing exposure across private equity sponsors and portfolio company lifecycles.
What we are looking for
• 4–8 years of M&A and private equity transactional experience within a law firm setting. • Demonstrated ability to run transactions independently from due diligence through closing. • Strong experience drafting and negotiating principal transaction documents (purchase agreements, merger agreements, ancillary financing documentation). • Experience advising on corporate structuring, entity formations, and ongoing corporate governance. • Admitted to the Missouri or Illinois State Bar (or eligible for immediate admission). • Based in, or willing to relocate to, St. Louis or Chicago.
Compensation
$205,000 – $285,000 base salary (performance-based, non-lockstep)
Working arrangement
Hybrid
Visa eligibility
No visa sponsorship available (candidates must possess permanent US work authorisation).
Benefits
Merit-based discretionary bonus, automatic bonus at 2,000 billable hours ($5,000–$10,000 depending on tier), per-hour bonus for hours billed above 2,000, and origination bonus opportunities.