Midlevel Corporate M&A Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Ana Bird Legal Search is partnering with a sophisticated Chicago law firm seeking a talented Midlevel Corporate Associate to join its growing and highly collaborative Corporate Practice Group.

This opportunity is ideal for an associate with approximately three to five years of sophisticated M&A and corporate transactional experience who wants to continue working on complex transactions while gaining meaningful responsibility, direct exposure to experienced attorneys, and a more sustainable long term platform.

The Corporate practice represents middle market companies, private equity funds, family businesses, entrepreneurs, and other sophisticated clients across a broad range of transactional and governance matters.

The team's M&A work spans transactions ranging from approximately $10 million to $1 billion across industries including professional services, industrial manufacturing, food and beverage, cannabis, and other middle market sectors.

The practice also handles private equity transactions, acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings, private securities offerings, ESOP transactions, complex commercial agreements, corporate governance matters, and ongoing general corporate counseling.

What particularly distinguishes this opportunity is the combination of sophisticated transactional work, a 1,800 hour billable target, meaningful bonus upside, and a flexible hybrid environment within a highly regarded mid size law firm.

This is not an opportunity for an associate looking to remain several layers removed from the deal. The team wants attorneys who can take increasing ownership of transactions, coordinate workstreams, communicate effectively with clients and specialists, and continue developing into sophisticated corporate counselors and deal lawyers.

If you enjoy complex M&A work but are looking for greater responsibility, strong economics around your time, and a collaborative environment where you can continue developing without a traditional Big Law billable requirement, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

Responsibilities

Represent middle market companies, private equity funds, family businesses, entrepreneurs, and other clients in sophisticated corporate transactions.

Work on private company mergers and acquisitions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions.

Draft, review, and negotiate principal transaction documents, disclosure schedules, ancillary agreements, and closing documentation.

Advise clients on corporate governance matters, commercial contracts, LLC agreements, shareholder agreements, and other general corporate matters.

Conduct and manage legal due diligence.

Coordinate transaction checklists, signing and closing processes, specialist teams, and multiple deal workstreams.

Work collaboratively with tax, employment, benefits, real estate, finance, and other specialist attorneys as transactions require.

Assist with private equity transactions, private securities offerings, joint ventures, restructurings, and other sophisticated corporate matters.

Communicate directly and effectively with clients, opposing counsel, specialists, and internal deal teams.

Take increasing ownership of transactions while developing the judgment and practical skills necessary to manage sophisticated corporate matters independently.

Qualifications

Approximately three to five years of substantive corporate transactional experience within a sophisticated law firm environment.

Meaningful experience handling private company mergers and acquisitions.

Experience drafting and negotiating transaction documents and managing transaction processes.

Experience with corporate governance matters, commercial contracts, disclosure schedules, LLC agreements, shareholder agreements, and related corporate matters.

Demonstrated ability to coordinate specialist teams, organize transaction checklists, manage multiple workstreams, and conduct efficient and thorough due diligence.

Private equity, sophisticated M&A, and private securities offering experience is particularly valuable.

Strong legal drafting, writing, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple sophisticated transactions and deadlines simultaneously.

Strong client service skills and a practical, business oriented approach to legal work.

Ability to work collaboratively while also taking initiative and ownership of matters.

Entrepreneurial mindset, strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and genuine interest in continued professional development.

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active bar admission in good standing.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Join a sophisticated Chicago law firm handling complex middle market M&A and corporate transactions.

Work on transactions ranging from approximately $10 million to $1 billion across a diverse client and industry base.

Represent middle market companies, private equity funds, family businesses, entrepreneurs, and other sophisticated clients.

Gain meaningful responsibility across M&A transactions, corporate governance, commercial agreements, private equity matters, restructurings, joint ventures, private offerings, and general corporate counseling.

Work directly with partners, senior associates, clients, opposing counsel, and specialist teams rather than remaining several layers removed from the substantive work.

Build the judgment, transaction management skills, and client relationships necessary to continue developing into a sophisticated corporate lawyer.

Benefit from a 1,800 hour billable target, which is meaningfully below the traditional Big Law billable expectation while preserving access to sophisticated work.

Corporate attorneys have particularly strong discretionary bonus upside, with exceptional performers capable of receiving substantial additional compensation.

Flexible hybrid structure requiring approximately 10 days per month in the Chicago office, with attorneys generally having flexibility in selecting their office days subject to meetings and business needs.

Join a genuinely collaborative and social office environment where attorneys regularly work together in person and build meaningful relationships across the firm.

Competitive base compensation ranging from $230,000 to $290,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and substantive ability.

Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and eligibility for performance based bonuses.

Interested?

If this opportunity aligns with your background and career goals, I'd love to speak with you.

For immediate consideration, please send your resume to View email address on us.fitly.work.

All inquiries will be handled professionally and with discretion.