Corporate Attorney (Securities Experience Required)

About the Firm and the Role

Varnum is seeking an attorney with at least 8-10 years of legal experience to join its Corporate Practice Team in one of the firm’s Michigan offices. This attorney will support the broader needs of the firm's corporate clients while also providing key support for securities law matters as needed.

For over a century, Varnum attorneys have served the business community with a full array of corporate services, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, corporate governance, and general business counseling. Our attorneys have the expertise and experience to be trusted business advisors, and our multidisciplinary, team-based approach taps the talents of any attorney whose expertise fits a client's situation. Within this suite of corporate services, our Securities practice advises public and private companies on SEC reporting matters, compliance with listing exchange rules, corporate governance, capital market transactions, and equity and executive compensation matters, providing experienced judgment and counseling on matters that often require immediate, practical guidance. This is a unique opportunity to join a thriving law firm and a highly successful team of attorneys.

Responsibilities

The attorney will collaborate with clients, partners, and associates on a range of counseling, compliance, regulatory, and transactional matters. Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as securities and corporate governance counsel for the firm's public company clients
• Provide judgment and practical counsel on time-sensitive matters for public company clients
• Assist with public capital market transactions as well as private placement fundraising transactions or privately-held companies
• Stay current on developments in securities law and regulatory requirements
• Represent clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other business combination transactions
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts and other business agreements
• Advise clients on entity formation, corporate governance, and general business counseling matters
• Mentor and collaborate with associates and other members of the corporate practice team on securities and general corporate matters
• Manage client relationships and contribute to business development efforts across the firm’s general corporate and securities practices
• Experience advising on Investment Company Act and Investment Advisers Act matters helpful, but not required

Qualifications

Candidates should be prepared to step into a role where they will have an immediate impact across a broad range of corporate matters, including supporting the firm's public company clients on securities matters.

Candidates should have:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• At least 8-10 years of relevant legal experience, with substantial experience across general corporate matters such as mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, and corporate governance.
• Substantive securities law expertise, including working knowledge of and experience with 1933 Act and 1934 Act matters and exchange listing standards.
• Judgment and counseling experience sufficient to advise clients on matters that arise frequently and often require immediate feedback, including public company clients on securities matters.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, client-ready written work product, including legal analysis, transactional documents, Board and corporate governance materials, and SEC disclosures.
• Sound analytical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to work through ambiguous legal and business issues to identify practical, risk-based solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple matters, deadlines, and priorities while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently on corporate matters with limited supervision.
• Ownership of matters and follow-through on deadlines, details, and client commitments
• A collaborative, professional approach to working with clients, partners, associates, and staff

While preferable, an existing book of business or client relationships is not required for this role.