Senior Corporate Associate - Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area)

We are seeking a Senior Corporate Associate with 5 to 7 years of experience to join our Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity teams in Raleigh, NC. You’ll work on sophisticated transactions for buyers, sellers, private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, and management teams — the same caliber of deals you’d see at a much larger firm, but with a seat at the table rather than a spot in the back of the data room.

This is a role for an associate who wants to run deals, not just support them. You’ll work directly with partners on middle-market M&A, platform and add-on acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and acquisition financings across industries including architecture and engineering, technology, professional services, and manufacturing — with real client contact and the opportunity to lead transactions from the outset. A portable book of business is not required, and the position offers some work-from-home flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate purchase agreements, merger agreements, and letters of intent for asset and equity transactions on both the buy side and sell side
• Manage transactions day to day — coordinating due diligence, disclosure schedules, closing checklists, and ancillary documents from signing through closing
• Represent private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, and portfolio companies in platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts
• Support acquisition financings, recapitalizations, and related private capital transactions alongside the firm’s securities and financing attorneys
• Advise on ownership succession and transition planning, including ESOP-related and founder-transition transactions
• Conduct and supervise legal due diligence, identifying and clearly communicating material issues to clients and deal teams
• Coordinate with specialists in tax, employment, intellectual property, real estate, and regulatory matters to keep transactions moving
• Counsel clients in regulated and licensed industries, including architecture and engineering firms navigating multistate licensing requirements in transactions
• Draft governance, equity, and corporate structuring documents, including operating agreements, sha
• Communicate directly with clients, opposing counsel, lenders, and other deal professionals throughout the transaction lifecycle

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with a strong academic record
• 5 to 7 years of experience working on sophisticated M&A and/or private equity transactions for buyers, sellers, and/or private equity sponsors
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; must be willing and able to become licensed in North Carolina within one year of joining the firm
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Ability to manage multiple transactions at once and to work effectively both independently and as part of a deal team
• The capability to lead transactions and serve as the primary day-to-day contact on deals

Preferred Qualifications

• Large law firm training and deal experience
• Experience supervising junior associates or paralegals on deal teams
• Exposure to private credit, acquisition financing, or other debt transactions
• Experience with clients in architecture/engineering, technology, professional services, or manufacturing

Why Join Morningstar Law Group

• Real Deal Responsibility: Substantive ownership of transactions and direct client relationships — not years of diligence review before you touch a purchase agreement.
• Direct Partner Access: Work side by side with experienced M&A and private equity partners, many of whom bring in-house, operational, accounting, and finance backgrounds to their practice.
• Sophisticated Work, Leaner Platform: A substantial national M&A and private equity practice handled by a collegial, low-bureaucracy team of 50+ professionals.
• Entrepreneurial Culture: A young, vibrant firm governed by consensus, with a flexible environment that lets attorneys work with clients in the way that’s most productive for them.
• Growth Path: A clear runway from leading deals to owning client relationships as the firm grows — and no portable book of business required.
• Compensation: Commensurate with experience and in line with other successful business law firms.
• Flexibility: Some work-from-home flexibility, with a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance; retirement plan; and paid time off and holidays.