Private Equity M&A Associate - 2021/2022 Qualified
UK&I - London
Permanent
£150k - £250k
Private Equity M&A Associate - 2021/2022 Qualified
We are instructed by an elite global law firm seeking to strategically expand its Private Capital and M&A capability in London.
Long recognised as one of the world's most prestigious and selective law firms, our client is currently executing a focused, ambitious growth plan for its London corporate practice. The team has recently been strengthened by the arrival of several of the City's most respected and top-tier market leaders in the private equity space.
This creates a highly unique environment for an incoming associate: you will benefit from the massive institutional backing, resources, and unmatched global brand of an elite firm, combined with the energetic, high-growth momentum of a team entering a new phase of market dominance. The practice handles premium, cross-border, and exceptionally complex financial sponsor mandates, offering exposure to sophisticated large-cap transactions.
The firm pays full cravath scale salaries and bonuses with no hours target.
Key Responsibilities
- Deal Execution: Lead on workstreams for large-cap, premium cross-border private equity transactions, including leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, consortium investments, and complex divestitures.
- Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate principal transaction documents, shareholder agreements, management incentive schemes, and related corporate documentation.
- Sponsor Management: Act as a direct point of contact for premier global financial sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, and their portfolio companies.
- Team Leadership: Supervise, mentor, and delegate to junior associates and trainees within the transactional corporate team.
- Collaboration: Work seamlessly as part of a high-performance, integrated multidisciplinary team alongside market-leading specialists in leveraged finance, transactional tax, and restructuring.
Candidate Profile
Experience Level: You will ideally be a UK or Common Law qualified solicitor who qualified in 2021 or 2022 (approx. 4-5 years post-qualification experience).
- Background: Currently practicing within a top-tier US firm, Magic Circle, or leading international practice in London known for premium Private Equity or high-end M&A.
- Technical Skillset: Demonstrable experience executing complex corporate transactions for sophisticated financial sponsors. Exceptional drafting ability and deep commercial acumen are required.
- Culture Fit: Ambitious, highly collaborative, and comfortable operating in a high-calibre environment. A proactive professional who enjoys a leanly staffed deal structure that offers massive runway for growth and direct, regular partner contact.
What This Role Offers
- Unrivalled Prestige: Put one of the world's most elite corporate legal names on your CV.
- Market-Leading Pay: Full New York/Cravath-scale compensation package, placing you at the absolute top of the London market.
- Lean Deal Teams: Unlike overstaffed mega-teams, this firm utilises a lean execution model, ensuring you get meaningful, front-line experience, heavy client visibility, and close mentoring from elite partners.
- Momentum: Join a team in active growth mode, backed by significant institutional investment and the market-leading reputations of its newly arrived leadership panel.
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HIRING SPECIALIST
Eden Brown
Associate Director
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