Associate, Private Equity

Our Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice is globally recognized as a top-tier leader in both public and private M&A transactions. We deliver unparalleled legal services for complex corporate deals, offering strategic planning, due diligence, negotiation, and execution of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other business combinations. Serving a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, private equity firms and banks, our team ensures regulatory compliance, manages risk, and structures transactions for optimal outcomes. By combining extensive legal expertise with deep market insight, we help clients navigate high-stakes transactions, fostering growth and creating value, solidifying our reputation as one of the premier M&A practices worldwide.

Position Summary

We are currently looking for a mid-level associate with private equity and/or M&A experience to join the M&A Corporate practice in our Chicago office. This role will advise privately held and high growth companies, as well as venture capital funds, private equity funds and corporate strategics, in connection with equity financings, mergers, acquisitions, divestures, joint ventures and general corporate matters.

As well as possessing excellent academic credentials and legal knowledge, you should also be commercially minded, with a solid grasp of the market and an enthusiasm for the cut-and-thrust of deal making. Ideal candidates should have excellent drafting, writing and analytical skills, strong attention to detail, organizational, verbal, interpersonal and project management skills. Experience in drafting and negotiating purchase and merger agreements, LLC and LP agreements and other ancillary transaction documents and otherwise meeting the day-to-day requirements of private equity fund and portfolio company clients is expected.

Highly focused, you should display the organizational skills and composure needed to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced practice, working to tight deadlines and managing multiple workstreams and communication channels. Given the fluidity of the deal-making process, you should also be mentally agile-adept at thinking on your feet, and quickly adapting to changing circumstances.

Excellent oral and written communication skills will be major assets-enabling you to negotiate effectively, and to seamlessly manage the flow of information between practice groups, clients and stakeholders. Regularly working in large, international and multidisciplinary teams, you should also demonstrate a collaborative approach and an ease interacting with a wide range of legal and business professionals. Proactive and self-motivated, you should be eager to take ownership of your work product and demonstrate the skill, talent and commitment to deliver outstanding results.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Advising and leading drafting efforts for all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity transactions, joint ventures and investments for sophisticated public and private clients
• Leading on due diligence
• Conducting and overseeing legal research
• Ensuring clients' interests are properly represented and protected at all time

Qualifications

• 4+ years of substantive M&A and Private Equity experience at a leading law firm, with a strong foundation in public and private company transactions

• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and financial sponsors in domestic and mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity financings and joint ventures

• Ability to run discrete aspects of transactions independently, with appropriate supervision

• Exercises sound legal and commercial judgment; identifies issues early and proposes practical, business-oriented solutions

• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creative thinking when addressing complex legal and structural issues

• Anticipates client needs and maintains a service-oriented mindset consistent with our client expectations

• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, and internal stakeholders

• Strong academic record and excellent legal drafting and analytical skills

• Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing deal team culture

• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree (LLM or foreign equivalent) from an accredited law school

• Admitted to the Illinois bar (or the ability to become admitted) and in good standing

• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects

• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self-starter

• Fluency in English

Location and Compensation

• Office: Chicago

• Salary Range: US$310,000 - $390,000 plus bonus eligibility

This role reports to

Partner

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm's policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact talent.acquisition@whitecase.com.

Benefits at White & Case

White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business-specific to the relevant office-before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.