3+ PQE Private Equity Associate

Rutherford Search; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier law firm in London seeks a Private Equity Associate to advise top investors on deal pipelines. The role offers exposure to high-quality work, collaboration with elite teams, and strong career progression prospects. Ideal candidates will have 3+ years PQE and a solid grounding in company law.

Qualifications

• 3+ years PQE from a top-tier UK or international corporate practice.
• Experience with leading mid-market or large cap investors is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Assist sponsors in building and executing their deal pipeline.
• Provide clients with commercial advice throughout the investment lifecycle.
• Contribute to the supervision and development of team members.

Skills

Company law

Corporate transaction experience

Private equity deal structuring

Market practice

Education

Qualified in England & Wales

Outstanding academic credentials

Job description

Join a premier law firm’s private equity team in London, advising top investors on deal pipelines while working alongside industry experts. This role offers exposure to high-quality work, collaboration with elite teams across multiple practice areas, and a competitive New York/Cravath salary. Ideal for a driven Associate who can hit the ground running, working autonomously in a high-performing, client-focused environment with strong career progression prospects.

Position Overview

As a Private Equity Associate, you will play a crucial role in advising several prominent private equity firms on investments, bolt-on acquisitions, portfolio matters and exits. You will work closely with founders and management teams on transactions financed by private equity, helping to minimise risk while maximising returns for investors.

Responsibilities

• Assist sponsors in building and executing their deal pipeline, supporting investments throughout their growth and achieving the best possible exit

• Identify new opportunities through direct deal origination, market coverage calls and divestment trackers

• Execute buy-side mandates with speed and certainty during competitive processes

• Provide clients with commercial advice through the lifecycle of an investment to support value enhancement strategies

• Contribute to the supervision and development of other team members

• Participate in business and practice development activities to further the firm's growth and success

Requirements

• England & Wales Qualified with 3+ years PQE from a top-tier UK or international corporate practice

• Strong grounding in company law and corporate transaction experience, including private equity deal structuring and market practice

• Proven experience working with leading mid-market or large cap investors highly advantageous

• Outstanding academic credentials

For more information about this position, please get in touch with Rebecca Collins.
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Job ID: AP0008

With over a decade of experience in the legal space, Rutherford specialises in presenting outstanding lawyers with the most exciting opportunities across highly ranked law firms and in-house in London.

We combine a transparent and consultative approach with leading market knowledge to build a thorough understanding of your search requirements.

Many of our clients work exclusively with Rutherford, giving the lawyers we represent discreet access to roles and connections they wouldn't find elsewhere. Our advertised vacancies represent a snapshot of available roles at any given time; for a comprehensive picture please get in contact with us.

We welcome conversations with lawyers who are merely looking for market insights or who have already explored roles elsewhere to confirm no opportunities have been overlooked.

For more vacancies, please visit our website Jobs Page.

We do receive a lot of applications and where an applicant doesn’t fulfil the job criteria we are not always able to respond – that may be due to jurisdictional experience or qualification area. If you feel that you satisfy the criteria and have not heard from us please feel free to contact us to discuss, or indeed apply to other roles.

Rutherford is committed to maintaining a recruitment process free from discrimination, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. It is the Company's policy that no individual should face discrimination, whether directly or indirectly, on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, marital status, disability (including long-term mental or physical impairments), gender reassignment status, sexual orientation, religion or philosophical belief, political belief, trade union activity, or age.