Private Equity and M&A Junior Associate

BCL Legal; East Lindsey; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client, a premier global AmLaw top 25 law firm, seeks an attorney to join their market-leading Private Equity and M&A practice across offices in New York, Chicago or Boston. The role offers exposure to high-value domestic and cross-border transactions with leading sponsors, portfolio companies and multinational corporations.

The successful candidate will have 2–5 years’ experience in M&A/Private Equity, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and a commercial mindset.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years' experience within a leading M&A, Private Equity or Corporate practice.
• Strong experience advising on acquisitions, disposals and private equity transactions.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and project management skills.
• Commercial mindset balancing legal risk with business objectives.
• Experience managing multiple high-value transactions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with senior clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on a broad range of transactions (LBOs, acquisitions, disposals, carve-outs, minority investments, exits).
• Draft, review and negotiate principal transaction documents (purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, ancillary docs).
• Manage legal due diligence and identify key risk areas with clear client advice.
• Act as day-to-day contact for clients, opposing counsel and advisers through the lifecycle.
• Lead transaction management processes (timelines, data rooms, signing/closing, post-closing).
• Support negotiations with counterparties, lenders and management teams.
• Review complex legal/regulatory issues and develop practical solutions.
• Collaborate with leveraged finance teams on structures and terms.
• Prepare client-facing summaries and transaction updates for sponsors and management.

Skills

M&A experience

Private equity

Drafting skills

Negotiation

Project management

Client interaction

Job description

The firm

A Premier global AmLaw top 25 Law firm are looking to appoint an Attorney to join their market‑leading Private Equity and M&A practice in one of their offices across New York, Chicago or Boston. Their formidable M&A team provide expert advice to leading financial sponsors, portfolio companies and multinational corporations on complex domestic and cross-border transactions. Recognised for their collaborative culture and highly commercial approach, this firm are consistently involved in some of the market's most significant acquisitions, disposals, investments and take‑private transactions. Associates within this firm benefit from working alongside renowned dealmakers, gaining early responsibility, direct client exposure and the opportunity to play a key role on sophisticated, high‑value matters. With a fully integrated platform spanning corporate, finance, tax and regulatory disciplines, this firm offers an exceptional environment for lawyers seeking first‑class transactional experience with.

What the role looks like day-to-day

• Supporting private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on a broad range of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, disposals, carve-outs, minority investments and exit processes.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating principal transaction documents, including purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and ancillary transaction documents.
• Managing legal due diligence processes, identify key risk areas and prepare clear, commercial advice for clients and deal teams.
• Acting as a day-to-day point of contact for clients, opposing counsel and advisers throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Leading transaction management processes, including deal timelines, virtual data rooms, signing and closing deliverables, and post-closing obligations.
• Supporting and participating in negotiations with counterparties, lenders and management teams.
• Reviewing and analysing complex legal, commercial and regulatory issues arising during transactions and develop practical solutions.
• Working closely with leveraged finance teams to align acquisition structures, financing terms and deal execution strategies.
• Preparing and delivering client-facing summaries, risk assessments and transaction updates for sponsors, portfolio companies and management teams.
• Contributing to business development initiatives, client presentations, thought leadership and market-facing activities.

About you

You will have:

• 2-5 years' experience gained within a leading M&A, Private Equity or Corporate practice.
• Strong experience advising on acquisitions, disposals and private equity transactions.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and project management skills.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives.
• Experience managing multiple high-value transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the confidence to interact directly with senior clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, high-performance and deal-driven environment.

What sets the firm apart?

Unlike other firms at this level, this firm effortlessly combines top-tier transactional expertise with a genuinely pragmatic client-focused approach. this firm's Private Equity team works closely with their market‑leading borrow‑side leveraged finance Practice which enables sponsors to receive seamless advice across M&A, Finance, Tax and regulations under one roof.

Associates at this firm benefit from significant responsibility, direct access to partners and clients, and involvement in high-profile, market‑leading deals from an early stage. The firm's collaborative culture, international reach and commitment to developing future leaders create an environment where ambitious lawyers can build first‑class technical skills while accelerating their career progression.