Associate / Attorney - Corporate M&A & Transactional

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional development and mentoring

Leadership development and business de

Job summary

Watts & Associates is recruiting a Corporate M&A & Transactional Risk Associate for its Chicago office. This Am Law 100 firm offers a unique pathway at the intersection of corporate deals and R&W insurance, with direct partner access and early client exposure.

You will work on sophisticated middle-market and large-cap acquisitions, collaborating with top practitioners and cross-functional teams. Hybrid work and strong career progression are available.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of sophisticated Corporate M&A experience is required.
• Experience representing private equity sponsors, strategic buyers or corporate clients in middle-market or larger acquisitions.
• Strong drafting and negotiation experience involving purchase agreements and ancillary transaction documents.
• Excellent analytical, commercial and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Advising on representations & warranties insurance and other transactional risk products.
• Reviewing and analysing stock, membership interest, and asset purchase agreements and related documents.
• Supporting underwriting workstreams for complex M&A transactions.
• Assessing due diligence and translating findings into commercial insurance risk analyses.
• Advising on middle-market and large-cap acquisitions across various industries.
• Collaborating with partners, clients, brokers, and underwriters throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Skills

M&A expertise

Drafting & negotiating

Analytical skills

Client interaction

Education

Law degree from top school

Job description

Corporate M&A & Transactional Risk Associate | Chicago, IL | Hybrid | 3–6 Years' Experience | $225,000–$325,000 Base + Bonus | Am Law 100

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 100 national full-service law firm seeking a Corporate M&A & Transactional Risk Associate to join its growing Chicago office.

This is a unique opportunity for an M&A attorney who wants to build a differentiated practice at the intersection of corporate transactions and Representations & Warranties (R&W) Insurance. Working alongside nationally recognised practitioners, you will advise on sophisticated middle-market and large-cap acquisitions while developing expertise in one of the fastest-growing areas of transactional practice.

The successful attorney will enjoy direct partner access, significant client responsibility and exposure to complex domestic and cross-border transactions, with a genuine pathway towards partnership, client development and long-term career progression.

Company Highlights

• Join an Am Law 100 national platform with more than 850 attorneys across offices throughout the United States.
• Work within a nationally recognised Corporate and M&A practice advising private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, portfolio companies and financial institutions on sophisticated transactions.
• Develop specialist expertise in the rapidly expanding Representations & Warranties Insurance market, one of the fastest-growing areas of transactional practice.
• Gain exposure to complex middle-market and large-cap acquisitions across multiple industries, including real estate, energy, infrastructure and private equity.
• Benefit from a highly collaborative, entrepreneurial culture offering direct partner access, meaningful responsibility and strong client interaction from an early stage.
• Build your career through structured mentoring, leadership development, business development training and genuine partnership opportunities.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This opportunity offers the chance to:

• Build a highly marketable niche combining sophisticated M&A with Transactional Risk Insurance.
• Work directly with leading underwriters, brokers, sponsors and corporate clients on high-value acquisitions.
• Develop expertise reviewing complex transactional and diligence risks from both legal and commercial perspectives.
• Take ownership of meaningful workstreams with significant client exposure.
• Join a growing practice offering long-term career progression and excellent opportunities for business development.

The Role

The successful attorney will support and lead key components of sophisticated corporate transactions, including:

• Advising on Representations & Warranties Insurance and other transactional risk products.
• Reviewing and analysing stock purchase agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and related transaction documents.
• Supporting underwriting workstreams for complex M&A transactions.
• Assessing legal due diligence and translating findings into commercial insurance risk analyses.
• Advising on middle-market and large-cap acquisitions across a broad range of industries.
• Working closely with corporate, real estate and finance teams on multidisciplinary transactions.
• Collaborating directly with partners, clients, brokers and insurance underwriters throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking an attorney with:

• Approximately 3–6 years of sophisticated Corporate M&A experience.
• Experience representing private equity sponsors, strategic buyers or corporate clients in middle-market or larger acquisitions.
• Strong drafting and negotiation experience involving purchase agreements and ancillary transaction documents.
• Excellent analytical, commercial and problem-solving skills.
• Experience involving real estate-intensive transactions, REITs, energy or infrastructure transactions would be advantageous.
• Strong academic credentials from a highly regarded law school.

The anticipated base salary range is $225,000–$325,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

The firm also offers:

• Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Life and long-term disability insurance.
• Generous paid time off.
• Professional development and mentoring.
• Leadership development and business development support.