Associate / Attorney - Investment Funds

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 260,000 - 435,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement support

Paid time off

Professional development

Wellbeing programmes

Pro bono opportunities

Job summary

Watts & Associates Recruitment, Chicago, IL, seeks an Investment Funds Associate with 3–8 years of private funds and investment-management experience to join a nationally recognised Am Law 100 practice.

You will lead sponsor-side structuring, teach drafting and investor negotiations, and collaborate across tax, regulatory and transactional teams to manage complex fund matters.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years private funds, fund-formation or investment-management experience.
• Experience drafting and negotiating core fund documents.
• Admission to the Illinois Bar or eligible for prompt admission.

Responsibilities

• Advise sponsors on fund formation and structuring.
• Draft and negotiate partnership agreements and offering materials.
• Prepare subscription documents, side letters and management-company arrangements.
• Support fund launches, investor closings and ongoing operations.
• Advise on governance, regulatory and compliance matters.
• Coordinate with tax, ERISA, regulatory and corporate specialists.
• Work directly with sponsors, investors and internal client teams.

Skills

Drafting

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Education

Illinois Bar admission

Job description

Investment Funds Associate | Chicago, IL | 3–8 Years' Experience | $260,000–$435,000 Base + Benefits & Bonuses | Am Law 100

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 100 national full-service law firm seeking an Investment Funds Associate to join its Chicago, IL office.

This opportunity offers fund formation, sponsor-side structuring, investor negotiations and ongoing investment-management matters for private fund sponsors, asset managers, institutional investors and regulated investment businesses within a nationally recognised private funds and investment management practice. The successful attorney will work closely with partners and senior lawyers, take ownership of substantive matters and gain exposure to high-value work, important clients and cross-practice collaboration.

Company Highlights

• Am Law 100 national platform with broad corporate, regulatory, finance and litigation capabilities
• Sophisticated work for public and private companies, investment firms and regulated businesses
• Recognised strength in private funds and investment management and complementary corporate, regulatory or litigation disciplines
• Established teams advising private fund sponsors, asset managers, institutional investors and regulated investment businesses on complex, high-value matters
• Meaningful work experiences combined with technical and business-development training
• Personalised mentoring, candid feedback and career-stage professional development
• In-house coaching resources, including support for legal writing and career planning
• Stable, supportive environment prioritising professional success and personal wellbeing
• Strong commitment to innovation, service, inclusion and pro bono work

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is an opportunity to join a well-established private funds and investment management practice offering:

• Sophisticated private-fund formation and investment-management matters
• Exposure across launches, closings, governance and ongoing operations
• Meaningful ownership of drafting and investor-negotiation workstreams
• Direct access to partners, sponsors and institutional clients
• Cross-practice collaboration on tax, regulatory and transactional issues
• Strong technical and commercial development
• A credible platform for advancement in a specialised practice

The Role

The successful attorney will support and lead key components of private funds and investment management matters, including:

• Advise sponsors and managers on fund formation and structuring
• Draft and negotiate partnership agreements and offering materials
• Prepare subscription documents, side letters and management-company arrangements
• Support fund launches, investor closings and ongoing operations
• Advise on governance, regulatory and compliance matters
• Assist with GP-led transactions, restructurings or secondary matters where applicable
• Coordinate with tax, ERISA, regulatory and corporate specialists
• Work directly with sponsors, investors and internal client teams
• Manage multiple fund workstreams and transaction deadlines

The role offers direct collaboration with partners, senior lawyers and clients, together with increasing responsibility and opportunities to take ownership of important workstreams.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking an investment funds associate with:

• Approximately 3–8 years of private-funds, fund-formation or investment-management experience
• Experience drafting and negotiating core fund and investor documents
• Understanding of sponsor, investor and regulatory considerations
• Strong drafting, analytical and organisational skills
• Ability to manage multiple fund workstreams and closing processes
• Excellent communication and client-service skills
• Strong academic credentials and sophisticated law-firm experience
• Admission to the Illinois Bar, or eligibility to obtain admission promptly

Experience with private equity, venture, credit, real estate or registered-fund products is advantageous.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is $260,000–$435,000, depending on class year, experience, location, qualifications and other relevant factors.

The firm also offers bonus eligibility, comprehensive health and insurance benefits, retirement support, paid time off, professional-development resources, wellbeing programmes and pro bono opportunities.

Investment Funds Associate, Private Funds And Investment Management, Chicago, IL, Am Law 100, Attorney Jobs, InvestmentFunds, FundFormation, AssetManagement, Law Firm Associate, Legal Recruiting

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