Associate / Attorney - Mergers & Acquisitions

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 260,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Wellbeing programmes

Pro bono opportunities

Job summary

Watts & Associates is seeking a Mergers & Acquisitions Associate to join its Chicago, IL office, handling sophisticated domestic and cross-border M&A for public and private companies.

The role offers ownership of diligence, drafting and closing workstreams, direct access to partners and senior deal teams, and opportunities to work with private equity sponsors, investors and strategic buyers.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3–7 years of substantive corporate M&A experience.
• Experience handling acquisitions, dispositions or strategic transactions.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills on principal deal documents.
• Admission to the Illinois Bar or eligibility to obtain admission promptly.
• Experience with private equity, public-company transactions or cross-border matters is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate acquisition agreements and ancillary transaction documents.
• Manage legal due diligence and coordinate specialist workstreams.
• Advise on transaction structure, process and execution.
• Support signing, closing and post-closing matters.
• Work on strategic acquisitions, dispositions, mergers and joint ventures.
• Coordinate with tax, finance, antitrust, benefits and regulatory teams.
• Communicate directly with clients, counterparties and advisers.
• Track transaction timelines, deliverables and risk issues.
• Contribute to deal strategy and practical commercial solutions.

Education

Illinois Bar admission

Job description

Mergers & Acquisitions Associate | Chicago, IL | Firm Policy | 3–7 Years' Experience | $260,000–$420,000 Base + Benefits & Bonuses | Am Law 50

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 50 global full-service law firm seeking a Mergers & Acquisitions Associate to join its Chicago, IL office.

This opportunity offers sophisticated public and private company mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and strategic transactions for public and private companies, private-equity sponsors, investors and strategic buyers within a nationally recognised corporate M&A 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 50 global platform with deep roots in technology, life sciences and high-growth business
• Market-leading corporate and litigation capabilities serving innovative companies and sophisticated investors
• Recognised strength in corporate M&A and complementary corporate, regulatory or litigation disciplines
• Established teams advising public and private companies, private-equity sponsors, investors and strategic buyers on complex, high-value matters
• Collaborative environment with direct access to experienced partners and significant client exposure
• Structured onboarding, career-stage academies and tailored professional-development resources
• Formal mentoring, lateral integration and confidential career coaching
• Technology-enabled approach designed to improve client service and associate efficiency
• Strong commitment to pro bono work, inclusion, wellbeing and long-term career development

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is an opportunity to join a well-established corporate M&A practice offering:

• Complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions
• Exposure to public-company, private-company and sponsor-led deal work
• Meaningful ownership of diligence, drafting and closing workstreams
• Direct access to partners, senior lawyers and client deal teams
• Cross-practice collaboration across tax, finance, regulatory and executive compensation
• Strong technical and commercial development
• A credible route to long-term advancement and client responsibility

The Role

The successful attorney will support and lead key components of corporate M&A matters, including:

• Draft and negotiate acquisition agreements and ancillary transaction documents
• Manage legal due diligence and coordinate specialist workstreams
• Advise on transaction structure, process and execution
• Support signing, closing and post-closing matters
• Work on strategic acquisitions, dispositions, mergers and joint ventures
• Coordinate with tax, finance, antitrust, benefits and regulatory teams
• Communicate directly with clients, counterparties and advisers
• Track transaction timelines, deliverables and risk issues
• Contribute to deal strategy and practical commercial solutions

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 a mergers & acquisitions associate with:

• Approximately 3–7 years of substantive corporate M&A experience
• Experience handling sophisticated acquisitions, dispositions or strategic transactions
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills involving principal deal documents
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem‑solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and demanding transaction timelines
• Strong written and verbal communication skillsExcellent academic credentials and experience in a sophisticated law-firm environment
• Admission to the Illinois Bar, or eligibility to obtain admission promptly
• Experience with private equity, public‑company transactions or cross‑border matters is advantageous.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is $260,000–$420,000, 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.