Associate, Private Equity

White-; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 310,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

White & Case in Chicago is seeking a mid-level associate with private equity and/or M&A experience to join the M&A Corporate practice. The role focuses on advising privately held and high-growth companies, venture funds, and sponsors on equity financings, mergers, and related corporate matters.

Ideal candidates possess strong drafting, writing and analytical skills, with a commercial mindset and ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of substantive M&A and Private Equity experience at a leading law firm, with a strong foundation in public and private company transactions.
• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and financial sponsors in domestic and cross‑border mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Ability to run discrete aspects of transactions independently, with appropriate supervision.
• Exercises sound legal and commercial judgment; identifies issues early and proposes practical, business‑oriented solutions.
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creative thinking when addressing complex legal and structural issues.
• Anticipates client needs and maintains a service-oriented mindset consistent with client expectations.
• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong academic record and excellent legal drafting and analytical skills.
• Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing deal team culture.
• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to the Illinois bar (or ability to become admitted) and in good standing.
• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects.
• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self-starter.
• Fluency in English

Responsibilities

• Advising and leading drafting efforts for all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity transactions, joint ventures and investments for sophisticated public and private clients.
• Leading on due diligence
• Conducting and overseeing legal research
• Ensuring clients’ interests are properly represented and protected at all times

Skills

M&A experience

Private equity

Drafting & negotiation

Deal execution & project management

Education

JD degree

Illinois bar admission or eligibility

Job description

Our Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice is globally recognized as a top-tier leader in both public and private M&A transactions. We deliver unparalleled legal services for complex corporate deals, offering strategic planning, due diligence, negotiation, and execution of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other business combinations. Serving a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, private equity firms and banks, our team ensures regulatory compliance, manages risk, and structures transactions for optimal outcomes. By combining extensive legal expertise with deep market insight, we help clients navigate high-stakes transactions, fostering growth and creating value, solidifying our reputation as one of the premier M&A practices worldwide.

Position Summary

We are currently looking for a mid-level associate with private equity and/or M&A experience to join the M&A Corporate practice in our Chicago office. This role will advise privately held and high growth companies, as well as venture capital funds, private equity funds and corporate strategics, in connection with equity financings, mergers, acquisitions, divestures, joint ventures and general corporate matters. As well as possessing excellent academic credentials and legal knowledge, you should also be commercially minded, with a solid grasp of the market and an enthusiasm for the cut-and-thrust of deal making. Ideal candidates should have excellent drafting, writing and analytical skills, strong attention to detail, organizational, verbal, interpersonal and project management skills. Experience in drafting and negotiating purchase and merger agreements, LLC and LP agreements and other ancillary transaction documents and otherwise meeting the day-to-day requirements of private equity fund and portfolio company clients is expected. Highly focused, you should display the organizational skills and composure needed to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced practice, working to tight deadlines and managing multiple workstreams and communication channels. Given the fluidity of the deal-making process, you should also be mentally agile—adept at thinking on your feet, and quickly adapting to changing circumstances. Excellent oral and written communication skills will be major assets—enabling you to negotiate effectively, and to seamlessly manage the flow of information between practice groups, clients and stakeholders. Regularly working in large, international and multidisciplinary teams, you should also demonstrate a collaborative approach and an ease interacting with a wide range of legal and business professionals. Proactive and self-motivated, you should be eager to take ownership of your work product and demonstrate the skill, talent and commitment to deliver outstanding results.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Advising and leading drafting efforts for all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity transactions, joint ventures and investments for sophisticated public and private clients
• Leading on due diligence
• Conducting and overseeing legal research
• Ensuring clients’ interests are properly represented and protected at all time

Qualifications

• 4+ years of substantive M&A and Private Equity experience at a leading law firm, with a strong foundation in public and private company transactions
• Experience representing buyers, sellers, and financial sponsors in domestic and mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity financings and joint ventures
• Ability to run discrete aspects of transactions independently, with appropriate supervision
• Exercises sound legal and commercial judgment; identifies issues early and proposes practical, business-oriented solutions
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creative thinking when addressing complex legal and structural issues
• Anticipates client needs and maintains a service-oriented mindset consistent with our client expectations
• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, and internal stakeholders
• Strong academic record and excellent legal drafting and analytical skills
• Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing deal team culture
• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree (LLM or foreign equivalent) from an accredited law school
• Admitted to the Illinois bar (or the ability to become admitted) and in good standing
• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects
• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self-starter
• Fluency in English

Location and Compensation

Office: Chicago

Salary Range: US$310,000 - $390,000 plus bonus eligibility

This role reports to Partner

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact [e-mail].

Benefits at White & Case

• medical
• dental
• vision insurance
• life and disability coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings
• vacation time
• leave programs (including parental leave)

Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. With a long history as an international firm, we are well-positioned to help clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may arise. Operating across six continents and working in virtually every country, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality, full-service practice that competes at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in key financial markets and our expertise in handling complex cross-border work. What sets us apart is not just our global network of offices but the interconnectedness of our Firm. Our people and clients value our collaboration across geographic and practice boundaries, which is why we attract and retain significant cross-border work. Representing multiple nationalities from across the world and speaking a vast array of languages, our lawyers and Business Services professionals are globally minded, enterprising, and committed to excellence.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion.

Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.