Junior M&A Associate

Smith Anderson Group; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Anderson, the largest business and litigation law firm in North Carolina's Research Triangle, seeks an associate with 2–4 years of law firm experience to join our Public Companies (Securities and Capital Markets) practice in Raleigh. The candidate will advise public companies on securities law compliance, SEC reporting, and governance matters.

The role offers significant client contact, opportunities to handle sophisticated transactions, and collaboration across complementary practices.

Qualifications

• Practical, solution‑oriented, and collaborative practice style.
• Ability to interact directly with clients, and work independently and as part of team.
• Exercise of judgment, use of practice problem solving, and willingness to take a leadership role in managing cases and other projects.
• Willingness to help continue to build a long‑term practice.
• Strong academic credentials and writing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Commitment to provide highest quality service to our clients.

Job description

Smith Anderson is the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in North Carolina’s Research Triangle—one of the Southeast’s most vibrant regions for business growth, innovation, and technology‑driven industries. For more than 100 years, the firm has served as a trusted advisor to dynamic regional, national, and global companies, earning a strong reputation for legal excellence, thoughtful client service, and practical, business‑oriented counsel. Smith Anderson combines sophisticated legal capabilities with a collaborative culture that values long‑term relationships, professional growth, and strategic thinking.

We are seeking a highly motivated associate with two to four years of law firm experience to join our growing Public Companies (Securities and Capital Markets) practice. The ideal candidate will have experience advising public companies on securities law compliance, SEC reporting and corporate governance matters, including periodic reports, proxy statements, current reports, executive compensation disclosures and board governance matters.Candidates should also have experience supporting capital markets transactions, including registered securities offerings, private placements and other financing transactions. Experience with a broad range of capital markets and financing transactions is preferred, including public and private debt offerings, preferred stock offerings (including perpetual preferred securities), shelf takedowns, Rule 144A offerings, exchange offers, tender offers and other strategic financing transactions.

Our Public Companies practice continues to grow, creating exceptional opportunities for associates to assume increasing levels of responsibility, work directly with clients and management teams, and play meaningful roles in sophisticated transactions and advisory matters. Associates in our group are given significant client contact and are encouraged to develop the judgment and practical problem‑solving skills necessary to become trusted business advisors.

Our associates are encouraged to develop a broad corporate skill set and regularly collaborate with attorneys across complementary practice areas. Because our practice regularly works across disciplines and work flow varies, we are particularly interested in candidates who are eager to support related corporate practices as client needs arise, including mergers and acquisitions, private company financings and other strategic corporate transactions.

The successful candidate will be willing to take ownership of matters as experience permits, motivated to build a long‑term practice, and interested in contributing to the continued growth of a leading public companies, securities and capital markets practice. Additionally, the candidate should exhibit the following skills and characteristics:

• Practical, solution‑oriented, and collaborative practice style
• Ability to interact directly with clients, and work independently and as part of team
• Exercise of judgment, use of practice problem solving, and willingness to take a leadership role in managing cases and other projects
• Willingness to help continue to build a long‑term practice
• Strong academic credentials and writing skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to provide highest quality service to our clients

Why Raleigh / The Research Triangle

Raleigh and the broader Research Triangle offer an exceptional professional and personal environment. The region is a major center for business, education, and innovation, anchored by leading universities, a strong commercial real estate market, and sustained economic growth. Attorneys practicing in the Triangle benefit from sophisticated, high‑quality work combined with a strong sense of community, reasonable cost of living, and an excellent quality of life—making it an attractive place to both build a practice and put down roots.

Smith Anderson is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, strategy, and cohesiveness that supports both our clients and our people. We offer a supportive professional environment with robust training and mentoring programs, meaningful engagement with firm leadership, and opportunities for career growth tailored to individual goals, including alternative career path mentoring and development options.