Private Equity Partner

Primeline Solutions LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Primeline Solutions LLC is seeking an experienced M&A/Private Equity Partner to join its combined M&A and Private Equity group. The role focuses on private, sponsor-driven mid-market transactions, with billions of dollars in activity annually.

You will lead deals, manage relationships with PE sponsors and portfolio companies, and mentor teams. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in M&A/PE, a portable book of business (often $3–5M+), and a practical, commercial mindset.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in private, middle-market M&A and private equity.
• Strong understanding of sponsor-driven deal dynamics and competitive auction processes.
• Portable, scalable book of business typically $3–5M+ (flexibility to ~$3M for strategic fits).
• Practices aligned with the middle market and capable of supporting leverage.

Responsibilities

• Lead private, middle-market M&A and private equity transactions, including LBOs, platform and add-on acquisitions, auctions, minority investments, recapitalizations, and divestitures.
• Serve as lead relationship partner or senior deal counsel to private equity sponsors and portfolio companies.
• Deliver commercial, business-focused advice that goes beyond legal analysis.
• Originate and grow repeat, sponsor-driven client relationships.
• Build scalable practices that support multi-lawyer deal teams.
• Leverage embedded specialists to drive efficient execution.
• Contribute to practice growth in health care, sports, financial services, etc.
• Mentor associates and junior partners and participate in firm leadership initiatives.

Skills

M&A/PE experience

Sponsor-driven deals

Relationship leadership

Leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

M&A / Private Equity Partner Location: New York / Chicago / Dallas

Salary: $600K — $1M+

Years of Experience: 10+ years

Bar Admission: Bar admission required

Hybrid work policy Job Details: This firm is seeking an experienced M&A / Private Equity Partner to join its combined M&A and Private Equity group, a core strategic practice handling billions of dollars in middle-market transactions annually. The group focuses exclusively on private, sponsor-driven M&A and advises private equity funds, portfolio companies, family offices, independent sponsors, and strategic buyers throughout the full investment lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead private, middle-market M&A and private equity transactions, including LBOs, platform and add-on acquisitions, auctions, minority investments, recapitalizations, and divestitures
• Serve as lead relationship partner or senior deal counsel to private equity sponsors and portfolio companies
• Deliver commercial, business-focused advice that goes beyond legal analysis
• Originate and grow repeat, sponsor-driven client relationships
• Build scalable practices that support multi-lawyer deal teams
• Leverage This firm’s embedded specialist model (tax, employment, finance, antitrust, IP) to drive efficient execution
• Contribute to practice growth in priority sectors (e.g., health care, sports, business services, financial services, manufacturing)
• Mentor associates and junior partners and participate in firm leadership initiatives

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Significant experience in private, middle-market M&A and private equity
• Strong understanding of sponsor-driven deal dynamics and competitive auction processes
• Portable, scalable book of business typically $4–5M+ (flexibility to ~$3M for strategic fits)
• Practices aligned with the middle market and capable of supporting leverage
• Commercial, pragmatic mindset with a collaborative working style
• Stable career history; frequent short-term lateral moves are viewed negatively

What Differentiates This Firm

• Embedded specialists who work exclusively on transactions, delivering superior availability and market insight
• Market-intelligence-driven business development, including proprietary data on compensation, equity structures, and financing terms
• Deep experience across market cycles, with early tax and finance integration
• Best-in-class lateral integration, including senior leadership involvement and long-term business development support

Why candidates should join

• One of the firm’s core strategic practices, with 80+ lawyers and active plans for meaningful growth.
• Focused exclusively on private, middle-market M&A and sponsor-driven work—not diluted by public-company distractions.
• Handles billions of dollars in middle-market transactions annually, enabling partners to compete for larger and more complex deals over time.
• Embedded specialist model: employment, tax, and other deal-critical specialists sit inside the corporate group and work only on transactions.
• Specialists prioritize deal work and bring exceptional market intelligence from high transaction volume—no internal competition for resources.
• This structure leads to faster execution, stronger negotiating leverage, and better outcomes for clients.
• Strong platform for buyer-side private equity work, with flexibility to add sell-side strength where strategic.
• Especially strong in sports and health care, with interest in deepening other industry verticals.
• Opportunity to meaningfully strengthen New York corporate depth rather than being “one more partner.”
• Market-intelligence-driven business development: proprietary data on executive compensation, equity incentives, and financing terms used to win mandates and grow books.
• Partners show up to clients with insights competitors don’t have—not just legal advice.
• Highly commercial, practical culture—partners are expected to give clear recommendations, not just academic analysis.
• Appeals to sponsors and executives who want decisiveness and business judgment.
• Best-in-class lateral integration: formal integration plans, senior leadership involvement, and dedicated business development support for up to two years.
• Lateral success is actively monitored and adjusted, resulting in a high success rate.
• Compensation is individualized and competitive, with strong economics for partners who bring and grow business (typically ~35–38%).
• Flexible hours expectations that recognize the realities of senior partners with growing books.

Seniority

10+ years of experience as a practicing attorney in M&A/PE.

Work experience

Practice focuses on private, middle- market M&A/PE transactions.

Experience leading deals like LBOs, acquisitions, and recapitalizations.

Experience advising PE sponsors, portfolio companies, or family offices.

Deep experience in healthcare or sports M&A/PE.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

Hard skills

Portable book of business of at least $3M.

Ideal portable book of business is $4- 5M+.

Book requires multiple lawyers to support, not solo execution.

Soft skills

Commercial mindset: gives business advice, not just legal analysis.

Collaborative, low- ego, and focused on long- term platform building.

Miscellaneous

Currently based in or willing to relocate to New York.

Traits to avoid

History of frequent, short- term moves between firms.

Practice is significantly down- market from This firm’s middle- market focus.

Prefers an academic approach over a commercial, client- focused one.

Skills: middle market,investment acquisition,mergers & acquisitions,partner,mergers and acquisitions,acquisition assessment,private equity