Senior M&A/PE Associate — Lead Middle‑Market Deals

ACC San Diego - Association of Corporate Counsel; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

Morningstar Law Group in Raleigh, NC seeks a Senior Corporate Associate (5–7 years) to lead sophisticated M&A and private equity transactions for buyers, sellers, and sponsors. You will run deals directly with partners, coordinate due diligence, and manage financings across diverse industries with real client contact.

The role offers partial work-from-home flexibility, a focus on running transactions from outset, and a path to lead client relationships as the firm grows.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with a strong academic record.
• 5–7 years of experience handling sophisticated M&A and/or private equity transactions.
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; willing to become licensed in North Carolina within one year of joining.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions independently and as part of a deal team.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate purchase agreements, merger agreements, and LOIs for asset and equity transactions on both buy and sell sides.
• Manage transactions day-to-day—coordinate due diligence, disclosure schedules, closing checklists, and ancillary documents from signing through closing.
• Represent private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, and portfolio companies in platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts.
• Support acquisition financings, recapitalizations, and related private capital transactions alongside the firm’s securities and financing attorneys.
• Advise on ownership succession and transition planning, including ESOP-related and founder-transition transactions.
• Conduct and supervise legal due diligence, identifying and clearly communicating material issues to clients and deal teams.
• Coordinate with tax, employment, IP, real estate, and regulatory specialists to keep transactions moving.
• Counsel clients in regulated and licensed industries, including architecture and engineering firms navigating multistate licensing requirements.

Skills

M&A experience

Private equity

Negotiation

Due diligence

Client communication

Deal leadership

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Morningstar Law Group in Raleigh, NC seeks a Senior Corporate Associate (5–7 years) to lead sophisticated M&A and private equity transactions for buyers, sellers, and sponsors. You will run deals directly with partners, coordinate due diligence, and manage financings across diverse industries with real client contact.

The role offers partial work-from-home flexibility, a focus on running transactions from outset, and a path to lead client relationships as the firm grows.