Transactional Labor & Employment Associate

Advocates Legal Recruiting; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 260,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocates Legal Recruiting is partnering with an AmLaw 100 client to recruit a transactional Labor & Employment Associate in a role embedded in deal work. The attorney will work with corporate teams and sponsors on matters where employment considerations affect valuation and structure.

The ideal candidate has 3–6 years of labor and employment or corporate transactional experience, with a strong drafting background on employment and restrictive covenants.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of experience in labor and employment or corporate transactional work.
• Exposure to M&A or private equity transactions preferred.
• Strong drafting background with employment and restrictive covenant agreements.
• Clear communicator with sound judgment and the ability to prioritize under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support labor and employment diligence in M&A and private equity deals
• Draft and negotiate executive employment, separation, and restrictive covenant agreements
• Advise on non-compete and non-solicit enforceability across jurisdictions
• Guide post-closing workforce integration and leadership transitions
• Work directly with senior executives on governance and personnel risk tied to transactions

Skills

Drafting

Employment agreements

Non-compete

Job description

Transactional Labor & Employment Associate

Charlotte, United States | Posted on 07/21/2026

Labor & Employment Associate | Transactional Focus | AmLaw 100 Platform

Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, or Pittsburgh.

Our AmLaw 100 client is building out a Labor and Employment group that sits directly inside high-value deal work. This is a 3–6 year role for associates who want more than advisory or litigation lanes and prefer to be embedded in transactions where personnel issues shape outcomes.

You will work alongside corporate deal teams and private equity sponsors on matters where employment considerations affect valuation, structure, and post-closing execution. The practice blends transactional support with strategic counseling on executive mobility, restrictive covenants, and sensitive workforce decisions.

Role Summary

• Support labor and employment diligence in M&A and private equity deals
• Draft and negotiate executive employment, separation, and restrictive covenant agreements
• Advise on non-compete and non-solicit enforceability across jurisdictions
• Guide post-closing workforce integration and leadership transitions
• Work directly with senior executives on governance and personnel risk tied to transactions

Candidate Profile

• 3–6 years of experience in labor and employment or corporate transactional work
• Exposure to M&A or private equity transactions preferred
• Strong drafting background with employment and restrictive covenant agreements
• Comfortable operating in deal-driven environments with tight timelines
• Clear communicator with sound judgment and the ability to prioritize under pressure

Why This Role

This is not a traditional L&E seat. You are positioned at the intersection of employment law and corporate transactions, working on matters where your input carries weight in real time. The group is integrated with deal teams, giving you visibility into strategy, client decision-making, and sponsor priorities. The firm continues to invest in technology, including AI-driven tools, to reduce administrative work and keep associates focused on higher-value analysis.

Compensation is at the top of the market, with a base range of $260K to $390K, plus bonus opportunities. Multiple office options including Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh.

If you are in a traditional L&E or corporate seat and want exposure to more complex, transaction-driven work, this is worth a conversation.