Midlevel Corporate M&A Associate Attorney

Job Title: Midlevel to Senior Associate – Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Practice Area: Corporate Law – Startup Formation, Venture Financings, M&A, and Technology-Focused Regulatory Strategy

Location: San Francisco, Palo Alto, or New York (preference may be stated in application)

Schedule: Full-time; competitive billable hour expectations consistent with national AmLaw firms

Salary: $310,000 to $420,000 annually, dependent on experience and qualifications. Includes eligibility for annual discretionary bonuses, plus a robust benefits package.

About the Firm:

Our client, a premier international law firm with a consistent track record as one of Fortune’s “Best Places to Work” for 23 years running, is renowned for its collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture. The firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (ECVC) group represents a dynamic portfolio of high-growth clients ranging from cutting-edge startups to global technology leaders, along with the investors who fund them.

Responsibilities:

The selected attorney will join a thriving ECVC practice, working on highly sophisticated transactions that span the full company lifecycle. Responsibilities include:

• Advising startups and high-growth companies on entity formation, capital structuring, and operational governance.
• Leading venture capital financing transactions (SAFEs, convertible notes, Series Seed, Series A, etc.).
• Counseling clients on regulatory strategy, particularly in frontier technology sectors including AI, Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and the metaverse.
• Serving as outside general counsel for startups and growth-stage businesses.
• Collaborating with investor clients on portfolio financings and secondary transactions.
• Supporting complex M&A transactions as companies mature toward liquidity events.

Required Credentials:

• J.D. from a top-tier accredited law school.
• Active membership in the California Bar is required.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant legal experience at a peer law firm, with substantive exposure to venture financings, startup law, or M&A.
• Demonstrated client service orientation, excellent project management skills, and ability to handle multiple, time-sensitive matters.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with client-facing counseling and complex cap table management is highly valued.

Additional Preferred Skills:

• Experience counseling companies or investors on regulatory frameworks related to frontier technologies (e.g., AI governance, Web3 infrastructure, crypto securities laws, decentralized platforms).
• Familiarity with Delaware and California corporate law for startups.
• Prior experience serving as lead associate on funding rounds or handling a portfolio of startup clients.
• Advanced comfort level advising clients from seed to exit on legal and strategic matters.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range: $310,000–$420,000
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility
• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) plan with employer contributions
• Generous paid time off, parental leave, and family care benefits
• Access to firm-wide mentorship and advancement opportunities

Legal Notice:

"This job advertisement is a general announcement created to attract qualified candidates on behalf of our client. It is not a complete job description or an offer of employment. Salary and benefits details may vary and are not always disclosed. We pre-vet every employer but cannot guarantee how the offer and the job will turn out. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages individuals of all religions, nationalities, genders, sexualities, ideologies, creeds, beliefs or backgrounds who are qualified for the role to apply! By applying you consent to People Placers messaging you via SMS or other means to update you on the application progress. You may opt out at any time."