Job Description

Private Equity Associate Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking a Private Equity Associate Attorney to join the Northern California platform of a premier global law firm. This is an outstanding opportunity for a 3–6 year corporate associate attorney with substantial private equity and M&A experience to advise private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and sellers on sophisticated middle-market and large-cap transactions. The role offers significant deal ownership, direct client exposure, and the opportunity to work on high-profile acquisitions, exits, and strategic sponsor-backed transactions in one of the most active private equity markets in the country.

Locations

Palo Alto, California; San Francisco, California

Position Overview

The ideal candidate will have 3–6 years of private equity and M&A experience, with the majority of their practice focused on:

• Sponsor-side acquisitions
• Platform and add-on acquisitions
• Portfolio company transactions
• Strategic buy-side and sell-side M&A
• Exit transactions
• General corporate governance matters

This role is best suited for an associate who has meaningful experience running deals and managing sophisticated transaction workstreams from LOI through closing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage private equity and M&A transactions from inception through closing
• Draft and negotiate:
  • Purchase agreements
  • Equity documents
  • Ancillary agreements
  • Governance documents
  • Disclosure schedules
• Coordinate due diligence, specialist teams, and closing processes
• Advise sponsors, portfolio companies, and strategic buyers on transaction structuring
• Manage deal execution timelines, client communications, and internal workstreams
• Support negotiations, client calls, and high-level strategic transaction discussions
• Work closely with attorneys across:
  • Tax
  • Finance
  • Employment
  • Antitrust
  • Executive compensation
• Assist with portfolio company operational and governance matters as needed

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• 3–6 years of private equity and M&A experience
• Significant experience at an Am Law 100 or comparable leading corporate law firm preferred
• Strong deal management and drafting experience
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills
• Superior academic credentials
• Strong business judgment and client management skills
• California bar admission required

Compensation

Base salary range: $260,000 – $390,000. Compensation will depend on experience, office, qualifications, and overall fit.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal attorney will be:

• A strong sponsor-side deal runner
• Comfortable leading multiple concurrent transactions
• Experienced in both buy-side and sell-side processes
• Commercially sophisticated and business-minded
• Strong in fast-paced, high-volume deal environments
• Interested in long-term growth within a premier private equity platform

Why This Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a NorCal PE/M&A associate looking for strong sponsor deal flow, sophisticated strategic transactions, and meaningful autonomy on a globally recognized platform. The Palo Alto / San Francisco market positioning makes this especially compelling for laterals targeting high-growth sponsor and tech-adjacent deal work.

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