Corporate (Private Equity) Associates – 1–5PQE – Elite US Firm
A rare opportunity to join the corporate practice of an elite US firm as it builds out its Private Equity offering with five associate roles open across 1–5PQE. This is a genuine growth story, and early joiners will help shape the platform rather than inherit one already built.
The team sits within a well-established, well-resourced corporate practice with strong partner support and a genuinely lean structure meaning associates are trusted with real responsibility well ahead of their PQE level, rather than waiting years for exposure.
About the team:
- Sits within a wider corporate group of 12 partners and c.30 associates
- Corporate M&A generalist focus with a clear strength in private equity work
- Broader exposure than many PE-focused teams — this is not a pure LBO shop, and the mandate spans a wide range of high-value corporate matters
- Meritocratic culture — workload and progression are not dictated purely by PQE
- Genuine room for long-term partnership progression, without the senior bottleneck seen at more established platforms
- Lean, partner-led environment offering direct access and exposure to complex, high-value transactions
What they’re looking for:
- 1–5PQE corporate generalists with a clear affinity for private equity work
- Trained and qualified at a Magic Circle or Elite US firm
- Commercially minded, confident operators who thrive with autonomy rather than heavy structure
- Team players with no ego, willing to turn their hand to unfamiliar work
- Foreign-qualified candidates considered, provided they have strong London experience
- Candidates with limited PE experience but a genuine willingness to learn are welcome, as are LBO specialists looking to diversify and generalist corporate/M&A lawyers looking to build a PE practice
Compensation & Benefits:
- Cravath scale elite US market-leading compensation
- NQ salary from $235,000
- Summer and year-end bonuses, plus sign-on bonuses available
- Choice of fixed or variable FX rate on pay
- Personalised, individual training plans for every associate
- Dedicated knowledge lawyers and talent development managers supporting each practice group
- 1:1 mentoring for every associate, alongside a wider support network
- Strong track record of secondments, including in-house placements and international rotations
- Access to bespoke US-focused training programmes for more senior associates
- Excellent office environment — collaborative culture, open-door policy across partners and associates, and strong social scene
Process: A typically 2–3 stage process involving partner meetings, with additional technical or informal stages depending on seniority.
This is a highly selective search for top-tier profiles looking to join a lean, high-calibre corporate team with genuine partner access, broad M&A exposure, and elite compensation with the potential to establish a visible, senior presence within a growing practice rather than being one of many.
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