Mid-level Associate, Americas Corporate M&A

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. Our long history as an international firm means we are perfectly placed to help our clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may be.

With lawyers operating from more than 40 locations, working in virtually every country of the world, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality full-service practice competing at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in the world's key financial markets and our strengths in handling complex cross-border work.

It's not just about our global network of offices; it's the global interconnectedness of the Firm that our people, and our clients, value most. We work well together across geographic and practice boundaries. It's one of the reasons we attract and retain cross-border work. And why we attract a diverse group of people.

Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Support and execute transformational domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, GP stakes transactions, minority investments, spin-outs, and strategic partnerships across traditional and alternative asset managers (7%).
• Represent corporate clients, private equity funds, and institutional investors in reorganizations, carve-outs, joint ventures, and strategic equity investments involving asset managers and fund platforms (7%).
• Advise on regulatory compliance throughout the transaction lifecycle under frameworks including the Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, Securities Act, Exchange Act, Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule, ERISA, SEC Marketing Rule, FINRA broker-dealer rules, AIFMD, and foreign jurisdiction equivalents (3%).
• Demonstrate fluency in fund structures (mutual funds, ETFs, private funds, SMAs) and investment strategies (credit, real estate, hedge, private equity), with proven ability to synthesize legal, commercial, and operational considerations into business-oriented solutions (5%).
• Draft corporate documents required for company organization or for adoption of changes to companies, including documents for entity formation, governance changes, transformations, and liquidations, powers of attorney, resolutions of general meetings, waivers of appeal, and motions for Commercial Register and other authorities (e.g. powers of attorney, statements, decisions, draft agreements); draft motions for entry of changes in entries of companies in Commercial Register (e.g. change of business name, registered office, statutory body, etc.), and complete schedules to such motions (4%).
• Draft legal memoranda and commentary on commercial and corporate law issues, including precedent analysis, regulatory interpretation in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, and strategic alternatives such as GP-led secondaries, IPOs, succession planning, and minority stake sales (3%).
• Draft and negotiate transaction documents including purchase and merger agreements, restrictive covenants, investment advisory contracts, fund management and sub-advisory agreements, employment and equity arrangements, shareholder and proxy materials, and shareholder consent materials (8%).
• Conduct and coordinate due diligence with focus on fund structures, investor consents, compliance program integration, SEC examination history, custody and trading practices (including digital asset securities), and regulatory risk exposure both in the US and foreign jurisdictions (8%).
• Monitor and interpret regulatory developments and industry trends affecting asset managers, including SEC or foreign regulatory bodies' rulemaking, enforcement actions, AI-related compliance risks, and examination priorities (3%).
• Engage with domestic and international regulators including the SEC Division of Examinations, FINRA, state securities authorities, and foreign regulatory bodies; prepare and submit legal filings, forms, notices, as well as summaries for the clients on the same (4%).
• Coordinate and oversee the work of multidisciplinary teams including tax, ERISA, executive compensation, debt finance, as well as regulatory and enforcement counsel to ensure seamless execution of transactions (6%).
• Analyze corporate health and legal risks of target businesses prior to acquisition, including review of material contracts, governance structures, and regulatory disclosures in data rooms (4%).
• Support day-to-day legal services for asset managers, hedge funds, private equity firms, and institutional investors, including corporate establishment, registration, transformation, and liquidation (5%).
• Communicate with clients and opposing counsel, lead calls and meetings, and explain complex legal issues to non-lawyer internal and external stakeholders across deal teams (17%).
• Project manage the work of multi-jurisdictional matter teams, allocating workstreams and individual tasks to junior Associates, Legal Assistants, and industry specialists, readying documentation, diligence findings, and all communications for Partner and client receipt (12%).
• Manage, mentor, and train junior team members throughout the course of each transaction (4%).
• Salary: $310,000-$390,000 per year.

Qualifications

• LL.M., J.D., or U.S. equivalent in law plus 3 years of professional experience as an Attorney, Associate, or Law Clerk, or any occupation/position/job title providing legal advice to domestic and international regulated asset management clients on strategic mergers & acquisitions transactions at an international law firm.
• Must be admitted to the New York State Bar.
• Must also have experience with the following special skills: 3 years of professional experience monitoring, interpreting, and analyzing industry M&A trends, regulatory changes, financials, and landmark deal considerations, to identify nuanced strategic considerations and provide bespoke legal guidance to clients and other key stakeholders related to complex M&A transactions, corporate finance transactions, joint ventures, private equity transactions, and strategic partnerships; 3 years of professional experience representing corporate clients, private equity funds, and regulated asset managers in domestic and global mergers, acquisitions and equity investments in a broad range of industries, preparing and revising transaction documents for private equity clients and portfolio companies including equity commitment letters, limited guarantees, incentive award agreements, purchase agreements, merger agreement, and transaction consents; 3 years of professional experience advising on acquisitions and equity investments in a broad range of industries, with specific focus on carve-out transactions involving complex multi-jurisdictional reorganization and various U.S. and international corporate and regulatory matters; 3 years of professional experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating regulatory-sensitive agreements, including fund management contracts, sub-advisory agreements, novation agreements, fund organizational documents, fund prospectuses, side letters, and shareholder consent materials; 3 years of professional experience designing legal strategies to manage transactions for complex fund structures (mutual funds, ETFs, private funds, SMAs) and investment strategies (credit, real estate, hedge, private equity); and 3 years of professional experience conducting analytical due diligence for complex fund structures (mutual funds, ETFs, private funds, SMAs) and investment strategies (credit, real estate, hedge, private equity) focused on investor consents, compliance program integration, SEC examination history, custody and trading practices (including digital asset securities), and regulatory risk exposure both in the US and foreign jurisdictions.

Location & Reporting

• Telecommuting may be permitted up to 1 day per week. When not telecommuting, must report to White & Case LLP at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020.
• Please submit resume online at: https://www.whitecase.com or via email to lateralrecruiting@whitecase.com. Must specify Ad Code MOEK

This position is eligible for incentives under the Employee Referral Program.

Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

This role reports to

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm's policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact talent.acquisition@whitecase.com.

Benefits at White & Case

White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business-specific to the relevant office-before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.