Corporate M&A Senior Associate

Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations Limited; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in London is seeking a Senior Associate for their M&A practice group. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE) in managing complex, cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Responsibilities include client management, strategic guidance, and drafting documentation. This hybrid position requires in-office work for at least three days a week. Benefits include occupational pension, private medical insurance, and health services.

Benefits

Occupational pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Onsite gym

Wellbeing services

Qualifications

• 5+ PQE in managing complex transactions.
• Strong technical/legal knowledge in cross-border M&A.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Taking leading roles in corporate transactions.
• Drafting and reviewing documentation.
• Managing client expectations and project delivery.

Skills

Client relationship management

Strategic guidance

Legal knowledge

Transactional experience

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Qualified lawyer with 5+ PQE

Job description

Senior Associate role in London M&A practice group

Focus on public and private M&A transactions

Requires 5+ PQE and experience in complex cross-border M&A

Responsibilities include drafting, strategic guidance, and client relationship management

Hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Associate to join our Corporate M&A practice group in London.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

A&O Shearman advises across the broad spectrum of corporate work including public takeovers, private M&A, Private Equity, ECM, complex joint ventures and corporate restructurings, as well as general commercial, antitrust and corporate governance issues. We are a truly global adviser with an enviable geographic footprint. Our global corporate team spans all of our offices and works seamlessly with a community of relationship law firms where we do not have a local presence. This platform provides our clients with the confidence that they will receive the highest quality advice in both their domestic markets and as they expand into new territories.

We are a leading adviser on strategic M&A transactions having advised on more than 2,180 deals worth over GBP1.2 trillion in the last five years (source: Mergermarket). Our consistently high rankings in the corporate league tables highlight the strength of our practice. Cross-border work is where we excel, and the majority of our transactions have a multi-jurisdictional focus. Strong teamwork, efficient working practices and a uniform approach enable us to manage cross-border deals effectively and seamlessly.

The successful candidate will work across our market-leading public company group, acting on the most significant deals at the forefront of the sector. In the past year alone, our UK M&A team was instructed on over 100 M&A mandates and is consistently ranked highly by the leading legal directories and league tables, being ranked in Band One by Chambers UK 2025 for Corporate/M&A: GBP 800 million and above.

Associates coming to this team will join one of the most successful departments in the City and will obtain some of the best experience available in the market. We are focussed on growing our people so that they can fulfil their potential and become the best corporate lawyers.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Taking a leading role in transactions and other corporate matters
• Drafting, reviewing and amending documentation
• Providing strategic guidance to clients
• Managing client expectations and project delivery appropriately
• Business development - development of personal plan, assistance with and implementation of business development campaign
• Legal research

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Qualified lawyer - 5 PQE+
• Experience and confidence in managing complex transactions
• Strong technical/legal knowledge with regards to complex cross-border M&A
• Strong transactional experience, including complex private and public M&A
• Intellectual curiosity and versatility
• Self-starter with the desire and ability to continuously acquire, build upon and share knowledge
• Detail-focused and self-motivated approach
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Excellent client relationship skills
• Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels, building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborative team player
• Sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required. We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back‑up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.