Labor & Employment Transactional Associate

Job Overview

A law firm seeks a driven associate with 3-6 years of experience to join their Labor & Employment department in Chicago, IL. This role involves working at the intersection of employment law, executive mobility, and corporate dealmaking, focusing on high-stakes matters affecting enterprise value and leadership stability.

Duties

• Support labor and employment diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and private equity investments.
• Draft and negotiate executive employment agreements, separation arrangements, and restrictive covenant agreements.
• Advise on executive mobility issues, including structuring and enforceability of non-competition and non-solicitation obligations.
• Support post-transaction workforce integration, including executive transitions and sensitive personnel matters.
• Partner with senior executives and corporate leadership on personnel and governance issues.
• Collaborate with corporate deal teams and private equity sponsors on employment issues affecting transaction value and risk allocation.

Requirements

• 3-6 years of experience in labor and employment or corporate transactional practice.
• Experience supporting M&A transactions or private equity investments preferred.
• Strong drafting experience with employment agreements and restrictive covenant arrangements.
• Excellent academic credentials.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with corporate deal teams, private equity sponsors, and senior business leaders.
• Ownership mindset with intellectual curiosity and strong problem-solving instincts.
• Willingness to work with innovative technology platforms.
• Admitted to practice in the jurisdiction of application.

Education

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Certifications

• Licensed to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and strong judgment.
• Ability to analyze complex issues quickly.
• Sound judgment and discretion.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with merit bonus opportunities.
• Billable hours credit for pro bono work.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

This international law firm has 20 offices with over 900 attorneys on its team. Its service areas include financial services litigation, technology and outsourcing, healthcare law, government, criminal and regulatory investigations, real estate and land use, environmental, energy law, insolvency and restructuring, product liability and mass torts, corporate, private wealth services, employee benefits, banking and finance, patents, labor and employment, intellectual property, class action and antitrust and trade regulation.