Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Attorney; Senior Associate- Hybrid​/c

Overview

A law firm with extensive experience established in Chicago, IL is seeking an Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate to join its rapidly growing Corporate Practice. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience working with early stage and growth stage companies, founders and venture capital firms and the ability to act as lead attorney on a range of EC / VC transactions, including transactional and corporate governance matters such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate structure (formation and reorganization), corporate contracts (operating agreements, license agreements, service contracts, buy / sell agreements, etc.),

joint ventures, divestitures and private equity.

• Act as lead attorney on Emerging Companies (EC) / Venture Capital (VC) transactions.
• Advise on transactional and corporate governance matters, including mergers and acquisitions, formation/reorganization, and corporate contracts.
• Support structuring of deals, licensing, service agreements, joint ventures, divestitures, and private equity matters.
• Coordinate with clients and teams to effectively manage matter strategy and execution.

• Experience with M&A transactions in the technology and venture capital spaces.
• Familiarity with convertible debt, preferred equity issuances and related financing tools.
• Fund formation experience, including structuring funds, management entities and carried interest holding structures.
• Familiarity with regulatory matters facing funds and issuers, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, The Securities Act of 1933, Reg D safe-harbors and state blue sky law compliance.
• Familiarity with forms published by the National Venture Capital Association.
• Understanding of issues facing clients whose primary asset is intellectual property, including IP ownership, development, licensing, tax matters, and employment matters.
• Experience with ESG, clean-technology, blockchain, Web 3 and cryptocurrency spaces.

• Experience drafting transaction agreements and documents with efficiency and clarity, negotiating deal terms, managing transaction closings and processes, and providing thorough legal research and analysis.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, attention to detail, self-directed, and ability to work efficiently on multiple matters.
• Ability to lead, negotiate, manage and close complex transactions.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work as part of a team and also handle direct client interaction; act as a business advisor to clients throughout their life cycle.
• Candidates must be currently licensed in Illinois or licensed in another state with a UBE score that qualifies in Illinois for comity, be eligible to waive in, or be willing to sit for an upcoming IL bar exam; open to relocation candidates meeting these requirements.

• Commitment to mentorship, training, and professional development with an achievable path to partnership.
• Opportunity to build meaningful client relationships and be part of the Firm’s succession plan.
• Low turnover, collegial, and collaborative environment.
• Health care, life and disability insurance.