Associate Attorney; Corporate​/M&A

Company Overview

Liss & Lamar, P.C., also known as Fran Law, is a distinguished suburban law firm located in Oak Brook, Illinois. Known for its expertise in corporate law, the firm provides comprehensive business transactional services. Its dedicated team focuses on handling complex legal matters with precision and attention to detail.

We are seeking a 3–5 year Corporate Associate Attorney with strong experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and a solid grounding in general corporate and transactional work.

Experience with
franchising
, commercial real estate
, and broader business transactional matters is highly valued.

Once you are trained in franchising, your work would also include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating franchise agreements, FDD disclosures, multi‑unit development agreements, and related system documentation for emerging and established franchisors.
• Support for clients in state franchise registrations, renewals, exemptions, and compliance matters, including preparing annual updates to FDDs.

This is an initially part‑time position based in Oak Brook, Illinois, with hybrid work flexibility
, intended to eventually transition to full‑time for the right candidate after the initial 3–6 month period. The associate will work closely with partners and clients and will have direct responsibility for meaningful components of transactions.

We are an entrepreneurial, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, and you can help shape processes, client relationships, and the firm’s growth. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys autonomy, a variety of work, and being an integral part of a small, collaborative team.

You should expect to attend networking events held outside of traditional business hours to grow your practice as much as possible.

• Serve as a core team member on mainstreet and lower middle‑market M&A transactions, including asset purchases, stock purchases, reorganizations, and private equity add‑ons.
• Manage and conduct legal due diligence, review contracts, evaluate business risks, and prepare concise diligence summaries.
• Understand and be able to advise on financial analysis and assist with financial discussions that support deal structures, valuation, and transaction strategy.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of transactional documents, including NDAs, term sheets/LOIs, purchase agreements, ancillary closing documents, corporate governance materials, commercial contracts, and commercial leases, among other projects.
• Assist in structuring transactions and providing strategic legal advice throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Work directly with internal and external teams—legal, finance, tax, insurance, lenders, wealth managers, and advisors—to drive deals toward successful and on‑time closing.
• Support clients in corporate governance, entity formations, commercial leasing, and franchise regulatory or transactional matters, as needed.
• Maintain strong organization and communication with clients, team members, and counter parties in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• High‑impact, hands‑on responsibility on deals without the layers of staffing or bureaucracy common in larger firms—you will work directly with partners and clients.
• Attend networking events held outside of traditional business hours to grow your practice as much as possible.

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in M&A and general corporate transactional matters (law firm experience or in‑house for private equity/similar firm required).
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret complex financial data and understand deal‑level modeling.
• Demonstrated experience conducting due diligence and managing components of corporate transactions.
• Knowledge of franchise law (or at least red flags) or commercial real estate is a plus.
• Excellent communication, drafting, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and deliver high‑quality work under time‑sensitive conditions.
• Proficiency with financial tools or software commonly used in deal analysis (Excel, data rooms, cap tables, etc.).
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active admission to practice in Illinois effective as of when you would start the job.
• A strong commitment to detail, professionalism, and client service.

Salary: $85,000–$120,000 annually, based on experience

Benefits include:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan with employer match
• Flexible schedule and hybrid work options after onboarding/trial period in‑office
• Friendly office culture with occasional team lunches & snacks

Please apply via Linked In. No recruiters will be accepted or paid.