M&A Associate (4 to 6 years)

Ana Bird Legal Search is seeking two experienced M&A attorneys for a growing, fully remote transactional law firm with a sophisticated lower middle market practice and substantial existing deal flow.
This is an excellent opportunity for an M&A lawyer who wants sophisticated work, direct client exposure, greater responsibility, strong compensation potential, and a more sustainable alternative to traditional Big Law.
The Opportunity
The firm represents buyers, sellers, entrepreneurs, search funds, private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, founder-owned businesses, family offices, management teams, investors, and other sophisticated clients in transactions generally valued at up to approximately $50 million.
The firm is hiring because it has significant existing M&A volume and needs additional attorneys who can take ownership of transactions.
The ideal candidate will have approximately 4 to 6 years of substantive transactional law firm experience and either already functions as an M&A deal runner or is ready to step into that level of responsibility.
This is not a general corporate role. The firm wants lawyers with meaningful M&A experience.
What You Will Do
Responsibilities may include:
• Drafting and negotiating purchase agreements
• Asset, stock, and membership interest transactions
• Letters of intent and disclosure schedules
• Due diligence and ancillary transaction documents
• Managing deal checklists and timelines
• Coordinating specialists and transaction workstreams
• Managing signing and closing processes
• Communicating directly with clients
• Managing transactions from LOI through closing and post-closing matters
The strongest candidates will already be comfortable owning significant portions of a transaction rather than working only on discrete assignments.
What the Firm Is Looking For
Strong candidates will generally have:
• Approximately 4 to 6 years of substantive M&A experience
• Experience representing buyers and/or sellers of privately held businesses
• Experience drafting and negotiating principal transaction documents
• Experience managing diligence, signing, closing, and transaction workstreams
• Strong client communication skills
• Excellent judgment and practical business sense
• A collaborative, low-ego approach
• Interest in developing business over time
Big Law pedigree is not required.
Attorneys from strong boutiques, regional firms, lower middle market M&A practices, search fund practices, private equity boutiques, and similar transactional environments are encouraged to apply.
Bar Admission and Location
This position is fully remote and candidates may be located throughout the United States.
Candidates must be actively licensed and in good standing in the state where they reside and practice.
Any unusual licensing, reciprocity, or waiver circumstances may be considered individually.
Compensation
Expected base compensation is approximately $175,000 to $230,000, depending on experience.
Compensation will depend on experience, substantive ability, and deal-running capability.
The firm also offers a tiered production-based bonus structure. Bonus compensation begins once an attorney exceeds the 1,600 billable hour minimum and increases at higher production levels.
Attorneys who originate clients may also be eligible to receive approximately 10% of billable revenue associated with those clients.
Benefits
The firm offers a competitive benefits package that may include:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement plan options
• Professional development support
• Bar dues and professional membership support
• Technology and remote-work support
• Other firm-sponsored benefits
Specific benefit terms may vary based on eligibility and firm policy.
Hours and Quality of Life
The minimum billable requirement is 1,600 hours.
The firm's preferred healthy production range is generally approximately 1,800 to 2,000 hours.
The goal is not to recreate a 2,300 or 2,400-hour Big Law environment remotely.
The firm actively manages staffing and capacity to maintain strong deal flow without creating an unnecessarily punishing lifestyle.
Vacation is intended to be actual vacation, and the team plans around attorneys being away.
Growth
The firm combines hands-on development with meaningful autonomy.
Attorneys receive strong transaction exposure, established systems, direct client contact, and access to experienced lawyers while being expected to develop into increasingly independent deal runners.
For attorneys who perform well, there is meaningful long-term growth potential, including opportunities to help build and lead a practice or business unit.
There is no predetermined promise of partnership or equity, but there is a real opportunity for an entrepreneurial attorney to grow with the platform.
Interested?
If you are an M&A attorney who enjoys transactional work but wants more ownership, greater flexibility, strong economics, and a realistic opportunity to grow with a firm, I would like to speak with you.
All conversations will be handled confidentially.

Work arrangement
Yes