At a Glance
Type of work | Transactional
Who you advise | Companies, private equity funds, boards of directors, sellers, buyers
Pace | Very fast — deal-driven with intense sprints around signing and closing
Law school relevance | Corporations, Contracts, Securities Regulation, Tax
What Is It?
M&A is one of the most prominent areas of corporate law. It involves advising on transactions where one company buys, merges with, or acquires another. This includes everything from a small private company sale to a multibillion-dollar public company takeover. The work is primarily transactional and forward-looking — lawyers help clients structure and close deals rather than resolve disputes after the fact.
What Will You Actually Do?
- Draft and negotiate the core deal document (the purchase agreement or merger agreement)
- Conduct and manage due diligence — reviewing the target company’s contracts, liabilities, and risks
- Advise boards of directors on their fiduciary duties when considering a deal
- Coordinate with regulators (e.g., antitrust authorities) to get the deal approved
- Manage deal timelines and the many workstreams needed to close a transaction
As a Junior Lawyer, Expect To…
- Review and summarize contracts during due diligence
- Draft ancillary documents (officer’s certificates, closing checklists, board resolutions)
- Manage deal rooms and track open issues lists
- Coordinate with specialists in tax, employment, IP, and regulatory to keep the deal on track
This Might Be a Good Fit If You…
- Enjoy working on business problems and big transactions
- Are comfortable working under pressure with tight deadlines
- Like variety — no two deals are the same
- Want exposure to a wide range of industries and business issues
Key Terms to Know
- Due Diligence: The process of investigating a target company before a deal — reviewing its contracts, financials, liabilities, and legal risks.
- Purchase Agreement: The main contract governing the sale — sets out the price, conditions, representations, and obligations of each party.
- Representations and Warranties: Statements of fact made by the seller about the business being sold. If they turn out to be false, the buyer may have a claim.
- Closing: The moment the deal is legally completed and ownership is transferred.
- Indemnification: A promise by one party to compensate the other if certain losses occur after closing (e.g., if a hidden liability surfaces).