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May 8, 2026

Associate - Corporate (M&A/Private Equity) - Chicago

CorporateM&APrivate Equity
McDermott Will & Schulte

McDermott Will & Schulte

Chicago

Associate - Corporate (M&A/Private Equity) - Chicago

McDermott Will & Schulte
McDermott Will & SchulteChicago

Practice area

Corporate · M&A · Private Equity

PQE

3-5 years

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Employment type

Full-time

Overview

  • Corporate Associate position in the Chicago office of McDermott Will & Schulte.
  • Requires 3-5 years of post-JD experience in M&A, preferably with a focus on private equity transactions within a large or sophisticated law firm.
  • Focuses on supporting a sophisticated private equity M&A practice, including advising financial sponsors and/or strategic buyers/sellers in complex transactions.
  • Key responsibilities include drafting, reviewing, and negotiating principal transaction documents (e.g., acquisition, equity, and ancillary agreements).
  • Manage and execute due diligence processes, translating findings into transaction documents and deal planning.
  • Drive deal execution and closings, taking meaningful ownership of transaction workstreams from inception through closing, often under aggressive timelines.
  • Provide post-closing support for portfolio company matters, including add-on acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and general corporate counseling.
  • Supervise and mentor junior team members, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
  • Requires a JD from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials and an active Illinois bar membership in good standing.
  • Candidates must demonstrate excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with comfort interacting directly with clients and internal deal teams.
  • Expected compensation for associates ranges from $225,000 (for 2026/2025 class years) to $435,000 (for 2018 and more senior class years).

Last updated: July 7, 2026

More Corporate positions in Chicago →All positions at McDermott Will & Schulte →Browse all positions →

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  • Max Bartram Esq.

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    Why talk to Max Bartram Esq.?

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    Max was so helpful in my search, and he was an excellent advocate. Definitely recommend.

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    I want to express my gratitude to Mosaic Search Partners for their services and the invaluable assistance in guiding me through the job search process. I had an outstanding experience working with Bryson. His expertise and personalized advice were instrumental in navigating opportunities aligned with my skills and career goals. His professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication to finding the right fit and job placement for me made things seamless. I appreciated his guidance and support throughout my lateral experience, resulting in a successful and fulfilling placement. Highly recommend his services and choosing Mosaic! Thank you for making the journey smoother and easier!

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    Working with Vijay was a revelation to me of what a recruiter can do. I was not expecting to make a change from my in-house position, but when Vijay reached out to me, I was struck by his professionalism, outside-of-the-box thinking, proactive approach, and can-do attitude. He is a good listener and asks insightful questions, all in the service of learning more about the person he is working with and determining what opportunities are available and are a good fit. By pairing his considerable interpersonal skills with his extensive knowledge of the legal market, Vijay was able to find strong and viable opportunities in private practice that I had not thought about or considered. But that’s not all Vijay did. He immediately got to work reaching out to his network, helping me to prepare for interviews, and providing useful background information on the firms and the attorneys that I met with. Our frequent conversations were particularly helpful as I was a non-traditional candidate, moving from an in-house position back into Big Law. He completely understood what I was looking for in terms of firm culture, practice group fit, and the type of work I want to do. He understood all of this because he knows how to ask questions, elicit information, and set and adjust strategy based on that conversation. Also noteworthy is that at all times he kept me fully informed of his efforts. Among many positive qualities, Vijay is an excellent communicator. Finally, Vijay’s efforts did not end with the offer, as he worked with me and advocated on my behalf to achieve the best possible fit and set up the transition from my in-house role to private practice. I give my highest and best recommendation of Vijay for anyone looking into making a career move in the legal field, whether it be a traditional or non-traditional move. I am very glad to have worked with him, and very grateful for his efforts and helping me find my current position.

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  • Andrew J. Merson

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    Why talk to Andrew J. Merson?

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    One thing that really stood out to me was Andrew sending me an opportunity even though it didn’t allow recruiter submissions. That told me he genuinely cared more about helping me find the right opportunity than just getting credit for a placement and I really respected that. Highly recommend!

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    T.J. Miller

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  • Austin Hale

    Austin Hale

    Legal Recruiter

    Birchrose Associates

    Why talk to Austin Hale?

    Troy Chinnici joined Cozen O'Connor's Chicago office in the Insurance group.

    Austin worked diligently and closely with me in securing my very exciting new role. Throughout our relationship, Austin thoughtfully engaged in discussions regarding all aspects of the interview and acceptance process while sharing valuable insight and advice. He and his hard work are very much appreciated.

    Cozen O'Connor

    Troy Chinnici

    Cozen O'Connor • Chicago
  • Jessica Pai

    Jessica Pai

    Legal Recruiter

    McClure Harrison, Inc.

    Why talk to Jessica Pai?

    Lucas Peterson joined Blank Rome LLP's Chicago office in the Intellectual Property group.

    Jessica was a stand out legal recruiter from the very beginning. She was always attentive and responsive to questions and new openings as they became available, and I never felt as if I was just another number in the system. She was very dedicated to finding the perfect role for me, understanding my background and interests thoroughly in recommending roles that were ideal fits. Once an interview request came in, her help preparing for interviewing was unmatched and extremely helpful. I highly recommend working with Jessica as she is clearly exceptional.

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    Why talk to Jason Sandler?

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    Jason is a fantastic recruiter who helped me lateral between markets. He’s extremely responsive and does a great job placing candidates in roles where they can succeed. I highly recommend working with him.

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  • Priya Gulati

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    Pacific Legal Search

    Why talk to Priya Gulati?

    Tevin Hopkins joined McGuireWoods LLP's Chicago office in the Labor & Employment group.

    I would recommend Priya to anyone looking to make a move in the legal market. She does way more than just submit resumes like some recruiters do. She really takes the time to get to know her candidates and what they are looking for in an employeer and does a great job at not only finding you a new job, but the right job.

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    Tevin Hopkins

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    Why talk to Gregory Gambill?

    Dan Villalba joined Ropes & Gray LLP's Chicago office in the Chapter 11 group.

    Greg served as a comprehensive resource throughout my job search process, including interview prep and advising me on unposted opportunities. He is a great resource to have through out the process and is available and easy to talk to.

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    Ropes & Gray LLP • Chicago