Private Equity Associate in City of London

A rare opportunity to join the corporate practice of an elite US firm as it builds out its Private Equity offering with five associate roles open across 1–5PQE. This is a genuine growth story, and early joiners will help shape the platform rather than inherit one already built.

The team sits within a well-established, well-resourced corporate practice with strong partner support and a genuinely lean structure meaning associates are trusted with real responsibility well ahead of their PQE level, rather than waiting years for exposure.

About the team:

• Sits within a wider corporate group of 12 partners and c.30 associates
• Corporate M&A generalist focus with a clear strength in private equity work
• Broader exposure than many PE-focused teams — this is not a pure LBO shop, and the mandate spans a wide range of high-value corporate matters
• Meritocratic culture — workload and progression are not dictated purely by PQE
• Genuine room for long-term partnership progression, without the senior bottleneck seen at more established platforms
• Lean, partner-led environment offering direct access and exposure to complex, high-value transactions

What they're looking for:

• 1–5PQE corporate generalists with a clear affinity for private equity work
• Trained and qualified at a Magic Circle or Elite US firm
• Commercially minded, confident operators who thrive with autonomy rather than heavy structure
• Team players with no ego, willing to turn their hand to unfamiliar work
• Foreign-qualified candidates considered, provided they have strong London experience
• Candidates with limited PE experience but a genuine willingness to learn are welcome, as are LBO specialists looking to diversify and generalist corporate/M&A lawyers looking to build a PE practice

Compensation & Benefits:

• Cravath scale elite US market-leading compensation
• NQ salary from $235,000
• Summer and year-end bonuses, plus sign-on bonuses available
• Choice of fixed or variable FX rate on pay
• Personalised, individual training plans for every associate
• Dedicated knowledge lawyers and talent development managers supporting each practice group
• 1:1 mentoring for every associate, alongside a wider support network
• Strong track record of secondments, including in-house placements and international rotations
• Access to bespoke US-focused training programmes for more senior associates
• Excellent office environment — collaborative culture, open-door policy across partners and associates, and strong social scene

Process:

A typically 2–3 stage process involving partner meetings, with additional technical or informal stages depending on seniority. This is a highly selective search for top-tier profiles looking to join a lean, high-calibre corporate team with genuine partner access, broad M&A exposure, and elite compensation with the potential to establish a visible, senior presence within a growing practice rather than being one of many.