Associate, Shareholder Activism

Location: New York

Our Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice is globally recognized as a top-tier leader in both public and private M&A transactions. We deliver unparalleled legal services for complex corporate deals, offering strategic planning, due diligence, negotiation, and execution of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other business combinations. Serving a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, private equity firms and banks, our team ensures regulatory compliance, manages risk, and structures transactions for optimal outcomes.

By combining extensive legal expertise with deep market insight, we help clients navigate high-stakes transactions, fostering growth and creating value, solidifying our reputation as one of the premier M&A practices worldwide.

Position Summary

We are currently looking for both a junior associate and a midlevel associate with M&A experience to join the M&A/Corporate practice in our NY office and focus on Shareholder Activism-related matters. This role will advise public companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and investment banks, in connection with mergers and acquisitions, takeover preparedness and defense, shareholder activism and defense, general corporate advisory work and securities offerings.

As well as possessing excellent academic credentials and legal knowledge, you should also be commercially minded, with a solid grasp of the market and an enthusiasm for the cut-and-thrust of sophisticated public transactional work. Ideal candidates should have excellent drafting, writing and analytical skills, strong attention to detail, organizational, verbal, interpersonal and project management skills and an interest in activism and activism defense.

Basic knowledge of the United States securities laws (including the proxy rules) is expected. Experience in drafting and negotiating SPAs. APAs and/or merger agreements and LLC and/or partnership agreements and other ancillary transaction documents is also highly desirable but is not specifically required.

Highly focused, you should display the organizational skills and composure needed to thrive in a demanding, fast-paced practice, working to tight deadlines and managing multiple workstreams and communication channels. Given the fluidity of the deal-making process, you should also be mentally agile—adept at thinking on your feet, and quickly adapting to changing circumstances.

Excellent oral and written communication skills will be major assets—enabling you to negotiate effectively, and to seamlessly manage the flow of information between practice groups, clients and stakeholders. You should also demonstrate a collaborative approach and an ease interacting with a wide range of legal and business professionals. Proactive and self-motivated, you should be eager to take ownership of your work product and demonstrate the skill, talent and commitment to deliver outstanding results.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Assisting with the preparation of nomination notices and proxy statements
• Advising and leading drafting efforts for all aspects of shareholder cooperation agreements, share purchase/merger agreements, joint ventures and investments for sophisticated clients investing in the public markets.
• Conducting and overseeing legal research and diligence
• Ensuring clients’ interests are properly represented and protected at all times
• 2+ years (for the junior associate) and 4+ years (for the mid-level associate) of substantive M&A experience at a leading law firm, with a strong foundation in public company transactions
• Direct experience with shareholder activism focused on defense and/or activism preferred for midlevel candidates
• Ability to run discrete aspects of transactions independently, with appropriate supervision depending on class year
• Exercises sound legal and commercial judgment; identifies issues early and proposes practical, business-oriented solutions
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and creative thinking when addressing complex legal and structural issues
• Anticipates client needs and maintains a service-oriented mindset consistent with our client expectations
• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, and internal stakeholders
• Strong time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple projects
• Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative and a self-starter
• Strong academic record and excellent legal drafting and analytical skills
• Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing deal team culture
• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Admitted to the New York bar (or the ability to become admitted) and in good standing
• Fluency in English

Locations and Compensation

• Office(s): New York
• Salary Range: US$225,000 – US$390,000

This role reports to

Partner

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact [email protected].

Benefits at White & Case

White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.