Private Equity Associate

London, England, United Kingdom

6/24/2025

What We Will Offer

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You Can Expect

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and cental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when we experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
  
  

Team Structure

This role is to work with the private equity team which forms part of the wider corporate department. Whilst all associates within the team are actively encouraged to work for a wide range of partners to broaden their experience and expertise across the corporate disciplines; with the emphasis on flexibility of approach and being an "all rounder", there will be an expectation for this role to have a primary focus on leading private equity transactional deals.

The private equity team sits within Stephenson Harwood’s award-winning corporate department. The private equity team of 9 partners advise across a wide range of private M&A, private funds and private equity transactions, acting for corporates, private equity houses and other leading financial institutions.

The team are given commercial and transactional support by experienced, high quality specialists in banking, commercial contracts, competition, tax, employment and pensions, intellectual property, information technology, intellectual property and financial regulatory issues.

The department runs regular legal training sessions covering the core practice areas listed above as well as associate development centres focusing on 'soft' skills and BD. The ongoing support and development of our associates is regarded as essential to our future growth and success.

Main Responsibilities

• Project management and deal co-ordination;
• Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation and drafting of main transaction documentation
• Negotiation of transaction documents and provision of commercially minded legal advice as an integral part our clients' deal team
• Liaison with clients, specialist lawyers and other service providers
• Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
• Supervision, training and mentoring of junior experience level team members
• Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within the firm
• Participating in and contributing to business development and profile-raising events, such as client seminars, client e-alerts and graduate recruitment activities
  
  

The private equity team is hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from balancing working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Attributes/Skills Required

• Qualified lawyer with private equity and M&A experience is essential
• A demonstrable keen interest in corporate private equity
• Background in a top tier firm with an excellent private equity reputation
• Excellent academic background
• Knowledge and experience of high profile acquisitions including document drafting, consideration letters, shareholder resolutions and warranty letters
• Experience coordinating closings of multi-jurisdictional private equity transactions
• Experience working on cross-border transactions
• Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law including a strong understanding of companies house filing requirements
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal communication skills and a proven ability to deal directly with clients
• Organised and able to work to strict deadlines with the ability to prioritise realistically
• Resilient with the ability to handle setbacks and pressure
• Cooperative and collaborative in approach and able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and within all roles
• Ability to operate professionally and proactively at all times
• Exhibits an understanding of the Firm’s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors
  
  

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About The Firm

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive partnerships' with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex andever-changing world.

Our focus is on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade.

With more than 1,400 people, including 210+ partners, across eight offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our Brand Strengths

• GO FAR, GO TOGETHER
• EXPERTS IN MORE THAN LAW
• CAN DO PERSONALITIES
• ALWAYS READY