Fund Formation Associate Attorney (2nd–4th Year)

About the Role

Our client, a nationally recognized law firm with a premier private funds practice, is seeking a Fund Formation Associate Attorney (2nd–4th year) to join its corporate group in Palo Alto or San Francisco.

This opportunity is ideal for attorneys with strong experience representing private fund sponsors and investors in sophisticated fund formation and related transactions. The role offers exposure to a broad range of private investment fund matters, including sponsor-level transactions and secondary transactions involving fund interests and portfolio company interests.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent private fund sponsors and investors in the formation and structuring of private investment funds

• Draft and negotiate:

  • Limited partnership agreements

  • Subscription agreements

  • Side letters

  • Fund-related governance and organizational documents

• Support sponsor-level transactions involving:

  • General partner entities

  • Management companies

  • Carried interest arrangements

• Advise clients on secondary transactions involving:

  • Limited partner interests

  • Portfolio company interests

• Conduct legal due diligence and coordinate transaction execution

• Work closely with clients and internal teams on sophisticated fund-related matters

• Manage multiple active transactions and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Required Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in:

  • Private investment fund formation

  • Sponsor-side fund transactions

  • Investor-side fund matters

• Experience with:

  • Fund formation transactions

  • Sponsor-level transactions

  • Secondary transactions involving LP and/or portfolio company interests

• Strong drafting, analytical, and organizational skills

• Ability to manage multiple sophisticated matters simultaneously

• JD from a nationally recognized law school with strong academic credentials

• Experience at a national or international law firm strongly preferred

• Active California Bar admission or ability to waive in

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong interest in private funds and investment management work

• Experience representing sophisticated sponsors and institutional investors

• Detail-oriented with strong client management and communication skills

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative transactional environment

Preferred Background

Best-fit candidates likely come from:

• Am Law 100 firms

• Chambers-ranked private funds practices

• National or international corporate/fund formation groups

Strong target firms may include:

• Goodwin

• Gunderson

• Cooley

• Simpson Thacher

• Kirkland

• Latham

• Sidley

• Ropes & Gray

• Debevoise

• Proskauer