Private Companies Atty: 3rd-6th year

About the Role

Our client is seeking a Private Companies Associate Attorney (3rd–6th year) to join its nationally recognized private companies practice in Washington, DC or Reston, Virginia.

This role is ideal for attorneys with substantial experience advising venture-backed startups, emerging growth companies, and venture capital investors. Associates in this practice work closely with innovative companies throughout their lifecycle, providing strategic legal counsel on corporate matters, venture financings, growth initiatives, and liquidity events.

This is an opportunity to join a growing national platform that represents some of the most prominent high-growth companies and investors in the market.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise early-stage and growth-stage companies on:

  • General corporate matters

  • Corporate governance

  • Venture capital financings

  • Growth equity transactions

  • Strategic business matters

  • Liquidity events and exits

• Represent venture capital funds, institutional investors, and company founders in financing transactions

• Draft and negotiate:

  • Financing documents

  • Investor rights agreements

  • Stock purchase agreements

  • Corporate governance documents

  • Transaction-related agreements

• Counsel clients throughout their growth cycle, from formation through exit

• Support strategic transactions and corporate restructuring matters

• Manage active transactional matters and coordinate deal execution

• Work closely with founders, executives, boards, and investors on sophisticated legal matters

Required Qualifications

• 3–6 years of corporate transactional experience

• Significant experience representing:

  • Venture-backed companies

  • Early-stage companies

  • Growth-stage companies

  • Venture capital investors

• Strong experience with:

  • Venture capital financings

  • General corporate counseling

  • Corporate governance

  • Liquidity events

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills

• Ability to independently manage multiple sophisticated matters simultaneously

• Experience at a national or international law firm required

• Strong academic credentials from a nationally recognized law school

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising technology, software, life sciences, or emerging growth companies

• Experience representing both companies and investors in venture transactions

• Exposure to mergers & acquisitions and strategic transactions involving venture-backed businesses

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong ECVC/private companies associate with substantial startup ecosystem experience

• Business-minded advisor who enjoys working directly with founders and executives

• Comfortable managing complex transactions and client relationships

• Entrepreneurial, collaborative, and proactive

• Interested in becoming a long-term trusted advisor to high-growth companies

Preferred Background

Best-fit candidates likely come from:

• Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (ECVC) practices

• Private Companies groups

• Startup and venture financing practices

• Am Law 100 corporate groups

Strong target firms may include:

• Cooley

• Gunderson Dettmer

• Goodwin

• Wilson Sonsini

• Fenwick

• Orrick

• Latham & Watkins

• WilmerHale

• Morrison Foerster

• Mintz