Mergers and Acquisitions Associate

Job Type

Full-time M-F, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP is a leading and reputable full-service law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to our clients. With a team of highly skilled and experienced attorneys, we strive to deliver comprehensive and effective solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our headquarters is in Rochester, NY with additional offices in Albany and Buffalo, NY.

We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. We encourage open communication, teamwork, and professional growth. Our firm promotes a healthy work-life balance and supports the well‑being of our employees.

We are seeking a talented and motivated M&A Attorney to join our team in Rochester, NY. This position is ideal for a third to fifth-year associate with a strong background in mergers and acquisitions and/ or private equity and a passion for representing businesses.

• Advise clients on various aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructurings.
• Conduct due diligence and prepare legal documentation related to M&A transactions.
• Collaborate with clients to understand their business needs and provide strategic legal guidance.
• Negotiate and draft purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, and other transaction‑related documents.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams, including finance, tax, and regulatory, to ensure comprehensive legal support.
• Proven experience in private equity and venture capital transactions, including advising PE funds and issuers on minority and control investments.

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar.
• 4 to 7 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions or corporate law.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish rapport with clients and colleagues.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with a proactive approach to problem‑solving and client representation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands/fingers to type, hold, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this role. It provides a snapshot of the core functions and responsibilities. All inquiries will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. The compensation range for this position is $120,000–$170,000 annually, plus bonus potential, representing our good faith and reasonable estimate of the potential compensation at the time of posting.

Actual compensation will be determined based on various factors, including the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skill set, and office location. Additionally, relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind—in the hiring process or in the workplace. We comply with the ADA and consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions.

We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed Form I-9.