Description:

Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants seeks to hire a proactive, business-oriented corporate M&A transactional attorney for a counsel position within the Office of General Counsel to lead Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants's M&A transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures and equity investments. The role will include drafting and negotiating term sheets/LOIs, asset/stock purchase agreements, partnership related agreements, LLC/operating/shareholder agreements, restrictive covenant and employment related agreements, and ancillary related documents and agreements, coordinating with internal specialists and stakeholders and managing and conducting legal due diligence.

The successful candidate will also advise on and handle general corporate matters for Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants and its subsidiaries, including entity formation, ongoing entity management and credit/financing related matters (credit facilities, equipment leases etc.), reviewing, revising and negotiating commercial agreements, including professional services, vendor, reseller, procurement and technology related agreements (including SAAS) for the firm.

Duties and responsibilities will expand as the individual demonstrates a robust understanding of Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants's business and the ability to manage legal and business risk. Using a broad knowledge base to assess and mitigate risk, you will play an important role in negotiating the firm's contracts, shaping policies and processes to help the Legal Department scale as Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants continues to grow, and to drive important initiatives relating to the firm's corporate growth strategy and initiatives, commercial contracting, procurement, data protection and other practice developments. This exciting position is based out of our NYC office.

Qualifications:
Members of Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants's Office of General Counsel work in a high-volume, dynamic, and diverse environment with rapidly shifting priorities, focused on successful deal-making and risk management. This position will have exposure to Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants's leadership, partners, clients and vendors (and their counsel), and all Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants business and operations functions. Counsel must familiarize themselves with the professional services industry, understand Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants's multiple service lines and help manage firm risk.

A successful candidate will be a leader capable of developing and maintaining close working relationships with the firm's business leaders while effectively responding directly to demanding external client and vendor requirements. Initiative is required, as are strong negotiation and communication skills leading to the successful closure of diverse corporate M&A and commercial transactions. The Accountants and Advisors and Certified Public Accountants Legal Department manages a large volume of requests, and candidates will need the ability to manage a substantial workload with changing priorities. You must be self-motivated with demonstrated ability to take initiative and make decisions.

Candidates must be well organized and able to meet deadlines, while possessing sound business judgment, discretion, flexibility, a willingness to learn, and superior writing and verbal communication skills. Candidates must be team oriented and unafraid of rolling up their sleeves to take on tasks as needed. Enthusiasm for learning new technology and strong knowledge of Microsoft Office is required.

Additional experience that will be helpful for this role – but is not required – includes M&A experience with professional services firm (i.e., acquisitions and divestitures of accounting or consulting practices), reviewing engagement letters, MSAs, NDAs and other commercial agreements with corporates and/or state or federal governmental entities, assessing governmental compliance capability; working in consulting, professional services, accounting, or financial regulatory sectors; and advising on a range of intellectual property matters as they relate to marketing, trade secrets, licensing, patents, and copyright; and familiarity with privacy laws.

Candidates must have a Juris Doctor from a national law school, be licensed to practice law in at least one jurisdiction and at least four years of relevant experience in a law firm or in-house environment and be admitted to a state bar in good standing.

Strong academic credentials and a stable work history are preferred.

Candidates must have ability to independently research and analyze issues, provide clear guidance to internal clients regarding potential legal risk and the ability to think strategically and to appreciate the business impacts of different legal courses of action. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are required. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills in interacting with, and inspiring confidence in, individuals at all levels of the organization. The ability to prioritize multiple competing priorities. See Requirements below.

Requirements:

JD Degree and member of NY State Bar in good standing.
Minimum 4 years M&A legal experience at a major law firm or as part of an in-house legal team.
Strong core corporate experience in M&A transactions (acquisitions/divestitures) with professional services firms and/or private equity experience preferred.
Demonstrated sophisticated transactional experience drafting, negotiating and advising on corporate transaction (acquisitions/divestitures) and commercial transactions, including asset purchase agreements and related documents, MSAs, engagement letters, subcontract agreements, NDAs, vendor and alliance agreements, technology-related agreements (e.g., software license, reseller, SAAS etc.)
Experience with financing transactions including credit facilities, equipment lease and other financing transactions
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and drafting skills (including ability to offer creative solutions) and clear and effective written and oral communication skills required. Must be highly organized to be able to handle high volume of work in fast paced environment, detail oriented and a team player
A growth mindset with a strong desire to take on novel and more complex issues
Team player with sense of humor and strong work ethic who is comfortable working in a dynamic environment and collaborating with various internal teams
Pragmatic mindset towards balancing risk management and supporting fast paced growth and innovation
Proven ability to provide timely, effective, and strategic legal advice in a fast-paced environment
Flexibility to adapt and thrive in an environment that is constantly changing with an ability to prioritize and re-prioritize based upon the needs of the business
High level of personal integrity and professionalism
It is a plus if you have securities law and/or employment law knowledge but not required
Title commensurate with experience