Description:

Winthrop & Weinstine, an entrepreneurial, full-service law firm in downtown Minneapolis, has an excellent opportunity for an associate attorney with two plus (2+) years of meaningful M&A experience to join our well-recognized corporate team. Our corporate/mergers and acquisitions practice is fast-paced, highly collaborative, devoted to excellent client service, and involves sophisticated matters for a wide range of businesses.

The ideal candidate will have strong drafting, analytical, organizational, and communication skills; excellent attention to detail; practical judgment; and the ability to manage multiple transaction workstreams effectively and efficiently. The position offers the opportunity to take on meaningful responsibility, work directly with experienced M&A attorneys and clients, and assume increasing responsibility for transaction execution, negotiation, and client service.

Essential Job Functions:
(Including, but not limited to):

Transaction Documentation: Draft, review, revise, and manage transaction documents, with particular emphasis on ancillary closing documents, resolutions, certificates, disclosure schedules, and other transaction execution materials. Assist with drafting and revising purchase agreements and other principal transaction documents appropriate to experience level. Prepare clear and organized markups and ensure consistency and accuracy across transaction documents.
Legal Analysis & Judgment: Identify and analyze legal and business issues arising in transactions; assess materiality and risk; conduct targeted legal research when necessary; and develop practical recommendations in consultation with supervising attorneys. Develop an understanding of the underlying business transaction and client objectives and apply legal analysis in a practical, deal-focused manner.
Due Diligence: Conduct focused and efficient legal due diligence, including reviewing contracts, corporate records, and other relevant materials; identifying and evaluating material issues; and communicating diligence findings clearly and practically to supervising attorneys and clients.
Deal Organization & Project Management: Assist in managing transaction workstreams from signing through closing, including maintaining transaction checklists, tracking deadlines and responsibilities, coordinating closing deliverables, and working with clients, opposing counsel, specialists, paralegals, and other transaction participants. Anticipate upcoming needs and next steps and help keep transactions progressing toward closing.
Negotiation: Review and respond to proposed revisions to transaction documents, assist in developing negotiating positions and potential solutions, and participate in negotiations with opposing counsel and other transaction participants appropriate to experience level.
Client & Team Communication: Communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally with clients, supervising attorneys, colleagues, opposing counsel, and other transaction participants. Provide timely and appropriately proactive updates, exercise judgment regarding when to seek direction or escalate issues, and adapt communication style and level of detail to the audience and circumstances.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) Required:

Strong analytical, drafting, and written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to understand the business objectives underlying a transaction.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, thorough, practical, and well-organized work product.
Ability to manage transaction workstreams, prioritize competing demands, meet deadlines, and anticipate next steps.
Dependable and accountable, with demonstrated ownership of assignments and consistent follow-through.
Ability to produce high-quality work efficiently and exercise judgment regarding the appropriate scope and level of effort for an assignment.
Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with attorneys, clients, paralegals, staff, and other transaction participants.
Ability to effectively use legal technology and approved AI tools to enhance quality and efficiency while exercising independent judgment and ensuring the accuracy of work product.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a variety of personalities and work styles.
Ability to be flexible in schedule and adaptable to constant change.
Ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and frequent interruptions.

Qualifications, Required:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Licensed to practice law in Minnesota, or eligible for admission to the Minnesota Bar within a specified period after hire.
Two plus (2+) years of meaningful corporate/M&A experience, including experience with legal due diligence, transaction closings, drafting and revising transaction documents, and managing assigned transaction workstreams.

Qualifications, Preferred:

Experience drafting ancillary transaction and closing documents, disclosure schedules, resolutions, and certificates.
Experience drafting or substantively revising purchase agreements or other principal transaction documents.
Solid academic credentials.
Experience with the following software: iManage and InTapp.

Working Conditions:

Primarily will be working in person in the Minneapolis office. Working remote is available only on a limited basis.
Requires use of office equipment, such as computers, phones, and copiers.
Requires sitting and computer-related activities for extended periods of time.
Requires occasional lifting up to and exceeding 20 pounds.
Work may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.