About the role
Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate | San Francisco, CA | Firm Policy | 4–8 Years' Experience | $310,000–$435,000 Base + Benefits & Bonuses | Am Law 50
Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 50 national full-service law firm seeking an Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate to join its San Francisco, CA office.
This opportunity offers venture financings, company formation, governance and strategic transactions across the growth-company lifecycle for founders, high-growth companies, venture investors and strategic acquirers within a nationally recognised emerging companies and venture capital practice. The successful attorney will work closely with partners and senior lawyers, take ownership of substantive matters and gain exposure to high-value work, important clients and cross-practice collaboration.
Company Highlights
- Am Law 50 platform with a premier reputation across technology, life sciences and the innovation economy
- Deep relationships with startups, public companies, venture investors, financial institutions and strategic buyers
- Recognised strength in emerging companies and venture capital and complementary corporate, regulatory or litigation disciplines
- Established teams advising founders, high-growth companies, venture investors and strategic acquirers on complex, high-value matters
- Partner-accessible teams offering early responsibility and meaningful client interaction
- Career-stage legal education programmes and associate academies
- Formal mentoring structures, lateral integration support and one-to-one career coaching
- Collaborative culture that values practical commercial judgment and entrepreneurial thinking
- Longstanding commitment to pro bono service, inclusion, innovation and attorney development
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
This is an opportunity to join a well-established emerging companies and venture capital practice offering:
- Company-side and investor-side venture financing experience
- Full-lifecycle work from formation through growth and exit
- Meaningful responsibility for key drafting and transaction workstreams
- Direct interaction with founders, boards, investors and senior lawyers
- Exposure to innovative technology and life-sciences businesses
- Strong commercial and strategic development
- A platform for long-term progression in a high-demand practice
The Role
The successful attorney will support and lead key components of emerging companies and venture capital matters, including:
- Advise companies on formation, governance and equity matters
- Draft and negotiate preferred-stock and other venture financing documents
- Represent investors in early-stage and growth-equity transactions
- Support board, stockholder and securities-law matters
- Advise on option plans, equity incentives and capitalization issues
- Assist with strategic transactions, secondary sales and liquidity events
- Coordinate legal diligence and multidisciplinary transaction support
- Work directly with founders, executives, boards and investors
- Manage transaction processes from term sheet through closing
The role offers direct collaboration with partners, senior lawyers and clients, together with increasing responsibility and opportunities to take ownership of important workstreams.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The firm is seeking an emerging companies & venture capital associate with:
- Approximately 4–8 years of emerging companies, venture capital or related corporate experience
- Experience with venture financings and company-side or investor-side transactions
- Strong drafting skills involving financing and governance documents
- Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to manage multiple fast-moving matters and client priorities
- Strong interpersonal and client-service skills
- Excellent academic credentials and sophisticated law-firm experience
- Admission to the California Bar, or eligibility to obtain admission promptly
Experience with technology, life-sciences or other innovation-driven companies is advantageous.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated base salary range is $310,000–$435,000, depending on class year, experience, location, qualifications and other relevant factors.
The firm also offers bonus eligibility, comprehensive health and insurance benefits, retirement support, paid time off, professional-development resources, wellbeing programmes and pro bono opportunities.
Kindly apply with your resume. Should your experience align with the opportunity, we will contact you by telephone, email or LinkedIn to schedule a discreet call. All discussions will be handled in strict confidence.
Relevant search terms: Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate, Emerging Companies And Venture Capital, San Francisco, CA, Am Law 50, Attorney Jobs, VentureCapital, EmergingCompanies, CorporateLaw, Law Firm Associate, Legal Recruiting
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