Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate Attorney

Job Description

Job DescriptionEmerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate Attorney

Locations: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. Other locations may be considered based on relevant experience. Candidates should indicate their preferred office location in their cover letter.

Direct Counsel is seeking an Associate Attorney to join a leading law firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of experience representing startups, emerging growth and technology companies, founders, and venture capital investors throughout the company lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

• Advise founders and emerging companies on entity formation, corporate governance, and equity incentive structures.

• Draft and negotiate venture capital financing documents, including preferred stock purchase agreements, investors’ rights agreements, voting agreements, and rights of first refusal and co-sale agreements.

• Advise clients on convertible note and Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) transactions.

• Counsel clients on general corporate matters from seed stage through late-stage and pre-IPO.

• Collaborate with attorneys across corporate, equity compensation, M&A, capital markets, life sciences, and technology practices.

Requirements:

• 3–5 years of experience in venture capital financings, emerging company representation, and technology transactions at a leading law firm with a strong startup or emerging companies practice.

• Experience advising both company-side and investor-side clients in venture capital transactions.

• Familiarity with market-standard venture financing terms and documentation, including NVCA model documents.

• Experience with Delaware corporate law, startup equity compensation plans, including stock option plans, RSU programs, and 409A valuations, and corporate governance for privately held technology companies is strongly preferred.

• Strong academic credentials and sophisticated law firm and transactional experience.

• JD and bar admission, or eligibility for prompt admission, in the relevant office jurisdiction.

Compensation: $260,000–$365,000 base salary, depending on qualifications and experience, plus eligibility for an annual bonus and comprehensive benefits.