What Is M&A Law?
BigLaw Bear · 2 min read
Mergers and Acquisitions is one of the most sought-after practice areas in BigLaw. It's high-profile, fast-paced, and sits at the intersection of law and business.
What M&A Lawyers Do
When one company buys another, M&A lawyers make it happen. They negotiate and draft the purchase agreement, manage due diligence, advise on deal structure, handle regulatory approvals, and coordinate the closing. Every major acquisition you read about in the news had teams of M&A lawyers on both sides.
The Day-to-Day
Junior M&A associates spend their time on:
- Due diligence: Reviewing the target company's contracts, financials, and legal obligations to identify risks.
- Drafting ancillary documents: Disclosure schedules, officer certificates, board resolutions, and closing checklists.
- Redlining agreements: Reviewing the purchase agreement and marking up provisions based on your client's position.
- Coordinating workstreams: M&A deals involve tax, employment, real estate, IP, and regulatory teams. Someone has to keep everyone on track.
As you get more senior, you negotiate deal terms directly, draft key provisions of the purchase agreement, and advise clients on strategy.
Why It's Prestigious
M&A is considered prestigious because the deals are large, the clients are major corporations and private equity firms, and the work requires strong business judgment alongside legal skill. M&A partners are often the highest-compensated lawyers at their firms.
The Tradeoff
The hours are the hardest in BigLaw. When a deal is live, you're on call around the clock. Deals don't pause for weekends or holidays. The lifestyle improves between deals, but active deal periods can be relentless.
Exit Options
M&A experience opens excellent doors: in-house M&A roles at corporations, private equity firms, investment banks, and corporate development positions. It's one of the most portable skill sets in BigLaw.
Browse firms with top M&A practices in our firm directory.