Associate Mergers & Acquisitions/Financial Services for a large law firm
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
What I Do
I am officially in our Mergers and Acquisitions group, but I also perform a lot of financial services work, in part because I have my MBA.
On the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) side of my job, I assist corporate clients with merger and acquisition transactions, corporate reorganizations, and corporate finance transactions, including representing stockholders in the sales of their companies. On the financial services side, I represent financial institutions, institutional investors, business development companies, private equity groups, and sponsors in buy-out, investment, and finance transactions.
As an M&A attorney, I help companies buy and sell other companies. I review a company's records (both legal and financial) and provide clients with a full picture of the company they are buying. Then, I help the client put their deal terms into a written document by drafting agreements and helping our client in the negotiation process.
What I Enjoy Most
I enjoy speaking with clients and helping them navigate through the legal and business pitfalls associated with their transactions. I enjoy the negotiation process where I help move clients from an abstract idea to an agreed-upon written document. I also thoroughly enjoy the people I work with. You have to enjoy the people you are working with in this business because the hours are long and the pace can be frantic.
What I Enjoy Least
It is not uncommon for me to go a few days at a time without seeing my wife and two children (at least, not awake). You have to be sure to take time away from the office when the deal flow will allow.
Why I Chose This Career
M&A and Financial Services is a perfect fit for my MBA/JD educational background. Having the joint degree gives me credibility; the overwhelming majority of my clients have an MBA and my education helps me speak their language.
Desirable Traits to Be Successful in This Career
Success in this career requires flexibility—the ability to switch from looking at the big picture at the beginning of a deal to being incredibly detail-oriented as the deal progresses toward closing. My formal education helped with these traits and my time as an officer in the Air Force helped me immensely with the flexibility required to succeed in this arena.
Words of Advice If You Are Considering This Career Path
If you are considering anything in the M&A/Financial Services/Investment Banking realm, first and foremost, you need to consider the time commitment required to succeed.
I would also do what you can to get at least some practical experience (paid or unpaid) in the area you hope to work in after graduation during your time in an MBA or joint program.
In my situation, I was switching careers from being an Air Weapons Officer in the Air Force to an M&A attorney—you have to have your story together as to why your previous experience is relevant. I was able to stress my ability to succeed in high-stress situations, having great levels of responsibility for equipment, budgets, and lives and practical leadership experience that few places outside of the military can afford to give an undergraduate.
As a former military officer going on interviews, you must stress that you’ve had unique opportunities to lead at a young age. Many companies will choose to interview you based on this experience.
However, I was surprised to find that some companies will instead show concern, stating, "You just came from the military where you were in charge of a lot of people; the job we are offering does not have anyone reporting to you. Can you deal with that?" The answer is a simple "Yes" and an explanation that you have to learn to follow before you can lead. Emphasize that what sets you apart is that you, unlike many of your contemporaries, have had significant leadership experience so when the day comes for you to lead the organization, you will be ready. Remind them that any job candidate will be able to follow, but will they be able to lead when the time comes?
What I Did Before This (Including Pre-MBA and Post-MBA Jobs)
Prior to going back to school for an MBA, I was an Air Force officer for six years. During that time I served in various roles as an Air Weapons Officer, where I was in charge of training for an air war. I led my airmen in the integration of radar and intelligence data in the execution of real-world and exercise operations. These leadership experiences set me apart from other candidates and were attractive to the firms where I interviewed. Concerned that I did not have any practical experience in this realm, I also sought out summer internships during my MBA/JD program that would show my ability to succeed in this new arena. For example, I spent my first summer in the MBA/JD program working for a small venture capital firm. Some of the work was similar to what I do now, in that I was valuing companies.
Educational Background (Undergraduate, MBA, Other)
MBA, William and Mary, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2003
Juris Doctor, William and Mary, School of Law, 2003
Bachelor of Science, human factors engineering/minor in Arabic, The United States Air Force Academy, 1994
In MBA Programs, I'd Suggest You Look For...
I suggest doing your best to narrow down what you want to do with your MBA or joint degree before arriving at school. By selecting the area you want to go into, you can be sure to choose a school that is strong in that area. Unless you are going to get an MBA to strike out in an entrepreneurial venture, be sure to choose a school that has a great career services office. I wish I had known the importance of a quality career services office. I did a lot of research, but I didn’t think that part through. It is an overlooked part of the process. My career services office was great, but I had friends who got little or no help in their MBA programs. If you want to transition from the military to another career, you will likely need help.
Most students' criteria for selecting a school seem to be limited to two items: best reputation and cost. I think you have to add the career services office to that list. Ask the MBA program which businesses regularly come to campus and where the last few classes of graduates have received job offers. A good career services office will have a brochure to tell you these things. If they are good, they’ll want to highlight it. It will also give you a feel for the school’s strengths in placing students in specific industries that interest you.
My goal in getting an MBA was not academic in nature nor was it entrepreneurial (at least in the short term)—I wanted to get the best and most interesting job I could find. If you’re not in the market for a job, but instead intend to strike out on your own, look at the school's entrepreneurial track record, relationship with business incubators, and prospects for recent grads to find funding for ideas.
