OPT Mergers And Acquisitions Jobs
Mergers and acquisitions jobs on OPT sit at the intersection of finance, law, and strategy, making them highly competitive but accessible with the right preparation. Most roles qualify under the finance or business STEM OPT extension categories, giving you up to three years of authorized work to build deal experience in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsMergers and Acquisitions Associate Attorney
Minneapolis, MN
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.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $200,000–$260,000 annually.
Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. Winthrop & Weinstine reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualifications of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
Winthrop & Weinstine offers a comprehensive benefits package for all regular full-time employees including health insurance, paid parental leave, 401(k), disability, life insurance, paid time off, and voluntary benefits.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Winthrop & Weinstine is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or any other basis protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.
Mergers and Acquisitions Associate Attorney
Minneapolis, MN
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.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $200,000–$260,000 annually.
Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. Winthrop & Weinstine reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualifications of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
Winthrop & Weinstine offers a comprehensive benefits package for all regular full-time employees including health insurance, paid parental leave, 401(k), disability, life insurance, paid time off, and voluntary benefits.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Winthrop & Weinstine is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or any other basis protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.
See all OPT Mergers And Acquisitions Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Mergers And Acquisitions
Target boutique M&A advisory firms
Boutique advisory shops often have more flexible hiring timelines than bulge-bracket banks and may be more open to OPT candidates. Smaller teams mean your visa status is less likely to get filtered out early in the process.
Lead with your STEM OPT extension eligibility
If your degree is in finance, economics, or a related STEM field, you qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. Telling employers upfront that you have up to three years of work authorization removes one of their biggest concerns about hiring international candidates.
Quantify deal experience on your resume
M&A interviewers respond to specifics. Include transaction values, deal types, and your role in each process wherever possible. Concrete deal exposure on your resume signals readiness and reduces perceived risk associated with sponsoring an OPT candidate.
Prepare a clear OPT-to-H-1B narrative
Employers hiring for M&A roles think long-term. Come prepared to explain your visa timeline, when your OPT expires, and that H-1B visa sponsorship is the standard next step. Showing you understand the process builds confidence that hiring you is manageable.
Prioritize firms with established H-1B sponsorship history
Financial advisory firms, investment banks, and corporate development teams at large companies have sponsored H-1B visas before and have the infrastructure to do it again. Targeting these employers significantly increases your chances of long-term authorization after OPT ends.
Network into deal teams through professional finance associations
Many M&A hires happen through referrals before a role is ever posted. Connecting with professionals in deal-focused teams at conferences or alumni networks gets your profile in front of decision-makers who have the authority to move on an OPT candidate.
Mergers And Acquisitions OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do M&A jobs typically qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree such as finance, economics, applied mathematics, or a related quantitative field, you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension regardless of the specific M&A role. Many M&A analysts and associates hold degrees that qualify, making three years of total OPT authorization common in this field.
How do employers in M&A typically view OPT candidates?
Larger financial institutions and corporate development teams with established legal and HR infrastructure generally have more experience hiring OPT candidates than smaller firms. The key concern employers raise is timing: whether your OPT will cover the full analyst or associate program cycle and whether they can sponsor an H-1B afterward. Coming prepared with your exact OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility addresses both concerns directly.
Where is the best place to find M&A jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for roles at employers with a history of sponsoring international candidates. Searching for M&A and corporate development roles on Migrate Mate surfaces opportunities where visa status is less likely to be an automatic disqualifier, saving you from applying to firms with no infrastructure for international hiring.
Can I work on live deals during my OPT period without any restrictions?
Yes. OPT authorizes full-time employment in your field of study, and working on M&A transactions falls squarely within that authorization for finance and business graduates. There are no deal-type restrictions or client exposure limitations tied to your OPT status. The only requirement is that your employment remains directly related to your degree and that you maintain a valid EAD.
What happens to my M&A job if I miss the H-1B lottery after OPT ends?
Missing the H-1B lottery is increasingly common given selection rates around 25%, and most M&A employers with international hiring experience plan for this scenario. Options include a second lottery attempt the following year, exploring O-1A eligibility if you have strong deal credentials, or continuing in a cap-exempt role at a qualifying nonprofit or research institution while waiting. Discussing contingency planning with your employer before the lottery keeps options open.