Practice Support Lawyer, M&A

Practice Support Lawyer – Mergers & Acquisitions

Wilson Sonsini is seeking an experienced M&A attorney to join the firm as a full‑time Practice Support Lawyer (PSL), embedded within our mergers and acquisitions practice group. This is a high‑impact, non‑billable role focused on elevating the quality, consistency and efficiency of M&A practice across the firm. The position is available on a hybrid or fully remote basis.

About the Role

As PSL, you will serve as a trusted resource and thought leader for attorneys at all levels, developing knowledge management infrastructure, driving practice innovation and connecting the M&A group to broader firm initiatives. You will have no billable hour requirements or client representation responsibilities, allowing you to focus entirely on practice excellence.

Responsibilities

Knowledge Management & Resources

• Draft, maintain and promote standard form agreements and key documents for the M&A practice.
• Curate and continuously improve a library of high‑quality precedents and samples, actively soliciting attorney feedback to refine resources.
• Draft client alerts and external publications on significant M&A legal and market developments.

Thought Leadership & Innovation

• Provide internal and external thought leadership on M&A practice developments, market trends and legal landscape shifts.
• Partner with the Chief Innovation Officer to identify and implement process improvements, new technologies and AI tools that enhance M&A practice.
• Stay current on developments across the legal industry and within Wilson Sonsini's other practice areas.

AI Strategy & Implementation

• Serve as the M&A group's primary point of contact and internal champion for AI strategy, working closely with firm leadership, the Innovation team and external vendors to evaluate and deploy AI tools tailored to M&A workflows.
• Develop and maintain a group‑wide AI roadmap, identifying high‑value use cases across the deal lifecycle and prioritizing implementation accordingly.
• Lead pilot programs and structured rollouts of AI tools within the M&A practice, gathering attorney feedback, measuring impact and iterating on adoption strategies.
• Create practical guidance, playbooks and training materials that help M&A attorneys at all levels integrate AI tools effectively and responsibly into their daily work.
• Monitor the evolving landscape of legal AI technology and advise group leadership on emerging tools, competitive developments and best practices at peer firms.
• Identify and help mitigate risks associated with AI use in M&A practice, including issues related to confidentiality, accuracy and professional responsibility obligations.
• Collaborate with the Professional Development team to embed AI literacy into M&A training programs and onboarding frameworks.

Training & Professional Development

• Collaborate with the Professional Development team to design, build and maintain career development frameworks and training programs for M&A attorneys.

Business Development & Events

• Work with the Marketing and Business Development team to keep the firm's external M&A resources current and compelling.
• Organize and support external seminars, webinars and other client‑facing events on M&A topics.
• Coordinate practice group meetings and represent the firm at major M&A conferences, reporting back on key takeaways.
• Manage the firm's participation in the ABA and other relevant professional organizations.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree is required.
• Minimum five years of M&A‑focused corporate practice at a law firm or comparable in‑house environment.
• Strong substantive knowledge of M&A transactions, deal structures and documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with attorneys and business professionals across all levels of the firm.
• Interest in legal innovation, knowledge management or practice development is a plus.

Location: Palo Alto, New York, San Francisco – $208,250 to $281,750 per year.
Austin, Boston, Boulder, Century City, Delaware, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and other locations – $187,850 to $254,150 per year.
Compensation may include a discretionary year‑end merit bonus based on performance.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).