As a Corporate Paralegal, you will work directly with attorneys on sophisticated M&A, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance, and general corporate matters. You will manage the paralegal aspects of multiple transactions simultaneously under attorney supervision, coordinate closings and deliverables, and support the Firm’s corporate practice groups.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate has prior experience supporting M&A and other corporate transactions and can independently manage paralegal responsibilities with limited day-to-day supervision. Candidates should be highly organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing several active matters at once. The successful candidate will be comfortable communicating directly with attorneys, clients, and vendors in a fast-paced transactional environment.

Key Responsibilities

M&A and Transactional Support:

• Independently manage the paralegal aspects of M&A, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance, and general corporate transactions under attorney supervision, including managing closing checklists, transaction timelines, and post-closing checklists.
• Prepare and circulate signature packets and coordinate execution by multiple parties; track signatures, closing deliverables, and outstanding items through closing.
• Coordinate and organize due diligence and virtual data rooms; assist with preparation and organization of ancillary transaction documents.
• Order and coordinate good standing certificates, lien searches, litigation searches, tax lien searches, and similar searches; prepare and coordinate UCC-1, UCC-3, amendments, continuations, and termination filings.
• Coordinate formation and other pre-closing or post-closing filings; prepare and organize closing sets and post-closing materials.
• Communicate directly with attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, and third-party service providers regarding transaction logistics and deliverables.

Entity Formation, Governance, and Corporate Maintenance:

• Form, qualify, maintain, amend, and dissolve corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other business entities; prepare initial organizational documents including bylaws, operating agreements, consents, and related documentation.
• Maintain corporate records, minute books, and compliance documents; support annual reports and similar filings in Delaware, Illinois, and other jurisdictions.
• Assist with preparation of corporate governance documents, including meeting agendas, minutes, board and stockholder consents, and certifications; facilitate board and stockholder meetings.
• Prepare and maintain stock certificates, equity documentation, capitalization records, and related corporate records.

Filings, Searches, and Practice Support:

• Prepare SS-4 forms and obtain Employer Identification Numbers (EINs); prepare IRS Form 8832 and 83(b) election forms as needed.
• Conduct name availability searches and reserve entity names; coordinate with vendors to obtain organizational documents and certificates of good standing.
• Conduct factual and legal research at the direction of attorneys regarding corporate compliance, governance, and transactional matters, and prepare summaries of research findings as requested.
• Manage matter organization, deadline tracking, and document management in support of the corporate practice.
• Provide occasional support for real estate transactions, including ordering title and survey documents as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience; paralegal certificate from an accredited program preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant corporate paralegal experience, with meaningful experience supporting M&A or other corporate transactions. Prior law firm experience is preferred.
• Working knowledge of corporate governance, entity maintenance, and corporate transactional processes and documentation.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills; ability to manage confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with legal research platforms and document-management systems.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with Carta or similar equity management platforms.
• Experience with Form D and state Blue Sky filings.
• Experience with equity issuances, stock option/equity incentive plan administration, and capitalization records.
• Experience with venture capital/startup corporate work or private equity portfolio-company transactions.

Work Arrangement:

This position is based in our Chicago office and currently follows an in-office schedule, 5 days per week.

Benefits:

The Firm offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending and health savings accounts; commuter benefits; short-term and long-term disability insurance; a retirement savings plan; and paid time off.

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is WBE Certified and a member of the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This applies to all employment decisions.

About Us:

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is a growing law firm headquartered in Chicago, with a team of over 150 attorneys and staff. Formed by partners who worked at preeminent international law firms, with a deep bench of sophisticated and experienced corporate lawyers and litigators, our team provides exceptional legal service while affording our clients the benefits of working with an agile and entrepreneurial-minded team of results-oriented, well-rounded professionals. We are driven by our core values: humility, respect, collaboration, partnership, and innovation.

We represent a diverse group of interesting clients, which include private equity firms, founders, startups, venture capital investors, family offices and public companies (among others), in sophisticated and complex legal matters and transactions.