Assistant General Counsel 1 - Mergers & Acquisitions

Job Family

Legal Counsel

Job Description Summary

The Associate General Counsel will serve as a senior legal advisor on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, investments, and other strategic business transactions, partnering closely with Corporate Development, senior management, and key business and functional leaders across the organization.

This individual will have significant ownership of complex transactions and will be expected to independently lead legal strategy throughout the transaction lifecycle, from initial structuring and due diligence through negotiation, regulatory approvals, closing, and post-acquisition integration. The Associate General Counsel will proactively identify and evaluate legal, regulatory, and business risks; provide practical, business-oriented solutions; and advise senior leadership on matters that may have a significant impact on the company.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong executive presence and sound independent judgment, with the ability to communicate complex legal and business considerations clearly, influence decision-making, and build trusted relationships with senior leaders. This role will also provide leadership across the Legal organization by managing outside counsel, driving cross-functional initiatives, identifying opportunities to strengthen legal processes and policies, and providing guidance and mentorship to more junior attorneys as appropriate.

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments, and other complex strategic transactions.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Corporate Development, senior management, and other business and functional leaders on transaction strategy, structuring, risk, and execution.
• Independently draft, review, and negotiate complex transaction documents, including non-disclosure agreements, letters of intent, purchase agreements, investment agreements, and ancillary transaction documents.
• Lead and coordinate legal due diligence, partnering with legal and business subject matter experts to identify significant risks, develop mitigation strategies, and advise leadership on potential business impacts.
• Provide clear, practical, and commercially focused legal advice on complex matters requiring the identification and evaluation of multiple legal, regulatory, and business considerations.
• Prepare and present materials to senior executives regarding transaction structure, key risks, negotiation strategy, and recommended courses of action.
• Advise on regulatory matters associated with strategic transactions and help lead regulatory approval processes, including engagement with internal regulatory specialists and external counsel.
• Provide strategic legal leadership for post-closing integration matters and partner with business and functional teams to identify and address integration-related legal risks.
• Exercise significant independent judgment in managing complex legal matters, consulting with senior Legal leadership as appropriate.
• Direct and manage outside counsel, including determining appropriate external support, overseeing work product, managing transaction timelines, and controlling legal spend.
• Identify opportunities to enhance legal processes, transaction templates, playbooks, policies, and governance practices to improve consistency, efficiency, and risk management.
• Identify legal and policy gaps arising from transactions or evolving business needs and partner with appropriate stakeholders to develop solutions.
• Lead departmental and cross-functional working groups within areas of expertise and engage directly with senior leadership on significant legal and business matters.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to junior attorneys and other Legal team members, as appropriate.
• May have responsibility for certain legal budgets, outside counsel spend, or other departmental resources.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA accredited law school
• Eight years of relevant legal experience
• Licensed or eligible to practice in the applicable state
• Ability to effectively communicate, both written and oral, with the intended audience
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in a fast paced environment
• Ability to exercise agility and adaptability in providing legal advice
• Comfortable in a rapidly changing corporate environment
• Proficient using MS Office

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong M&A experience.
• Experience negotiating and managing key transaction documents (E.G.; Stock Purchase Agreements (SPAs), Asset Purchase Agreements (APAs), Letters of Intent (LOIs), Due diligence and transaction execution activities)
• Experience in regulated industry.
• Experience handling material acquisitions and divestitures.
• Experience with post-acquisition integration and transition activities.

Working Conditions

Hybrid Office Environment

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Compensation

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $185,000 - $235,000 annually in Philadelphia and between $215,000-$270,000 annually in New York City. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion. 

Applicants must possess legal authorization to work for our company in the U.S. without the need for immigration, sponsorship or otherwise serving as an employer of record for immigration employment purposes. At this time, this role is not eligible for immigration-related employment authorization sponsorship.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Philadelphia, New York City).  Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

Please note, this role is open to a Q1 2027 start date.

Disclaimer:
Beware of fake job offers!

We’ve been alerted to scammers impersonating Transamerica recruiters, particularly for remote positions. Please note:

·        We will never request personal information such as ID or payment for equipment upfront.

·        Official offers are sent via DocuSign following a verbal offer—not through text or email.

What We Offer  

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. 

Compensation Benefits 

• Competitive Pay 

• Bonus for Eligible Employees 

Benefits Package 

• Pension Plan 

• 401k Match

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Disability Insurance

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Employee Discounts

• Career Training & Development Opportunities

Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits 

• Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.

• Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).

• Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars 

• Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.

• Adoption Assistance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Back-Up Care Program

• PTO for Volunteer Hours

• Employee Matching Gifts Program

• Employee Resource Groups

• Inclusion and Diversity Programs

• Employee Recognition Program

• Referral Bonus Programs

Inclusion & Diversity  

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. 

To foster a culture of inclusivity throughout our workforce, workplace, and marketplace, Transamerica offers a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs. This includes our company-sponsored, employee-driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are formed around a shared interest or a common characteristic of diversity. ERGs are open to all employees. They provide a supportive environment to help us better appreciate our similarities and differences and understand how they benefit us all. 

Giving Back  

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.     

Transamerica’s Parent Company  

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has  grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe.* It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity.   

* As of December 31, 2023