Practice Support Lawyer, M&A

Wilson Sonsini•San Diego, CA

35d•$187,850 - $281,750•Hybrid

About The Position

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. This position is available on a hybrid or fully remote basis. 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Interest in legal innovation, knowledge management, or practice development is a plus

Responsibilities

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
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
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—including due diligence, contract review, drafting assistance, and deal benchmarking—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
Collaborate with the Professional Development team to design, build, and maintain career development frameworks and training programs for M&A attorneys
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