Associates

Barack Ferrazzano staffs its associate team through our summer associate program and lateral hiring.

Our Firm is loosely structured into transactional and litigation areas. The litigation team engages in a wide range of commercial litigation, while our transactional lawyers practice in one or more areas.

Incoming associates are asked to express a preference between litigation and transactional law and can specify one or more transactional areas of concentration, although initial choices are not etched in stone. New transactional lawyers often work across multiple areas as they broaden their knowledge and determine the area in which they will ultimately specialize. A number of our partners, however, continue with multidisciplinary practices. It is not unusual, therefore, for associates to work across what other firms consider substantive boundaries. Lateral associates are more likely to be hired in a specific practice area, but may also have opportunities to broaden their practice into other areas.

Training and Review

Because we invest in our associates for the long term, we have a strong incentive to train and guide associates to be of maximum utility to our clients, providing them with substantive responsibility very early in their careers. We also encourage associates to attend relevant seminars and events that further their professional development.

In terms of performance review, Barack Ferrazzano promotes a working environment in which associates are informally reviewed on every assignment they perform. On a formal basis, our Associate and Paralegal Review Committee reviews each associate's performance on an annual basis.

Competitive Compensation and Bonuses

To ensure our ability to attract top legal talent, we pay salaries that are competitive with other top tier Chicago firms. Associates also have the opportunity to earn bonuses based on their contribution to the Firm's productivity.

Billable Hours

We do not enforce mandatory annual billable hour targets, although billable hours do play a role in partnership and bonus decisions. Attorneys and staff alike are expected to work hard and make a meaningful contribution to the Firm.

Firm Benefits

The competitive employment benefits package at Barack Ferrazzano matches or exceeds those of many major law firms. In addition, since our founding in 1984, the Firm has employed a casual-all-the-time dress policy.

To Contact Us

If you are interested in an associate position at Barack Ferrazzano, please send your resume and law school transcript to:

Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
ATTN: Associate Careers
200 West Madison Suite 3900
Chicago, Illinois 60606
careers@bfkn.com

Open Positions

Real Estate Associate
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP is looking for attorneys with commercial real estate experience to join our growing 45-person real estate team. The Real Estate Group at Barack Ferrazzano has been a cornerstone of the Firm since its founding in 1984. We have earned the reputation as one of the premier real estate practices in the country, having been recognized by Chambers and Partners as among the top tier of real estate practice groups. Unlike many other large commercial real estate practices, our Real Estate Group is not a “support group,” but produces essentially all of its own work from the nation’s leading real estate private equity firms, public REITs, lenders, institutional tenants and other leaders in the commercial real estate industry. Our Real Estate Group attorneys work on a variety of commercial real estate projects, including acquisitions, disposition, development, lending and leasing projects. Candidates need not have portable business. Flexible work arrangements will be considered for highly qualified candidates. We offer a very competitive salary, excellent benefits package and a great work environment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required:

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and 1+ years’ experience in a law firm.
• In good standing with state bar.
• Law firm experience in a real estate or corporate transactional practice or its equivalent in an in-house setting.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to establish strong working relationships with our clients.
• Excellent critical thinking and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with Real Estate Group members and our clients.

• Must be proactive and highly organized.
• Must be flexible.

Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Senior Associate, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits

BFKN is looking for a Senior Associate to work within the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits subgroup of the Firm’s Compensation & Employment group.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Advise public and private companies in acquisitions, mergers, initial public offerings, and other similar transactions on issues related to executive compensation and employee benefits.
• Research, interpret and provide advice on a variety of tax and securities laws, ERISA, contract law, and aspects of employment law relating to executive compensation agreements, including restrictive covenants. 
• Responsible for drafting plans, programs, agreements and ancillary documents related to executive compensation and employee benefits, including but not limited to, tax-qualified retirement plans (eg., 401(k) plans and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)), non-qualified deferred compensation plans, equity incentive plans, executive employment agreements, change in control agreements, retention bonus agreements, as well as representations, warranties and covenants relating to the foregoing subject matter as may be necessary to include in merger & acquisition-related documents (e.g., merger agreements, stock purchase agreements, etc.).
• Responsible for researching issues relating to and drafting applicable securities disclosure documents relating to executive compensation and employee benefits, including relevant disclosures in annual proxy statements and Forms 10-K, Forms S-8 and Forms 8-K.
• Willing and able to train and mentor junior associates.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required:

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and 7+ years’ experience in a law firm.
• In good standing with state bar.
• Experience with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., Sections 162(m), 280G, 401(a), 409A, etc.) and related Treasury Regulations, securities disclosure rules (e.g., Regulation S-K, etc.), ERISA and related DOL Regulations, M&A aspects of executive compensation and employee benefits, preferred.
• Experience advising senior executives, including C-suite executives, and boards of directors.
• Experience managing significant matters, including benefits and compensation matters arising in connection with acquisitions, mergers, initial public offerings, and other similar transactions.
• Experience interacting with governmental agencies, including the IRS, DOL and PBGC, preferred.
• Ability to research, analyze, understand, communicate and apply technically precise provisions of applicable law, regulations and guidance.
• Ability to train and mentor junior associates with respect to all aspects of practice.
• Excellent critical thinking and analytical abilities, particularly in developing conceptual understanding of new topics for yourself and others.
• Understanding of SEC reporting obligations under the Securities and Exchange Act related to director and executive compensation, preferred.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to build client relationships.

Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP is an equal employment opportunity employer.