Senior Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions- Chicago, IL

Senior Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions- Chicago, IL

Senior Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) 
Reports to: Associate General Counsel, M&A, Securities and Governance, ADM
Location: Chicago, IL

Position Summary:
ADM is seeking a highly motivated Senior Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions to play a central role in the company’s global transactional strategy. This position will be a key contributor to ADM’s active M&A pipeline, serving as a primary legal advisor on complex domestic and cross‑border acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic investments.
The Senior Counsel will also assist with corporate finance transactions, public company securities reporting and corporate governance, and as well as on commercial contracts and other related matters.
This position is ideal for a lawyer with 4–5 years of experience at a leading law firm who is eager to take on significant responsibility in a dynamic in‑house environment with substantial deal flow. 
Job Responsibilities:
Mergers & Acquisitions (Primary Focus)

• Lead and support all phases of domestic and international M&A, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic investment transactions, including structuring, drafting, negotiating, and closing deals.
• Manage and coordinate due diligence efforts across legal, financial, tax, environmental, and operational workstreams.
• Serve as a strategic partner to ADM’s Business Development team, providing practical, business‑focused legal guidance throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Drive transaction execution, including oversight of outside counsel, internal approvals, risk assessments, and integration‑related legal support.

Corporate Finance, Securities & Governance

• Support corporate finance transactions, including debt and equity offerings, credit facilities, securitizations, and other financing matters.
• Provide legal support for SEC filings, public company reporting obligations, Section 16 reporting, and corporate governance matters, including board and committee processes.

Commercial & Cross‑Functional Support

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements that support ADM’s global operations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across finance, tax, corporate development, business units, and regional legal teams to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Manage outside counsel efficiently and effectively

Candidate Profile and Experience:
The ideal candidate will have:

• A Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree; admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction.
• At least four years of experience at a large, nationally recognized law firm, with a strong focus on M&A and corporate transactional work.
• Experience with corporate finance, securities law compliance and public company governance strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with business stakeholders at all levels.
• Business-oriented mindset with practical problem-solving skills and sound judgement.