Private Equity Associate Moves to US Firm in London for Better Access to Work

Candidate: Private Equity Associate
Level: 3-PQE
Move: International Firm to US Firm
Location: London

Background‍

Our London-based legal recruiter, Andrew François, first connected with this associate in late 2024. At the time, the associate—despite being at a well-regarded firm—was growing increasingly concerned about the lack of consistent deal flow at his level. The slowdown in work over the previous two years had prompted him to consider his options, but after some reflection, he decided to pause his job search until the new year.

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The Journey

‍In early 2025, Andrew reconnected with the associate to revisit the idea of exploring the market. This time, the timing felt right. To help frame the opportunity landscape, Andrew shared a breakdown of associate movements from the candidate’s current firm over the past three years. They then worked together to develop a targeted shortlist of firms aligned with the associate’s goals.

Shortly after, a leading US firm in London expressed strong interest and invited him to interview. Throughout the process, the associate built a genuine connection with the team and discovered he already knew one of the partners—who ultimately became a key advocate for his candidacy.

When it came to offer stage, while salary wasn’t the main driver behind his move, Andrew negotiated a higher package on his behalf, ensuring no compromises were made. The firm ticked every box, and the candidate was thrilled to accept. He’s now preparing to begin the next chapter of his career at a prestigious US firm.

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Recruiter Insights

‍The start of 2025 saw an uptick in deal activity, particularly across M&A and private equity. It was a strong window to enter the market, and because the candidate and I had a clear, shared understanding of what he was looking for, we were aligned every step of the way. By pairing his credentials with the right market insight and strong firm relationships, we were able to secure a great result for both sides.

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