Reclaiming the Corporate Track: A High-Potential Associate’s Comeback

Candidate: Corporate M&A Associate
Level: 3 PQE
Location: Palo Alto
Move: LA Litigation Role to Tier 1 M&A Practice

Background:

This candidate was referred to us by a lawyer we had previously placed at a top-tier firm. She had originally accepted a corporate role at a leading international practice but was moved into litigation due to internal team restructuring. Despite limited exposure to corporate work, her commitment to pivot back into M&A never changed. With a strong academic background, excellent communication skills, and clear long-term partnership potential, we saw an opportunity to help her make a transformative move.

The Journey:

Initial efforts to reintroduce her to the corporate market proved challenging, and we decided to pause the process temporarily while keeping her informed of evolving market conditions. Behind the scenes, we had been developing a strong relationship with the hiring partners at a prestigious Palo Alto firm known for its elite M&A practice.

After successfully presenting several high-performing candidates to this firm, we had built enough trust to put forward this associate—framing her as a high-agency, driven lawyer with the resilience and professionalism to re-enter the corporate track. She was also willing to relocate from Los Angeles and accept a reduction in class year to gain the experience she was seeking.

The firm responded quickly. Within two business days, she interviewed with key partners. The conversation focused on cultural alignment and presence rather than technical experience. She impressed the team with her poise, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. Shortly after, she received and accepted an offer to join their market-leading M&A team.

Recruiter Insight:

"Helping this candidate return to the corporate path wasn’t just about filling a role—it was about advocating for someone with clear partner potential who hadn’t had the chance to fully prove herself. Even when a lawyer’s CV doesn’t tell the full story, our role is to communicate their strengths and long-term value. In a competitive market, firms are still eager to back the right person, and this placement shows what can happen when timing, positioning, and trust all align." – Cole Evarts, Sonder Consultants

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