Head of Acquisitions

<div class="content-intro"><h3><strong>Intro description:</strong></h3> <p>Legalist is a tech-enabled alternative asset manager that uses proprietary data-driven origination to invest in uncorrelated legal and government-payment assets. Founded out of Y Combinator in 2016, Legalist manages over $1.7 billion for endowments, foundations, and family offices.</p></div><p>Legalist is seeking a Head of Acquisitions to lead origination and execution for a new investment strategy focused on partnering with founder-led professional services businesses. This front-end role is responsible for sourcing opportunities, building founder relationships, evaluating acquisition targets, and driving transactions from first conversation through close.&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Source and develop acquisition opportunities through direct outreach and relationship building</li> <li>Build trust with founders, operators, and intermediaries to generate proprietary deal flow</li> <li>Lead early-stage diligence, opportunity assessment, and transaction qualification</li> <li>Evaluate businesses across financial, operational, legal, and strategic dimensions</li> <li>Manage transactions from sourcing through diligence, negotiation, and close</li> <li>Develop investment recommendations and present to senior leadership</li> <li>Partner with legal, finance, and operating teams to ensure smooth execution</li> <li>Help refine acquisition strategy, target criteria, and repeatable deal processes</li> <li>Partner with leadership and operators of acquired businesses to support post-transaction integration, governance, and performance tracking</li> <li>Identify and drive operational improvements and growth initiatives across acquired firms, including monitoring KPIs, advising on strategic decisions, and supporting execution of value creation plans</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Qualifications</strong></h3> <ul> <li>8+ years of experience in M&amp;A, private equity, principal investing, corporate development, investment banking, or a related transactional role</li> <li>Strong deal sourcing and origination capabilities with the ability to create opportunities</li> <li>Executive presence and credibility to engage directly with founders and senior operators</li> <li>Experience leading transactions from initial outreach through close</li> <li>Strong financial and commercial judgment with excellent negotiation and communication skills</li> <li>Comfortable operating independently in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Preferred Qualifications</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Principal-level private equity experience with strong sourcing and execution exposure</li> <li>Background as a private equity or transactional attorney who transitioned into investing or deal execution</li> <li>Experience in search funds, independent sponsor models, or direct acquisition environments</li> <li>Track record working with founder-led businesses and lower middle market transactions</li> </ul>