The Head of Acquisitions will lead sourcing and executing transactions for a new investment strategy focused on founder-led professional services businesses, managing the process from outreach to closing.
Intro description:
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.
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.
Key Responsibilities- Source and develop acquisition opportunities through direct outreach and relationship building
- Build trust with founders, operators, and intermediaries to generate proprietary deal flow
- Lead early-stage diligence, opportunity assessment, and transaction qualification
- Evaluate businesses across financial, operational, legal, and strategic dimensions
- Manage transactions from sourcing through diligence, negotiation, and close
- Develop investment recommendations and present to senior leadership
- Partner with legal, finance, and operating teams to ensure smooth execution
- Help refine acquisition strategy, target criteria, and repeatable deal processes
- Partner with leadership and operators of acquired businesses to support post-transaction integration, governance, and performance tracking
- 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
- 8+ years of experience in M&A, private equity, principal investing, corporate development, investment banking, or a related transactional role
- Strong deal sourcing and origination capabilities with the ability to create opportunities
- Executive presence and credibility to engage directly with founders and senior operators
- Experience leading transactions from initial outreach through close
- Strong financial and commercial judgment with excellent negotiation and communication skills
- Comfortable operating independently in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment
- Principal-level private equity experience with strong sourcing and execution exposure
- Background as a private equity or transactional attorney who transitioned into investing or deal execution
- Experience in search funds, independent sponsor models, or direct acquisition environments
- Track record working with founder-led businesses and lower middle market transactions
Similar Jobs
An Hour Ago
Easy Apply
Easy Apply
Machine Learning • Security • Software • Analytics • Defense
The CSSO will ensure compliance for Special Access Programs and manage security for classified programs, also acting as FSO to oversee facility security requirements.
Top Skills:
DissEqipJadeMS OfficeNbisNissScattered CastlesSims
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Information Technology • Logistics • Payments • Business Intelligence • Generative AI
The role requires leading customer value initiatives in supply chain design and planning, driving adoption through workshops and relationship management, while mentoring team members and ensuring exceptional customer experience.
Top Skills:
Coupa ScdpLlamasoftSupply Chain Saas Software/Solutions
Cloud • Fintech • Food • Information Technology • Software • Hospitality
The Senior Product Manager leads Payroll onboarding, defining strategy, improving metrics, and delivering an AI-driven customer experience for effective payroll activation.
Top Skills:
AIProduct Management Tools
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
