Are in-house counsel screwed after acquisitions? Bad to ask? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, looking for some specific advice but also general knowledge.

Worked with a F1000 company before law school and made a lot of friends there. I always pictured that if I burn out at my firm (a renowned sweatshop), I can try to make a play to work at my old employer as in-house counsel. Well I just found out the my old company was acquired in an LBO. Would it be awkward to ask my contacts in the legal department how everything's going over there? Like, should I even e-mail them at the company e-mail?

TL;DR - Are in-house counsel typically screwed after an acquisition? I'm thinking of reaching out to contacts at a large company that was just acquired, but am worried that everything's a sensitive subject with them now.

[dixiecupdrinking]

You probably shouldn't cold email them at work and ask if they're getting canned, but I don't see anything wrong with checking in and trying to get coffee or something and then asking more indirectly. This seems more like how you ought to be working these connections to get a job, anyway.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Yeah, good call. I'm almost tempted just to ask how they're adjusting to their new owners, but there's probably a good chance there's issues there too

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, looking for some specific advice but also general knowledge.

Worked with a F1000 company before law school and made a lot of friends there. I always pictured that if I burn out at my firm (a renowned sweatshop), I can try to make a play to work at my old employer as in-house counsel. Well I just found out the my old company was acquired in an LBO. Would it be awkward to ask my contacts in the legal department how everything's going over there? Like, should I even e-mail them at the company e-mail?

TL;DR - Are in-house counsel typically screwed after an acquisition? I'm thinking of reaching out to contacts at a large company that was just acquired, but am worried that everything's a sensitive subject with them now.

I used to do m&a on the iBanking side. Most likely they're doing some housecleaning but who knows. As the above user said, ask them out for coffee and pick their brain. It'll come up. Don't ask openly, but inquire how the transition is going.

[nealric]

Hey guys, looking for some specific advice but also general knowledge.

Worked with a F1000 company before law school and made a lot of friends there. I always pictured that if I burn out at my firm (a renowned sweatshop), I can try to make a play to work at my old employer as in-house counsel. Well I just found out the my old company was acquired in an LBO. Would it be awkward to ask my contacts in the legal department how everything's going over there? Like, should I even e-mail them at the company e-mail?

TL;DR - Are in-house counsel typically screwed after an acquisition? I'm thinking of reaching out to contacts at a large company that was just acquired, but am worried that everything's a sensitive subject with them now.

Like any position after a corporate acquisition, it really depends on the acquirer and the plans thereof. Senior attorneys may get change of controls that would provide a nice payday if they get canned in an acquisition. If you are in a region with a lot of corporate headquarters, you probably know a lot of other people in the industry and can usually leverage that into a new position provided you aren't in the midst of a major downturn.