Associate

First Principles Law · India

Company Description

First Principles Law is a boutique corporate law firm advising founders, investors, companies, and family offices across PE, VC and M&A transactions and strategic legal advisory. FPL was founded with a different belief — that the best legal advice begins with first principles, by challenging assumptions to focus on what truly matters. The Firm takes pride in a partner-led approach to service delivery and client relationships, with the goal of becoming a long-term collaborator.

Our Values

Fairness, Quality, Flexibility, Humility, Inclusiveness, Empathy and Fun (not flippant) - are the lenses we hire through. More on what they mean to us here:

Role Description

The partners are building a firm that is excellent at work and just as excellent in how it treats its people. These are not trade-offs. The work is demanding and the standards are high, because our clients deserve nothing less. And in return, so do you: you will be respected, supported, fairly rewarded, and treated the way we would want to be treated ourselves.

What that looks like day to day:

• Trust by default - no micromanagement, no hourly targets, no time-sheet quotas. It works because everyone here holds themselves to the standard without being asked.
• Real ownership - we are a small team, so you will run workstreams, deal with clients directly and see transactions from term sheet to closing. Your work is visible, and so is your judgment.
• Learning, built in - you will work directly with the partners. They put real time into helping you think from first principles, not just from precedent.
• Outcomes over hours - we care about getting it right and getting it done well, and not about how long it takes. Nobody gets points for staying late.
• AI as a tool, not a crutch - everyone has an enterprise AI licence. We expect you to use it, and to stand behind every line it helps you produce.

Roles and pay are based on what you do, not your PQE. Alongside competitive fixed pay, our variable compensation is linked to both your own contribution and how the firm performs as a whole. When the firm does well, the people who built that share in it.

Qualifications and Experience

• 2-4 years PQE in PE, VC or M&A
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or equivalent degree from a recognized institution
• Bar enrolment in India

If you are curious, you follow through, and you would rather be trusted than managed – this opportunity is for you. If you are looking for more responsibility, and the room to carry it your way, we would love to talk.

To Apply

Write to contact@firstprincipleslaw.com with the subject line "Associate Application". Send your CV and a short note (250 words max) talking about any instance on a deal where you took ownership and delivered something beyond your brief. Also tell us if it impacted you in anyway - did it help you grow or did you learn to do something better?