2026 First-Year Associate - Corporate, M&A And Securities

Our Practice.
Public and private companies of all sizes across a variety of industries turn to Bass, Berry & Sims for counsel on a wide range of corporate matters, including private equity transactions, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, capital markets transactions, executive compensation issues, corporate governance and shareholder activism. We serve as primary corporate and securities counsel to public companies in a variety of industries and have assisted many hundreds of other public and private companies in high-profile, high-stakes engagements. Our attorneys are leaders in industry organizations and have been recognized for their significant contributions to clients and for their accomplishments. Named Law Firm of the Year by M&A Advisor (2021), our work has been highlighted with various awards, including 12 transactions recognized as ?Deal of the Year,? ranging from $10MM to $5B and spanning industries such as healthcare, industrial, consumer, retail, life sciences, and more. Ranked by Chambers USA as the #1 Corporate and M&A practice in Tennessee for the past 22 years, researchers have concluded that our corporate team is a ?Preeminent group highly recommended for its expertise on big-ticket M&A transactions, including an increasing volume of cross-border matters. Also has a wealth of experience advising on private offerings and shareholder activism issues. Additionally, the firm has extensive expertise in advising public companies on sophisticated corporate and securities matters. Clients say: ?The firm is one of the best I have worked with in my entire career.?? (from Chambers USA) ?Their commitment is second to none.? and ?They go toe to toe on expertise with New York firms?they represent a wealth of private equity firms and their portfolio companies?I?d put them up there with the big firms globally ? some of the finest attorneys I?ve seen.? (from Chambers USA). By the numbers, we have served as lead counsel in more than 400 transactions ranging in size from $20 million to more than $15 billion in the last four years. We maintain top rankings in industry leading M&A league tables, including #5 most active in healthcare private equity, #18 most active in U.S. private equity, and #12 most active representing investors in M&A (Pitchbook, Q2 2025).
Join us.
We are seeking highly qualified current third-year law students to join our Fall 2026 Associate Class in the Corporate and Securities practice group in Nashville. Candidates must have excellent analytical, written, verbal and interpersonal skills as well as excellent academic credentials and prior summer internship experience. For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume and transcript here.