“Exciting” Transactions
Lately, I’ve noticed a trend on LinkedIn where lawyers express their “excitement” about collaborating with fantastic teams from various firms to finalize deals. I’m not referring to major deals like the Twitter leveraged buyout or the AOL-Time Warner merger—let’s not even go there just yet. Instead, I’m talking about transactions worth $8 million to low $9 digits, often involving lesser-known companies with no apparent legal or structural innovations. Yet, post after post declares not just a sense of fulfillment, pride, or, heaven forbid, relief that the transaction is complete, but outright “excitement” about representing a $20 million direct lender for a random B2B SaaS company.
I have a genuine question for those who express this enthusiasm for closings: Are you truly excited in the moment, or is this more of a performative gesture aimed at proving your enthusiasm for the job and the firm, especially if you’re on the path to partnership? No judgment here—I’m simply curious to understand the mindset behind these expressions of “excitement.”
One Response
I appreciate your perspective on this trend. It does seem like the term “excited” has been overused in a professional context, especially for transactions that don’t appear to warrant that level of enthusiasm. For many lawyers, it might indeed be more of a performative expression meant to signal commitment and positivity, especially in a competitive environment where showcasing a can-do attitude can influence career progression.
On the other hand, some people might genuinely feel a sense of excitement about the collaboration, the challenges of the deal, or the positive impact it may have on the client, even if the deal itself isn’t groundbreaking. The landscape of transactions is varied, and for some, every successful closing can represent a small victory or a step toward a larger goal.
Ultimately, it could be a mix of both genuine excitement and performative enthusiasm. It’s interesting to think about the culture of law firms and how that influences our communication. Your inquiry really prompts reflection on how we express our feelings about our work and whether authenticity or conformity takes precedence in our professional interactions.