Demystifying the Deal Sheet
If you are a corporate associate considering a lateral move, you may find yourself facing a surprisingly opaque request: Please provide a resume, law school transcript, and deal sheet.
A resume and transcript are straightforward. The deal sheet is not. Most associates have never created one before. But when you are preparing to move firms, it quickly becomes one of the most important pieces of your application.
What Is a Deal Sheet?
A deal sheet is a structured list of transactions you have worked on. While your resume shows where you worked, what your title was, and provides a general overview of what you have worked on, the deal sheet goes further. It lists the specific matters you were actually staffed on. It adds context, scope, and substance to your experience, providing a valuable opportunity to highlight the full range of responsibilities you have handled in your current and previous roles.
It is most commonly requested for lateral roles in transactional practice groups, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and finance. The purpose is not to impress with sheer volume but to communicate meaningful, relevant experience.
Start with the Right Header
Use the same header that appears on your resume:
Your full name
Your address
Your email
Your phone number
Consistency signals attention to detail.
Structure by Deal Type
Group your experience into a few broad, clearly labeled sections. For example, a corporate generalist might use some of the following categories:
Mergers and Acquisitions
Capital Markets
Debt and Credit Financings
Miscellaneous
Corporate associates with more specialized practices will likely use more specific categories tailored to their work. If you have only one or two matters in a particular area, include them under “Miscellaneous” rather than creating a separate section. Keep the structure simple, clear, and easy to read.
How to Describe Each Deal
Each deal should be described in one or two concise sentences. Include the following:
Who you represented — name the client or provide a general description, depending on what can be disclosed publicly
What the deal was — describe the type of transaction
One or two relevant details — such as deal size, industry, or any notable complexity
Example Entries
Represented a venture capital fund in its $15 million Series A investment in a healthtech startup focused on remote patient monitoring.
Advised a publicly traded software company on its acquisition of a European cybersecurity firm in a $60 million cross-border M&A transaction.
Advised a clean energy startup on its $12 million Series A financing led by a global climate-tech investor.
Practical Guidance
Be concise. Each deal should read like a headline and quickly communicate your experience.
Avoid overcategorizing. A few well-filled sections are better than many thin ones.
Keep it current. Update your deal sheet regularly so it reflects your most recent and relevant work.
Why It Matters
A well-prepared deal sheet does more than list your experience. It reveals the substance behind your resume. It demonstrates the extent of your exposure and the types of matters you have been entrusted to handle. Just as important, the way you organize and present your deal sheet reflects your thought process. A concise, clearly written deal sheet demonstrates good judgment.
Final Thoughts
Creating your first deal sheet may feel unfamiliar but when done thoughtfully, it can become one of the most valuable tools in a corporate associate's arsenal during the lateral search process. It showcases your experience and gives hiring partners a preview of what your work product will look like if you join their team.