Business Development Assistant (M&A)

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
 
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don’t just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,500 lawyers) operating from 20 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking an organized assistant to support the marketing and business development efforts of the Firm’s M&A practice as part of the Business Development (BD) Department in our New York office.

Kirkland’s M&A practice is at the forefront of high-profile, cutting-edge M&A transactions and consistently leads the market in both number and value of deals. In this role, you will handle a variety of functions for the M&A practice, including assisting with new business pitches and marketing materials, events, contact relationship management, business/relationship intelligence and strategic initiatives, as assigned by the BD Associate Directors for Public Company M&A and Private Equity M&A.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with lawyers and staff to achieve results. You will need to possess excellent organizational and project management skills, outstanding editing and proofing skills, the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment, a strong attention to detail and a professional and polished demeanor.

We operate from a team-first position and value honesty, diligence and open communication. Success in this role will depend upon your ability to collaborate effectively with team members (including seeking help and asking questions when needed), develop familiarity with the Firm’s various resources and systems, hone your instincts to anticipate questions and potential issues, independently manage your time and consistently “go the extra mile” without being asked.

You will report to the BD Associate Director (Public Company M&A) in New York and work closley with the broader M&A BD team in New York and across the U.S. You also will communicate and collaborate regularly with a global team of approximately 150 diverse problem-solvers and advisers dedicated to the broader M&A BD team, marketing and communcations efforts of the Firm. Kirkland's international BD team provides seamless service to our attorneys with a focus on quality, innovation and responsiveness.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary.)

• Maintain accurate, updated marketing collateral including practice descriptions, brochures, PowerPoint templates, transaction descriptions, league table rankings and attorney biographies.
• Assist in the drafting of bespoke, client-facing pitch materials, presentations and responses to RFPs, and the logging of completed pitches in Firm databases.
• Maintain, review and update group contact lists using the Firm’s Contact Relationship Management (CRM) system.

• Provide support for in-person and virtual M&A events.
• Assist in the execution of M&A BD projects, including client acquisition strategies and client gifting.
• Respond to research requests from attorneys and BD team members; compile and share data using Firm systems and other research tools.
• Establish collaborative relationships with M&A BD & Marketing leads, functional area specialists, practice teams and Firm administrative departments.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

Required

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with high-level attorneys, clients, staff and guests of the Firm.
• Ability to take initiative, adapt to change and work independently in high-pressure, deadline-driven scenarios while exercising sound judgment and making intelligent, informed decisions.
• Excellent client service orientation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with various levels of personnel, internally and externally, including existing and potential clients.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize and execute a diverse range of tasks with a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to handle ambiguity, weigh options and find ways to move initiatives forward to meet critical deadlines and produce results.
• Collaborative approach to working within a team, including the ability to take direction and implement feedback.
• Meticulous data entry, writing and proofing skills and a general facility for learning new software.
• Solid command of MS Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred

• 1-2 years of professional experience, with a background in M&A, business development, financial services or project management.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP.  To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

For applicants who are based in New York City, visit the following link for pay range information: http://staffjobsus.kirkland.com/pages/JOBID7404

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

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