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Business Development Assistant (Litigation)

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Job ID: 7776

Updated: 

Location: Chicago, IL, United States

Category: Business Development

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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 assistant to support the marketing and business development efforts of the Firm’s Litigation practices as part of the Business Development (BD) Department in our Chicago office.

We are looking for a self-starter and critical thinker with good judgment, excellent communication and analytical skills and history of taking initiative. You will possess excellent organizational and project management skills, outstanding editing and proofing skills, the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment, strong attention to detail and a professional and polished demeanor. You should be able to quickly develop a general understanding of the core legal practice areas of the Firm, including knowledge of the various types of litigation. Kirkland’s Litigation practices include over 650 attorneys throughout our offices worldwide. We represent clients in trial and appellate courts at the federal and state level, before administrative tribunals, and in arbitrations and other dispute resolution proceedings.

In this role, you will help provide attorneys with support across all areas of marketing and business development, including pitches and proposals, internal and external presentations, internal and external event planning, contact relationship management, branding, business/relationship intelligence and internal communications. Specific responsibilities include new business pitch preparation, marketing collateral development and maintenance, experience database data entry/management, assisting with events, general research and award submissions and directory nominations. You will also be responsible for administrative tasks associated with the business development function such as invoice processing and related administrative tasks.

You will report to the Litigation Business Development Director in Chicago and work closely with other local team members. You will also communicate and collaborate regularly with a global team of approximately 160 diverse problem-solvers and advisers dedicated to the broader BD, marketing and communications 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.)

  • Assist in the overall implementation of development plans and initiatives for the Litigation practices, including maintaining systems to track initiatives.
  • Assist in the production of bespoke, client-facing pitch materials, presentations and responses to RFPs – including compiling, proofreading, formatting, editing, printing, binding and delivery. Maintain system to track client pitches and presentations.
  • Assist in the maintenance of accurate, updated marketing collateral including practice descriptions, brochures, PowerPoint templates, case summaries, accolade summaries and attorney biographies.
  • Assist with research and the preparation of intelligence reports on clients, potential clients, competitors and target industries to understand market position, develop strategic plans and drive marketing efforts to maintain and grow the Litigation practice and our industry position.
  • Assist with planning, execution and tracking of events, including seminars, receptions, industry conferences, charitable sponsorships, speaking engagements, client entertainment and other events related to the promotion of the Litigation practice.
  • Help with survey responses, award nominations and directory submissions as needed.
  • Assist with attorney biography updates and update attorney pitch and website bios accordingly, as well as with other website updates.
  • Maintain data in the Firm’s contact relationship management (CRM) system by reviewing and curating targeted mailing lists for various marketing campaigns and client programming, recording activities such as client meetings, and updating current contact information.
  • Assist with maintenance of the experience database, including data entry and recording updates.
  • Assist with general online and database research.
  • Assist with various other initiatives that intersect with other functional areas within BD.

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

  • Provide administrative assistance, as needed, to the Litigation BD Director and others within the Litigation BD Team.
  • Any other functions/duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required Education, Work Experience, Skills

  • 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.
  • 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 (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
  • Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Education, Work Experience, Skills

  • One to two years’ experience in a law firm or professional services environment. Familiarity with litigation a plus.
  • Experience with CRM/database software (e.g., InterAction, Salesforce, ContentPilot, etc.).
  • Working knowledge of Adobe and SharePoint.

How to Apply

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

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

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-ML1