Travel, Meetings, & Events Specialist

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 22 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You’ll Do

Are you an experienced event planner who thrives on delivering seamless, high-impact experiences?

Join our Travel, Meetings & Events team as a Travel, Meeting, & Events Specialist supporting Kirkland's Texas offices. In this role, you'll take the lead on planning and executing a wide range of internal and external events—from seminars and receptions to retreats. Your ability to manage complex logistics and deliver innovative, high-quality events will be essential to success.

As part of the Firmwide Travel, Meetings & Events team, you’ll also collaborate on broader firm events, applying best practices and creative solutions to enhance engagement and execution. This role offers an exciting mix of autonomy and teamwork, requiring strong communication, organizational skills, and a proactive mindset to juggle multiple priorities with precision.

• End-to-End Event Planning: Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of on-site, off-site, and virtual events, coordinating with internal stakeholders and ensuring alignment with event objectives.
• Vendor & Site Management: Support site selection, manage RFP processes, and negotiate contracts to secure favorable terms and reduce risk.
• Registration & Communication: Manage registration logistics, maintain RSVP and attendance lists, and oversee CVENT platform usage for invitations and event websites.
• Logistics Coordination: Arrange all event logistics, including catering, AV needs, transportation, and on-site requirements.
• Event Materials & Production: Oversee the creation and distribution of event materials, such as name tags and giveaways, ensuring everything is event ready.
• Budget Oversight: Prepare and track event budgets, manage expenses, and provide post-event financial reporting and analysis.
• Onsite Event Support: Serve as an onsite lead during events, coordinating with vendors and ensuring smooth execution from setup through completion.
• Post-Event Reporting: Deliver event recaps, compile attendance and cost data, and support continuous improvement through feedback and metrics.
• Invoice & Reconciliation Management: Process vendor invoices and support budget reconciliation tasks promptly and accurately.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in event planning or related field
• Certifications: CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) or CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional) preferred
• Planning Expertise: Strong project management and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple events simultaneously
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Problem Solving & Composure: Ability to stay calm under pressure and resolve issues efficiently and diplomatically
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with hotel, hospitality, and travel industries; active involvement in professional associations a plus
• Technology Proficiency: Comfortable using Microsoft Office and CVENT event management platform

If you’re ready to create memorable, flawlessly executed events that elevate the client and employee experience, we’d love to hear from you!

How to Apply

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

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-LW1