Kirkland & Ellis Hiring for Business Development Assistant – ESG at New York, NY Full Time

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’s ESG & Impact practice is a rapidly growing practice with the broad mandate to integrate ESG and impact considerations into all aspects of our work for private fund sponsor and public company clients. As the ESG & Impact Business Development Assistant, you will support the ESG & Impact Business Development Manager in the facilitation and implementation of various projects and strategic initiatives to drive the development of new business.

The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask effectively. Strong writing and communication skills are essential. Experience in the legal, professional services and/or financial services sectors are highly desirable.

Our international marketing team provides seamless service to our attorneys, with a focus on quality, innovation, and responsiveness. We are looking for a self-starter, with good judgement and an interest in a professional services career. It’s an exciting time to join a collaborative team providing essential support for new and ongoing business opportunities.

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

• Pitch Materials. Assist in the production of bespoke, client-facing pitch materials, presentations, and responses to RFPs – including compiling, proofreading, formatting, editing, printing, binding and delivery.
• Communications. Maintain content on practice areas, industries, and attorneys (e.g., bios, practice descriptions, etc.).
• Data Management. 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, updating current contact information, conducting regular database audits, and executing other meaningful back-end data entry projects.
• ESG Business Intelligence. Monitor and analyze ESG market trends relevant to law firm ESG practices and Kirkland’s client base to identify general and client-specific opportunities for business development and client value-add.
• Preparation and Maintenance of Business Development Materials. Collaborate with ESG & Impact practice group leaders to maintain existing and prepare new decks, one-pagers, and other client-facing content, including conducting general and client-specific research to develop new content and bespoke pitches and presentations, as well as arranging existing content to maximize visual impact.
• ESG Event Planning. Identify, vet, and plan sponsorship of and participation in select ESG- and impact-focused events that will enhance Kirkland’s brand and coordinate with Business Development colleagues across the firm to maximize ESG opportunities at existing Firm-sponsored events.
• Marketing. Collaborate with the Communications Team to market the ESG & Impact practice internally and externally, including through presentations to firm leadership and other practice groups, newsletters, ESG & Impact practice group and individual attorney webpages, social media, awards, and other profile-raising initiatives.

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

• Provide administrative assistance – including budgeting, expense reporting, phone support, scheduling, travel, etc.— as needed.
• Any other functions/duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications & Requirements

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.
• 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 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 partners and clients of the Firm.
• Ability to handle ambiguity, weigh options and find ways to move initiatives forward to meet critical deadlines and produce results.
• Meticulous data entry, writing and proofing skills and a general facility for learning new software.
• A solid command of different software applications to produce high-end, professional work product, including extensive experience in PowerPoint and Excel.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Education, Work Experience Skills

• One to two years’ experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience with CRM/database software (e.g., InterAction, Salesforce, ContentPilot, etc.).

Technologies/Software

• MS Office software proficiency, with expertise in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel required
• CRM/Experience Management Software (e.g., InterAction, Salesforce, ContentPilot, etc.) and transaction/private funds platform (e.g., Preqin, PitchBook, Cap IQ) experience preferred

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.