Senior M&A Clearance Analyst

About the Role

The Mergers & Acquisitions Clearance Team is a specialized group within Kirkland's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group. The team primarily supports Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Premerger Notification and Report filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on behalf of Kirkland clients, including many leading private equity firms.

The Mergers & Acquisitions Clearance Analyst will assist with and lead the preparation and submission of HSR filings and support the coordination of global competition filings. This role requires strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a highly specialized team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with and lead the preparation of HSR filings
• Input all items of the HSR form
• Coordinate with transactional attorneys, clients, and opposing HSR counsel to gather relevant filing information
• Draft tailored information requests for clients
• Research company NAICS and NAPCS codes
• Collect, prepare, and review HSR exhibits, including merger agreements, financial statements, and transaction documents
• Compile and organize detailed HSR exhibit logs
• Conduct research using EDGAR and SEC filings
• Coordinate with M&A Clearance Team members across offices to meet filing deadlines
• Lead large-scale data organization projects
• Coordinate with C-suite executives and financial teams at private equity and portfolio companies during annual data collection initiatives
• Create and maintain HSR filing tracking templates in Excel
• Collect and compile sales and assets-by-country information
• Enter HSR filing and deal data into the team's Relativity database
• Maintain HSR working files and precedent materials in the firm's document management system
• Assist with the growth and development of junior team members
• Lead HSR and organizational training sessions
• Develop training presentations, templates, and learning materials
• Monitor client, private equity, and industry news
• Update and maintain team templates, resource materials, and presentations
• Participate in weekly team meetings, team trainings, and antitrust practice group meetings
• Assist with pro bono and other non-HSR matters as needed

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a high-pressure environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a non-attorney professional with 6-8 years of HSR or antitrust experience (or related legal experience). A background in finance, economics, M&A, or private equity is beneficial but not required.

• Strong technical skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat
• Experience with database and document management systems (e.g., iManage, Relativity)
• Experience with legal, regulatory, compliance, transactional, or data-intensive work environments is highly valued

Skills

• Meticulous attention to detail
• Strong client service orientation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to research and interpret complex information
• Strong teamwork and relationship-building skills
• Commitment to accuracy, quality, and organization
• Ability to thrive in a deadline-driven environment
• Interest in mentoring and developing junior team members

Additional Requirements

• Availability to work overtime as needed
• Ability to commit to the role for at least two years

Pay

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in each of the below locations. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations.

• Chicago: $100,000 - $125,000
• New York City: $100,000 - $138,000
• Washington DC: $100,000 - $138,000

Benefits

At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including:

• Comprehensive healthcare
• Paid time off
• Retirement benefits
• Personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities