Transactional Business Development Specialist

About the role

Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm known for setting the standard for legal excellence. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity, and a commitment to continuous growth. We are dedicated to tackling complex legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, supported by the expertise and ambition of our 7,000+ professionals, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and finalize customized presentations, pitch decks, and RFP responses that reflect Kirkland’s market-leading M&A/Private Equity experience.
• Serve as a go-to resource for the Firm’s M&A credentials, ensuring accurate data entry and insights from league tables and internal databases.
• Maintain and enhance practice descriptions, attorney bios, brochures, PowerPoint templates, and rankings.
• Prepare strategic reports on prospects, industries, and competitors to support client targeting and market positioning.
• Agregate and interpret key metrics for internal and external stakeholders to inform BD strategies.
• Build trusted relationships across MBD, Transactional practice teams, and firmwide departments to deliver coordinated and effective results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience in M&A/Private Equity, business development, financial services, or professional services project management.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills – ability to engage with senior stakeholders and deliver polished, client-ready materials.
• Exceptional project management and organization – skilled at juggling competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Critical thinking and initiative – capable of working independently and navigating ambiguity to move projects forward.
• Technical proficiency – fluency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with research tools (e.g., Mergermarket, Bloomberg, PitchBook) and CRM platforms like InterAction or Salesforce.
• Attention to detail and data accuracy – meticulous approach to editing, proofing, and database upkeep.
• Professional presence and discretion – comfort working with confidential and high-stakes information.

Qualifications

• Experience in M&A/Private Equity, business development, financial services, or professional services project management.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Project management and organizational skills.
• Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and research tools.
• Attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Professional presence and discretion.

Skills

• Strategic pitching and client materials creation.
• Client materials editing and finalization.
• Data entry and insights from league tables and internal databases.
• Research and intelligence preparation.
• Data analysis and reporting.
• Collaboration with MBD, Transactional practice teams, and firmwide departments.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare.
• Paid time off.
• Retail retirement plans.

Pay

The base salary range for this position in Chicago is $90,000 - $110,000.

Schedule

Not specified.

Contact Information

To apply, please click "Apply Now." For equal employment opportunity information, please see Kirkland & Ellis' EEO statement.