Business Intelligence Assistant

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 efforts of the Business Intelligence (BI) Research team, as part of the Business Development (BD) Department in our Chicago office.

Business Intelligence pairs information with insight to equip our partners with vital knowledge and drive new business initiatives forward. The BI Research team is part of the Data Analysis & Insight group within BD, providing research and market intelligence to support business development efforts. In this role, you will handle a variety of functions including mining resources to create intelligence briefings, compiling competitive metrics, and providing research support for cross-marketing and targeting projects. You must have strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to concisely convey complex information. This position will also be involved in some of the BI Research team’s proactive market monitoring initiatives. From time to time, general research, organizational, and/or administrative tasks may also be assigned.

We are looking for an exceptional communicator and critical thinker with a history of taking initiative and a genuine intellectual curiosity. 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, a strong attention to detail and a professional and polished demeanor. You will be oriented toward continuous improvement – of both your own work product and of the team as a whole.

We operate from a team-first position and value honesty, diligence and open communication. Success in this role will depend upon your ability to collaborate effectively with team members (including seeking help and asking questions when needed), develop familiarity with the Firm’s various resources and systems, hone your instincts to anticipate questions and potential issues, independently manage your time and consistently “go the extra mile” without being asked. You will be expected to establish yourself as a trusted, responsive resource to your BD colleagues and attorneys. Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential or sensitive information is critical in this role.

You will report to the Business Intelligence Manager in Chicago and work closely with other team members. You will also communicate and collaborate regularly with a global team of approximately 170 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.)

Gather and vet data from various sources/databases to compile a variety of intelligence briefings, including (but not limited to):

• Company / private equity firm profiles
• Relationship intelligence documents
• Biographical dossiers
• Conduct research in support of cross-marketing, industry targeting, and competitive intelligence/benchmarking projects.
• Monitor alerts and news flow to support proactive BI team initiatives.
• Maintain best practices with regard to data collection and mining, including internal database audits and updates.
  
  

Other Functions

• Manage additional research and organizational functions as assigned by management.
• Assist with various initiatives that intersect with other functional areas within the marketing context.
  
  

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

Required

• Ability to synthesize data, financial and legal concepts and accurately capture ideas and themes in a narrative.
• Ability to thrive in an electronic environment and utilize technology to deliver information. Proficiency in methods of information acquisition, including the use of online information databases, tools and resources.
• 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.
• 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 existing and potential clients.
• 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.
• Solid command of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint).
• Bachelor’s degree.
  
  

Preferred

• One to two years’ experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience with market intelligence and legal research platforms, including PACER, Westlaw, BoardEx, Capital IQ, Preqin, The Deal Pipeline, Pitchbook, and Mergermarket.
• Experience with CRM/database software (e.g., InterAction, Salesforce, etc.).
  
  

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.