Business Development Manager
Kirkland & Ellis, Houston, TX, United States
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 23 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
Business Development Strategy Execution — Manage the implementation of business development strategies and initiatives that support the transactional and energy & infrastructure practices, individual attorneys, and key clients.
Client Relationship Growth — Identify opportunities to expand relationships with existing clients, including cross-selling initiatives and account-specific development strategies in partnership with relationship attorneys.
Pitch & Proposal Development — Create tailored client-facing pitch materials, presentations, and responses to Requests for Proposal (RFPs) that align with specific matters, client needs, and industry sectors.
Marketing Collateral Management — Maintain and update practice marketing materials, including brochures, practice descriptions, transaction lists, PowerPoint templates, and league table rankings.
Rankings, Awards & Recognition — Draft and manage submissions for legal directories, industry surveys, rankings, and award nominations in collaboration with attorneys and internal teams.
Market & Competitive Intelligence — Conduct research and prepare reports on clients, prospects, competitors, and industry trends to inform strategy and strengthen the Firm’s market positioning.
Data Analysis & Reporting — Compile, interpret, and analyze data to support requests from attorneys and internal stakeholders, translating complex information into actionable insights.
Cross-Functional Collaboration — Build strong working relationships with practice teams, functional specialists, and administrative departments to support coordinated marketing and business development initiatives.
Team Leadership & Coordination — Work collaboratively with colleagues across the broader Marketing & Business Development function while helping guide junior team members on projects and deliverables.
What You’ll Bring
Bachelor’s degree required; 10+ years of professional experience, with a background in transactional, energy, business development, financial services or project management.
Communication & Relationship Building — Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with senior attorneys, colleagues, and clients.
Strategic Thinking & Initiative — Ability to operate independently, navigate ambiguity, and move initiatives forward while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
Project Management & Organization — Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, maintain attention to detail, and deliver high-quality work.
Client Service Mindset — A collaborative, service-oriented approach with the ability to build rapport and maintain trusted relationships internally and externally.
Research & Analytical Skills — Ability to synthesize complex financial, legal, and market information and translate insights into clear, compelling narratives.
Technical & Data Proficiency — Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint) and comfort working in technology-driven environments.
CRM & Market Intelligence Tools — Experience with client relationship management systems such as InterAction or Salesforce and familiarity with platforms like Mergermarket/ION Analytics, Bloomberg Terminal, LSEG Workspace, Preqin, PitchBook, S&P Capital IQ, or similar research tools preferred.
Professional Presence & Judgment — Strong business acumen, discretion, and professionalism when handling sensitive business information.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now." If you’re energized by collaborating with high-performing legal teams, translating market insights into actionable strategy, and creating impactful client-facing materials, we’d love to hear from you.
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.
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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 23 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
Business Development Strategy Execution — Manage the implementation of business development strategies and initiatives that support the transactional and energy & infrastructure practices, individual attorneys, and key clients.
Client Relationship Growth — Identify opportunities to expand relationships with existing clients, including cross-selling initiatives and account-specific development strategies in partnership with relationship attorneys.
Pitch & Proposal Development — Create tailored client-facing pitch materials, presentations, and responses to Requests for Proposal (RFPs) that align with specific matters, client needs, and industry sectors.
Marketing Collateral Management — Maintain and update practice marketing materials, including brochures, practice descriptions, transaction lists, PowerPoint templates, and league table rankings.
Rankings, Awards & Recognition — Draft and manage submissions for legal directories, industry surveys, rankings, and award nominations in collaboration with attorneys and internal teams.
Market & Competitive Intelligence — Conduct research and prepare reports on clients, prospects, competitors, and industry trends to inform strategy and strengthen the Firm’s market positioning.
Data Analysis & Reporting — Compile, interpret, and analyze data to support requests from attorneys and internal stakeholders, translating complex information into actionable insights.
Cross-Functional Collaboration — Build strong working relationships with practice teams, functional specialists, and administrative departments to support coordinated marketing and business development initiatives.
Team Leadership & Coordination — Work collaboratively with colleagues across the broader Marketing & Business Development function while helping guide junior team members on projects and deliverables.
What You’ll Bring
Bachelor’s degree required; 10+ years of professional experience, with a background in transactional, energy, business development, financial services or project management.
Communication & Relationship Building — Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with senior attorneys, colleagues, and clients.
Strategic Thinking & Initiative — Ability to operate independently, navigate ambiguity, and move initiatives forward while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
Project Management & Organization — Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, maintain attention to detail, and deliver high-quality work.
Client Service Mindset — A collaborative, service-oriented approach with the ability to build rapport and maintain trusted relationships internally and externally.
Research & Analytical Skills — Ability to synthesize complex financial, legal, and market information and translate insights into clear, compelling narratives.
Technical & Data Proficiency — Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint) and comfort working in technology-driven environments.
CRM & Market Intelligence Tools — Experience with client relationship management systems such as InterAction or Salesforce and familiarity with platforms like Mergermarket/ION Analytics, Bloomberg Terminal, LSEG Workspace, Preqin, PitchBook, S&P Capital IQ, or similar research tools preferred.
Professional Presence & Judgment — Strong business acumen, discretion, and professionalism when handling sensitive business information.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now." If you’re energized by collaborating with high-performing legal teams, translating market insights into actionable strategy, and creating impactful client-facing materials, we’d love to hear from you.
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.
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