Kirkland & Ellis

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 22 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

Are you a CRM professional ready to make an impact at a top global law firm? Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Business Development Senior Specialist (CRM) to join our Marketing & Business Development (MBD) team in Houston or Chicago.

You’ll play a key role in advancing our Salesforce-based CRM program by delivering training, building targeted marketing lists, conducting research, and ensuring the accuracy of a database containing 300,000+ contacts and 60,000+ accounts. You’ll also support and troubleshoot 12+ integrations within our Salesforce environment while developing expertise in both the platform and Kirkland’s enterprise-wide data structure.

Success in this role requires excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills. You’ll thrive if you enjoy taking initiative, solving problems, and collaborating with colleagues in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a polished and professional presence.

• CRM Expertise – Develop deep knowledge of Kirkland’s CRM and e-marketing systems (Salesforce) and support attorneys, MBD staff, and other teams in leveraging the platform.
• Data Integrity & Reporting – Perform data entry and maintenance, resolve duplicates, enforce standards, and conduct research to ensure accuracy; create and manage reports to support Firm initiatives.
• Targeting & Marketing Support – Build mailing lists, track events, and manage communications such as newsletters and alerts to help deliver precise, effective outreach.
• Collaboration & Training – Partner with the Marketing & Business Development Associate Director (CRM) and other MBD colleagues; deliver training and serve as a trusted resource across departments.
• Cross-Firm Engagement – Gain familiarity with practice group structures to ensure effective audience targeting and provide on-the-ground CRM support in Houston or Chicago.

What You’ll Bring

• Education – Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience – 7+ years of database management or CRM experience (professional services preferred).
• Technical Proficiency – Experience with CRM and e-marketing platforms (Salesforce, MCAE), plus skills in data reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, or SQL a plus). Advanced Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required.
• Communication & Relationship Skills – Strong written and verbal communication abilities with the professionalism to engage effectively with senior attorneys, clients, and staff.
• Organization & Project Management – Ability to prioritize, manage multiple deadlines, and produce accurate, high-quality work under pressure.
• Problem-Solving & Initiative – Skilled at working independently, adapting to change, and proactively driving projects forward in a deadline-driven environment.
• Attention to Detail – Exceptional proofing, editing, and data management accuracy.

If you’re excited to help shape Kirkland’s CRM strategy and provide trusted support to attorneys and business development colleagues, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. 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, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range

Chicago: $105,000 - $117,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

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.