Business Intake Specialist (Ethical Walls)

Kirkland & Ellis; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis is hiring a Business Intake Specialist to join the Business Intake & Conflicts team. In this highly visible role, you will work with attorneys, Risk Management, and the Office of General Counsel to support new business and compliance processes and to establish ethical walls for confidentiality and risk management.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant experience, with strong analytical and communication skills, along with a commitment to accuracy and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• Five+ years of relevant experience, including conflicts searching.
• Understanding of conflicts of interest principles and screening requirements.
• Strong analytical thinking and risk management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across stakeholders.
• Customer service mindset with cross-team collaboration.
• Attention to detail with handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, monitor, audit, and deactivate ethical walls using Intapp WallBuilder.
• Develop and maintain screening expertise and firm policies on information barriers.
• Review conflict analyses, retention letters, and waivers to set access controls.
• Draft screening memoranda and communications to support compliance.
• Collaborate with attorneys, General Counsel, Risk Management, IT, and global teams.
• Respond to inquiries and identify risks with recommended resolutions.
• Investigate and resolve timekeeper/file access issues with attorneys and IT.
• Improve procedures and workflows to reduce risk and boost efficiency.
• Support urgent, confidential matters and occasional after-hours work.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Five+ years of experience

Risk & compliance

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Availability

Conflicts searching

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Intapp WallBuilder

Job description

Business Intake Specialist (Ethical Walls)

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 24 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 detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys solving complex challenges while helping protect client confidentiality and manage risk?

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Business Intake Specialist to join our Business Intake & Conflicts team. In this highly visible role, you will work closely with attorneys, Risk Management leadership, and the Office of General Counsel to support the firm's new business and compliance processes. You will play a critical role in establishing and maintaining ethical walls, identifying potential risks, ensuring compliance with firm policies, and helping safeguard confidential client and firm information.

This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative, service-minded professional who brings strong judgment, critical thinking, and a commitment to accuracy. Training will be provided to help you build expertise in our systems, processes, and risk management framework.

• Manage Ethical Walls: Establish, maintain, monitor, audit, and deactivate ethical walls using Intapp WallBuilder to support confidentiality and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert: Develop and maintain expertise in screening requirements, ethical wall protocols, and firm policies related to information barriers and confidentiality.
• Evaluate Screening Requirements: Review conflict analyses, retention letters, and waiver documentation to determine appropriate screening and access controls.
• Prepare Communications: Draft and distribute screening memoranda and other related communications to support compliance efforts across the firm.
• Partner with Key Stakeholders: Collaborate with attorneys, the Office of General Counsel, Risk Management leadership, Information Technology (IT), and colleagues across global Business Intake & Conflicts teams.
• Support Compliance and Risk Management: Respond to inquiries promptly and professionally while helping identify potential risks and recommending appropriate resolutions.
• Resolve Access Issues: Investigate and address timekeeper, file, and document access concerns in partnership with attorneys and IT teams.
• Improve Processes: Contribute to enhancements in procedures, workflows, and technology solutions that reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
• Handle Time-Sensitive Matters: Support urgent business intake needs and confidential situations that may require flexibility outside standard business hours.
• Provide Team Support: Assist department leadership with special projects, evolving priorities, and additional responsibilities as needed.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience: Five or more years of relevant experience, including conflicts searching; experience within a law firm or legal industry environment is preferred.
• Risk & Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of conflicts of interest principles, ethical screening requirements, relational databases, and related business processes.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to assess complex and sometimes competing information, identify issues, and recommend practical solutions.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain information clearly and professionally to a variety of stakeholders.
• Customer Service Focus: Commitment to delivering exceptional service while building productive relationships across teams and functions.
• Attention to Detail: Exceptional accuracy, organization, and follow-through when managing sensitive and confidential information.
• Collaboration & Adaptability: Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities, and support a global team in a fast-paced environment.
• Availability & Responsiveness: Flexibility to support urgent and confidential matters, including occasional evening and weekend work, and availability via mobile device when needed.

If you're excited to help safeguard confidential information, support critical risk management processes, and make a meaningful impact as a Business Intake Specialist, 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 each of the below locations. 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: $88,000 - $109,000

NYC: $88,000 - $120,000

Washington D.C.: $88,000 - $120,000

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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-LB1