Senior Travel & Trials Sourcing Manager

Kirkland & Ellis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 153,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Senior Travel & Trials Sourcing Manager within the Travel, Meetings & Events team of the Firm’s Marketing & Business Development department in Chicago. You will own end-to-end hotel sourcing, negotiations and contracting for trial-related travel, meetings, and events, collaborating with attorneys, litigation teams and event professionals to drive value and reduce risk.

You will develop sourcing strategies, manage RFIs/RFPs, and secure accommodations, meeting space

Qualifications

• Strong negotiation and sourcing experience in hospitality.
• Ability to create and manage RFIs/RFPs and evaluate supplier responses.
• Experience advising internal stakeholders on pricing, terms and risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead Hotel Sourcing & Contracting: own end-to-end hotel sourcing for trial-related travel, meetings and events.
• Develop Strategic Sourcing Strategies: create and manage RFIs/RFPs, evaluate responses, provide recommendations.
• Negotiate Complex Agreements: lead negotiations on guest room rates, room blocks, meeting space, F&B commitments, terms.
• Protect the Firm’s Interests: use standard hotel agreements to reduce risk and secure favorable terms.
• Support High-Stakes Trial Activity: work with litigation teams to secure accommodations and spaces for trials.
• Enable Successful Events: collaborate with planners to source hotel services for internal and client events.
• Build Strategic Supplier Partnerships: maintain relationships with hotel brands and suppliers.
• Advise Internal Stakeholders: act as trusted advisor on pricing and contract terms.
• Manage Contract Performance: track deadlines, deposits, attrition, and cancellation provisions.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: develop tools and best practices for sourcing processes.
• Deliver Cost Savings & Value: leverage volume and relationships for concessions and better terms.
• Stay Ahead of Industry Trends: monitor hospitality trends to strengthen sourcing decisions.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic partnerships

Hotel sourcing

Contracting

Stakeholder advisory

Contract management

Job description

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 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.

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 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 skilled negotiator who thrives on building strategic partnerships, securing exceptional value, and navigating complex hospitality contracts? Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Senior Travel & Trials Sourcing Manager within the Travel, Meetings & Events (TME) team of the Firm’s Marketing & Business Development (MBD) department. In this highly visible role, you will serve as the Firm’s subject matter expert for hotel sourcing, negotiations and contracting, helping support some of the Firm’s most critical litigation and high-profile events. Partnering closely with attorneys, litigation teams and event professionals, you will develop sourcing strategies, negotiate complex agreements, and secure hotel accommodations, meeting space and related services that align with the Firm’s business objectives. This role offers an opportunity to leverage your negotiation expertise, business judgment, and relationship-building skills to drive value, reduce risk, and deliver exceptional outcomes across a wide range of trial, travel and event initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Director of Travel, Trials & Events, you’ll collaborate with colleagues across the Firm’s global BD, research, marketing and communications functions. The MBD team operates from a team-first mindset and values honesty, diligence, collaboration, and open communication.

• Lead Hotel Sourcing & Contracting: Own the end-to-end hotel sourcing and contracting process for trial-related travel, internal meetings and external events.
• Develop Strategic Sourcing Strategies: Create and manage Requests for Proposal (RFPs), evaluate supplier responses, and provide strategic recommendations based on pricing, availability, service levels, concessions, contractual terms and overall value.
• Negotiate Complex Agreements: Lead negotiations related to guest room rates, room blocks, meeting space, food and beverage commitments, attrition, cancellation terms, force majeure, indemnification, liability and payment provisions.
• Protect the Firm’s Interests: Utilize standard hotel agreements and contracting practices to reduce financial and contractual risk while ensuring favorable business terms.
• Support High-Stakes Trial Activity: Partner closely with litigation teams to secure accommodations, meeting space, hospitality areas, workrooms and related requirements in fast-moving trial environments.
• Enable Successful Events: Collaborate with event planners to source and contract hotel accommodations and meeting space for internal programs, client-facing events, leadership meetings and Firm-sponsored gatherings.
• Build Strategic Supplier Partnerships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with hotel brands, hospitality groups and key suppliers to enhance service, responsiveness and long-term value.
• Advise Internal Stakeholders: Serve as a trusted consultant on hotel selection, pricing strategies, contractual terms, risk exposure, concessions and supplier recommendations.
• Manage Contract Performance: Track deadlines, deposits, room block commitments, attrition exposure, cancellation provisions and other key contractual obligations.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Develop tools, best practices and operational efficiencies that create consistency and improve the Firm’s hotel sourcing and contracting processes.
• Deliver Cost Savings & Value: Leverage hotel volume, market knowledge, and supplier relationships to identify opportunities for enhanced concessions, improved contract terms and cost optimization.
• Stay Ahead of Industry Trends: Monitor hotel industry developments, hospitality best practices and meeting management trends to strengthen sourcing strategies and decision-making.
  

If you’re passionate about strategic negotiations, building trusted partnerships, solving business challenges and delivering exceptional outcomes in this Senior Travel & Trials Sourcing Manager role, 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: $153,000 - $191,000

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.