Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Business Development Specialist – Chicago

Summary:

The Chicago office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is looking a Business Development Specialist to support our Client Development & Marketing team. Willkie is an elite international law firm of approximately 1,200 lawyers located in 15 offices in six countries. 

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of four years’ experience to be a part of our Client Development & Marketing team working out of our growing Chicago office. The Business Development Specialist will be responsible for providing support on a broad range of initiatives that are linked to the firm’s business developments and goals and will work closely with the Midwest Chairman, and his Chief of Staff, as well as the Chicago based Partners, and the broader marketing team. 

At Willkie, we believe great people are the key to our success. As such, we are offering a highly competitive compensation package with exceptional benefits. If you are looking to work in a friendly, collaborative environment that affords unique opportunities to expand your professional development, this role is for you.

Responsibilities:

• Directories and Submissions
• Media/PR
• Pitches /RFPs/ Experience Management
• Client events

• Fulfill attorney requests for experience lists, biographies, practice and industry descriptions and similar materials

• Coordinate and support the legal directories and awards process, including producing draft submissions and reference lists for manager review; tracking timelines, deadlines and researcher assignments; coordinating communications and interviews; and related efforts

• Work closely with the Firm’s Senior Manager, Communications and Director of Communications to create and implement effective PR, media and profile raising plans for the Chicago office, its partners and related practices.
• Manage day-to-day media relations and PR for the Chicago office.
• Serve as point of contact for inbound PR and media inquiries relating to the Chicago office.

• Produce to deadline tailored pitch materials and proposals, including relevant and compelling firm messaging, experience and accolades, in line with firm brand guidelines
• Support RFP processes
• Record BD goals, opportunities and efforts, and track BD outcomes
• Work with partners to ensure that key relationships and contacts are recorded
• Maintain and update pitch templates and other BD pieces, such that materials are available for use upon request; this includes ensuring that practice experience, client lists, matter descriptions, tombstones and client logos are updated and recorded within required deadlines
• Develop familiarity with marketing and business development tools and databases, maintain the integrity and completeness of marketing database content, and run queries and produce reports from internal and external databases
• Provide support on research projects and requests
• Track accolades
• Support lateral attorney integration in conjunction with BD and recruiting teams, including serving as local liaison and assisting with basic onboarding tasks such as scheduling Firm headshots
• Manage the local office promo items, including client gifts for meetings
• Liaise with Communications, Events and broader Client Development & Marketing teams on marketing efforts, including event/webinar invitations, guest lists and logistics
• Support additional profile-raising activities from time to time as determined by the needs of the firm

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree is required. Prior legal practice or BD and Communications experience in Litigation practices, strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in a law firm or professional services organization, with knowledge of law firm and practice area organization and structure.
• Very strong attention to detail, accuracy and organization – must be able to work in a thorough, diligent and proactive manner
• Strong time and project management skills; ability to prioritize and work within tight deadlines
• Must demonstrate reliability and build trust through consistence performance and responsiveness with attorneys, fellow Client Development & Marketing team members and other firm support departments, including demonstrating responsiveness outside of business hours as needed
• Ability to develop collaborative professional relationships with attorneys, the members of the Client Development & Marketing team and other colleagues
• Strong writing skills, including experience drafting pitches and directory submissions
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat are essential; knowledge of Graphics/InDesign is preferred.

ADA Requirements

• Ability to sit at a desk most of the working day and walk short distances
• Needs manual dexterity, speed and accuracy in handling office equipment
• Ability to work efficiently and accurately in an atmosphere of frequent interruption
• Ability to work in close proximity to other individuals
• Ability to carry light objects, e.g., files, small objects and supplies a short distance
• Must be able to lift, carry and move objects 25 lbs

Employment Status:

• Exempt
• Hybrid

The salary for this role is $110,000 and represents the Firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications and location. Willkie offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees. A summary of available benefits can be found here in the Career section of the Firm’s website.

Willkie requires personnel in the Chicago offices be vaccinated against COVID-19, and if eligible, have received one booster shot, in order to access the Chicago office, attend Firm events in Chicago or meet in person with other Firm personnel and/or clients in Chicago. This position will require physical presence in Willkie’s Chicago office on a weekly basis. Accordingly, any offer of employment is contingent, subject to reasonable accommodations, upon providing the Firm with necessary proof of vaccination. The Firm will keep all vaccination information, as well as any medical information, if applicable, confidential in accordance with applicable law.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon actual or perceived: race, color, age, religious creed, citizenship, citizenship status and alienage, nationality, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity or creed, disability, genetic information or medical condition, pregnancy or maternity, paternity, marital or civil partnership status, caregiver status, gender (including gender identity, expression, nonconformity, gender reassignment or status as a transgender individual), sex, sexual orientation or preference, veteran or military status, height, weight or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let the hiring manager know.