Business Development Manager

The Manager – Business Development works with partners to assist them in their efforts to generate increased business for the Firm through the development and implementation of the Firm’s global M&A strategy. The Manager works with the Director of Business Development to have global oversight of business development for the M&A practice and other related practices (including Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation and Real Estate) and is responsible for the positioning of the practices through all channels.

The Manager collaborates with a group of key partners, Communications, Digital Marketing and others across the Firm to leverage research, writing, technical and communication skills to coordinate initiatives of the Firm’s global practice areas and related sub-groups. The Manager has oversight of a senior analyst and a coordinator, who will assist with all development efforts.

The scheduled hours for this position are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The incumbent will be required to work overtime depending on the needs of the practice area lawyers and business development department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Practice Development

o Support worldwide partners in their effort to manage existing and develop new relationships with in-house counsel, investment bankers, board members and other senior executives. Identify opportunities for implementing business development initiatives in this regard.

• Keep track of referral sources and ensure communication lines remain open with these sources.
• Work with the CRM database to support the analysis, by monitoring and improving intelligence on the contacts on an ongoing basis.

o Assist partners in preparing targeted presentations (pitch books, short form brochures and deal sheets), in a manner that effectively communicates the Firm’s relevant experience and articulates clear reasons why the Firm should be retained.

• Support Firm efforts to respond to Legal Panels and RFPs.
• Identify relevant transactional precedents by industry, geography and type of transaction, with emphasis on principal representations.
• Work with the responsible partner to develop key messaging points.
• Maintain a complete record of all pitches (of any type). Identify patterns of success and failures in presentations and increase utilization of best practices.
• Work with partners and colleagues to ensure timely updating of all marketing materials, including practice and individual biography collateral, with new deal information, achievements and other relevant information.

o Work with partners on the development of individual business plans. Help partners with their entrepreneurial activities and to focus efforts on the highest value opportunities.

o Lead ongoing competitive intelligence research. Identify and report market trends to the broader group and to individuals, as appropriate to their practice development interests.

o Collaborate with Events team to develop compelling client programs/education conferences. Identify and analyze relevant sponsorship opportunities to enhance the Firm's profile in key regions and sectors.

Press Relations and Rankings/Awards

o Collaborate with Communications team to identify:

• Relevant directories opportunities and prepare Chambers submissions, as well as submissions to other relevant legal guides. Ensure positive results are leveraged across marketing channels (print, digital, social).
• PR/media opportunities/awards and develop the approach and submissions.

o Coordinate efforts with the Communications and Digital Marketing teams in the practice’s visibility program; on internal communications, external communications on external website and social media, and to maintain practice details and lawyer bios on external website.

Knowledge Management

o Oversee submissions to league tables, directories, guides and other surveys.

o Take responsibility for the oversight of the M&A practice experience database used to track matter details. Draft compelling marketing descriptions which communicate unique aspects of the matter. Collaborate with worldwide staff to ensure marketing descriptions are updated.

o Support lawyers responsible for building precedent collections. Contribute to the efforts of lawyers, Library and KM departments to create effective taxonomies and technical systems.

In addition, responsibilities related to maintaining Firm and client information are to be adhered to by all employees. This includes complying with the Firm’s information security policies, protecting Firm assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference, and reporting security events or potential events or other security risks to management.

Qualifications

o Prior business development experience in a top tier US law firm.

o Significant understanding of transactional terminology and processes, as well as basic understanding of litigation terminology.

o Familiarity with the competitive legal landscape and a vision for effectively marketing the Firm within that market.

o An ability to reach agreed upon goals with limited supervision.

o Excellent writing, editing, analytical, research and organizational skills, with a high level of attention to detail. (A writing test is required.)

o Proficiency in standard spreadsheet, database, word processing and presentation applications (e.g., Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint and SharePoint are pluses), as well as with a variety of online and new media information resources. Knowledge of any CRM system is also helpful. The Firm provides additional training in core software programs, if needed, to enhance skills and speed of work.

o An ability to handle time-sensitive requests from multiple lawyers, across time zones, and to generate quality work product in a fast-paced environment. Excellent interpersonal skills; a confident, professional manner that will come across easily and effectively with the Firm’s most senior lawyers and staff.

o A commitment to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism that are the hallmarks of the Firm’s legal practice.

Education and/or experience

o Five or more years of experience working for an investment bank, other financial institution or law firm.

o Experience with communication at the Executive/Partner level.

o BA or equivalent required; JD, MBA or other applicable graduate degree is a plus.

Work environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation

The base salary range offered for this role will be between $150,000 and $200,000. When determining a candidate’s compensation offer, elements unique to each person are taken into consideration including but not limited to skill set, experience level, performance, professional certifications, degrees and location, as well as the needs of the Firm.