Business Development Manager

Job Summary:

The Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and executing business development, client development, and marketing strategies for the Firm's practices in the litigation department including Business and Financial Litigation, and Government Enforcement, with support to Insurance and Employment. Working closely with Practice Chairs, partners, and the Marketing and Business Development team across the Firm's Boston and New York offices, the Business Development Manager will identify growth opportunities, strengthen client and referral relationships, support go-to-market priorities, and enhance the visibility and competitive position of the practices. The Business Development Manager is expected to become a trusted strategic advisor to practice leadership and attorneys, translating practice goals into focused plans, measurable initiatives, and high-quality execution.

Job Functions:

• Identify and execute business development, marketing, and client initiatives. This includes targeting initiatives, marketing tactics, and tailored client development strategies to grow their individual practices and segments.
• Develop a deep understanding of the practices' services, representative matters, clients, referral sources, target industries, competitors, and relevant legal and regulatory developments.
• Identify and advance opportunities to grow existing client relationships, develop new business, increase cross-selling, and strengthen collaboration across practice areas. Drive tactics for strengthening relationships with clients, prospective clients, and intermediaries, including interacting directly with these contacts.
• Keep abreast of key practice group and industry developments to maximize opportunities including production of marketing materials and content, podcasts, events, and client outreach opportunities.
• Lead strategic pitches, proposals, RFP responses, and client presentations from opportunity assessment through submission and follow-up, including positioning, messaging, content development, and project management.
• Work with attorneys to develop targeted client and prospect plans, relationship maps, outreach strategies, and follow-up programs.
• Leads the firm's sponsorship strategy, partnering with Practice Chairs and the Investment Team to identify speaking and sponsorship opportunities that support business development goals, while overseeing the coordinator's execution of sponsorship logistics.
• Oversees the development of relevant directory submissions and rankings across appropriate publications, maximizing group visibility.
• Proactively partners with Director of Market Intelligence and other Firm resources to provide the practice group with an ongoing understanding of the competitive landscape (including shifts in the competitive landscape).
• Guide and develop the Business Development Coordinator assigned to the practices by setting priorities, delegating work, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.

Essential Competencies:

• Strategic, commercial, and client-service mindset with the ability to connect market intelligence to actionable growth opportunities.
• Credibility and confidence working with senior attorneys and practice leaders, with the judgment to influence, challenge constructively, and build consensus.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast-paced professional-services environment.
• Proactive, collaborative, responsive, detail-oriented, and comfortable taking ownership from strategy through execution.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Exceptional writing and editing skills, project management capabilities, and the ability to work effectively under tight deadlines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field preferred. An advanced degree is a plus.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible business development or marketing experience in a law firm or other professional-services organization; experience supporting litigation, investigations, white-collar, regulatory, or enforcement practices strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing practice or client plans, leading pitches and proposals, executing client-development initiatives, and partnering with senior professionals.
• Working knowledge of the business and financial litigation and government enforcement marketplace, including client needs, referral dynamics, legal rankings, and visibility channels, preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Experience with proposal generation system and/or desktop publishing is required.
• Knowledge of CRM and effective use in sales and pipeline strategy.
• This position is based in the Firm's Boston office and requires working from the Firm's New York office approximately one week each month.

Work Authorization:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship by the Firm (either now or in the future).

Compensation and Total Rewards Package:

Choate offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business professional team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below and represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the salary range for this specific position at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to qualifications and experience, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.

$140,000 - $180,000