Business Development Manager – International Arbitration

Laborde Law; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Laborde Law, a specialist international arbitration practice with offices in Dubai, Paris and Belgrade, seeks an ambitious Business Development Manager to join its Dubai office. You will work directly with the Founding Partner to develop new client relationships, expand the firm’s international referral network, and generate new business opportunities.

This role focuses on identifying opportunities, building relationships, and turning them into business, not primarily marketing.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in business development or client development.
• Established network in UAE or GCC.
• Ability to engage with senior executives and government officials.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong research and opportunity identification skills.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and execution-focused.
• Experience in international arbitration is valuable.
• Arabic fluency is a significant advantage; other languages valued.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop relationships with prospective clients across the GCC and beyond.
• Build and develop relationships with referral sources and law firms.
• Map priority organisations, sectors, jurisdictions and decision-makers.
• Secure introductions and meetings for partners.
• Develop and manage a disciplined pipeline of opportunities.
• Coordinate pitches, proposals and targeted business-development initiatives.
• Identify conferences and speaking opportunities for the firm.
• Follow up after meetings and events to convert opportunities.

Skills

Business development

Professional services

Legal services

Relationship management

Networking

English communication

Arabic language (advantage)

Job description

Laborde Law, a specialist international arbitration practice with offices in Dubai, Paris and Belgrade, is seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Business Development Manager to join its Dubai office.

The successful candidate will work directly with the firm’s Founding Partner and will have a clear objective: develop new client relationships, expand the firm’s international referral network and generate new business opportunities.

This is not primarily a marketing or communications position. We are looking for someone who enjoys identifying opportunities, building relationships and turning those relationships into business.

I. The Role

The successful candidate will:

• Identify and develop relationships with prospective clients, including corporates, investors, family offices, general counsel, government-related entities and other decision-makers, particularly across the GCC;
• Build and systematically develop relationships with law firms that may refer international arbitration and cross-border disputes;
• Map priority organisations, sectors, jurisdictions and individuals and identify routes to relevant decision-makers;
• Secure introductions and meetings for the firm’s partners;
• Develop and manage a disciplined pipeline of prospective clients, referral sources and opportunities;
• Reactivate and deepen relationships within the firm’s existing international network;
• Monitor potential disputes, investments and market developments that may create opportunities for the firm;
• Coordinate pitches, proposals and targeted business-development initiatives;
• Identify strategically valuable conferences, organisations and speaking opportunities;
• Ensure systematic follow-up after meetings, conferences and introductions;
• Work closely with the Founding Partner on the firm’s broader growth strategy.

II. The Candidate

We are interested in candidates who combine strong interpersonal skills with commercial drive and intellectual curiosity.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience in business development, client development, professional services, legal services or another relationship-driven environment;
• An established professional network in the UAE or wider GCC;
• The confidence to engage with senior executives, general counsel, lawyers, investors and government officials;
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Strong research skills and the ability to identify commercially relevant opportunities;
• Excellent organisational skills and strong execution;
• A proactive and entrepreneurial approach;
• The ability to operate effectively in a small, international and high-performance environment.

Experience in international arbitration would be particularly valuable.

Fluency in Arabic would be a significant advantage. French, Spanish or other relevant languages would also be valued.

III. What We Offer

This is an opportunity to play a central role in the international expansion of a specialist firm handling complex, high-value international disputes.

The successful candidate will work directly with the firm’s leadership and will have substantial autonomy to develop relationships and pursue opportunities across the GCC and internationally.

The compensation package will comprise a competitive fixed salary together with a significant performance-based component linked to business-development results.

Location: Dubai, UAE

Position: Full-time

Start Date: As soon as practicable.