Associate Director, Business Development, Corporate - M&A

White & Case LLP; New York, Northern (NY, KY); On-site; USD 204,000 - 310,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability coverage

401(k) plan

Paid vacation & parental leave

Performance bonus eligibility

Job summary

White & Case LLP, based in New York, seeks an Associate Director of Business Development to shape and drive cross-practice BD strategy, managing client acquisition, account growth and retention. You will translate market insight into actionable recommendations, lead priority BD programs, and collaborate with partners and regional teams to win high-value opportunities.

The role requires a strong track record in complex BD initiatives, superb stakeholder management, and a strategic mindset to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; professional certification(s) a plus.
• Significant experience in business development within a complex professional services environment; legal sector experience preferred.
• Deep expertise in core BD disciplines (client strategy, pitching, market positioning, thought leadership).
• Strong understanding of the legal market, client buying dynamics, and competitor positioning.
• Ability to operate cross-functionally and cross-practice, influencing senior stakeholders in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen; able to diagnose issues using data and market insight.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
• Experience leading teams and/or major projects with coaching and accountability.
• Formal management responsibility for senior BD professionals and/or complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and client cultivation.
• Utilize market intelligence, client mapping, and competitive analysis to pursue high-value opportunities.
• Oversee design and delivery of tailored proposals and pitches for key matters.
• Develop and lead thought leadership initiatives and external positioning.
• Foster cross-practice alignment and collaboration with marketing, client teams and industry BD teams.
• Lead major projects or programs with clear accountability and coaching.

Skills

Strategic planning

Client cultivation

Market intelligence

Competitive analysis

Pitch development

Thought leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; professional certification(s) a plus.

Job description

Our Business Development & Marketing team plays a critical role in enhancing the Firm’s reputation, expanding its client base and driving revenue growth. This team develops and implements strategic marketing plans to promote the Firm’s legal services, leveraging digital and traditional marketing channels to reach target audiences. They conduct market research to identify industry trends and client needs, positioning the Firm competitively within the legal marketplace. The team also manages client relationships, orchestrates business development initiatives, and seeks opportunities for partnerships and networking. Through compelling content creation, event planning and public relations efforts, they ensure that the Firm maintains a strong market presence and continues to attract and retain clients.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Business Development is a strategic leader and trusted advisor who shapes and drives business development strategy for their practice group, with a strong cross-practice and cross-functional lens. The role is accountable for designing and leading high-impact, multi-disciplinary initiatives that advance sustainable growth, strengthen client relationships, and align with the firm’s long-term objectives. Acting as a senior expert resource to partners and leadership teams, the Associate Director provides strategic counsel on client acquisition, account growth, and retention—translating market insight, competitive intelligence, and performance data into actionable recommendations. The role leads the development and execution of priority business development programs and complex pursuits, ensuring innovation, consistency, and alignment with client needs and firm priorities. The Associate Director champions collaboration across practice groups, industry teams, strategic client teams, and regional marketing colleagues to deliver integrated, client-focused solutions. The role also drives continuous improvement of business development standards, processes, and ways of working—promoting operational excellence, effective use of resources, and measurable impact—while ensuring activity remains commercially competitive and aligned with firm governance and risk parameters.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and client cultivation
• Utilize market intelligence, client mapping, and competitive analysis to identify and pursue high-value client opportunities, and to deepen relationships with strategic clients.
• Guide teams in the creation of business plans and ensures BD efforts are integrated with broader firm strategy.
• Proposals and pitch excellence Oversee the design and delivery of highly tailored, innovative, and priority-aligned proposals and pitches for key matters. Collaborate across practices and functions to bring the best of the firm to each opportunity, leveraging client and industry insights to secure high-impact work. Champion best practices in pitch development and ensures consistency in firm positioning.
• Positioning Practices & Partners Develop and lead thought leadership initiatives and external positioning efforts, working closely with marketing and communications teams. Develop and execute strategies to showcase the firm’s expertise, drive business growth, and strengthen the reputation of the practice group and its partners. Ensure alignment of thought leadership, legal rankings, and external events with firm strategy and growth priorities.
• Cross-Practice & Stakeholder Collaboration Act as a visible senior leader, fostering cross-practice alignment and collaboration with PG/Regional marketers, strategic client teams, and industry BD teams. Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, including executive committee members, regional section heads, and partners, to drive strategic business development initiatives and optimize client engagement.
• Contributor capacity Develop, llead and execute impactful major projects and/or teams (directly or through matrix leadership), providing direction, coaching, and oversight to ensure high standards of delivery and professional development. Deliver impact regardless of span of control; recognized for strategic thinking, innovative problem-solving, and the ability to resolve complex, cross-functional issues affecting growth, client outcomes, and market positioning.
• Performance and impact Accountable for the measurable impact of BD initiatives, including growth in client relationships, successful pitches, enhanced market positioning, and the achievement of strategic business development goals. Drive continuous improvement and ensures the BD function delivers maximum value to the firm.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; professional certification(s) a plus.
• Significant experience in business development (or closely aligned commercial/marketing roles) within a complex professional services environment; legal sector experience preferred.
• Deep expertise in core BD disciplines (e.g., client strategy and planning, pitching and pursuit management, market positioning and thought leadership), with demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives from design through execution.
• Strong understanding of the legal market, client buying dynamics, and competitor positioning; ability to translate external insight into clear BD priorities and differentiated strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to operate cross-functionally and cross-practice, influencing senior stakeholders and aligning diverse teams in a matrix environment.
• Proven commercial acumen and analytical capability; able to use data, judgment, and market insight to diagnose issues, develop solutions, and advise leadership.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills; able to build consensus, manage sensitive conversations, and represent the practice group professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement in standards, processes, and ways of working, ensuring high-quality delivery, effective use of resources, and measurable impact.
• Experience leading teams and/or major projects, including coaching and developing colleagues and driving high performance through clear expectations and accountability.
• This role has formal management responsibility for senior business development professionals and/or complex, cross-functional programs, providing leadership, oversight, and direction to ensure capability, quality, and impact across the practice group.

Location, Hours and Compensation

This is a full‑time role based in New York. This role reports to Director, Business Development, Corporate. Compensation: $204,000.00-$310,000.00 This role reports to Director, Business Development, Global Practices.

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact [e-mail].

Benefits at White & Case

• Benefits at White & Case White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave).
• Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. With a long history as an international firm, we are well‑positioned to help clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may arise. Operating across six continents and working in virtually every country, we have invested heavily in building a high‑quality, full‑service practice that competes at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on‑the‑ground presence in key financial markets and our expertise in handling complex cross‑border work. What sets us apart is not just our global network of offices but the interconnectedness of our Firm. Our people and clients value our collaboration across geographic and practice boundaries, which is why we attract and retain significant cross‑border work. Representing multiple nationalities from across the world and speaking a vast array of languages, our lawyers and Business Services professionals are globally minded, enterprising, and committed to excellence.