Business Development Manager (Transactional)

Admonsters; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 128,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Arnold & Porter seeks a Business Development Manager to support premier transactional practices including Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Tax, Private Client Services, Project Finance, Sovereign Finance, and Syndicated & Leveraged Finance. Based in New York or Washington, DC, you will shape BD strategies and serve as a liaison between attorneys and the Marketing Department to drive growth.

You will lead pitches, proposals, and client engagements, mentor BD professionals, manage budgets, and oversee

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of six years of marketing and business development experience.
• Experience in law firm or professional services preferred.
• Experience supporting corporate, finance, restructuring, tax, or related transactional practices preferred.
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects and competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with chairs/working groups to develop BD strategies for transactional practice areas.
• Lead pitches, proposals, and RFP responses communicating the firm's value proposition.
• Coach attorneys on BD best practices and prepare them for client meetings.
• Develop and maintain business plans for individual attorneys and practices.
• Oversee marketing collateral, client materials, and league tables.

Skills

Communication skills

Writing and editing

Analytical thinking

Project management

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Tools

CRM platforms

Foundation

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Arnold & Porter is a global law firm with offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The firm advises clients on complex regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters across a broad range of industries, including more than half of the Fortune 100.

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to support several of the firm's premier transactional practices, including Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Tax, Private Client Services, Project Finance, Sovereign Finance, and Syndicated & Leveraged Finance. This strategic role may be based in our New York or Washington, DC office.

The Business Development Manager will work closely with practice group leaders and attorneys to develop and execute business development strategies, drive client growth initiatives, lead pitches and proposals, and enhance the market profile of these practices. The Manager may also support related industry or sector initiatives. This individual will serve as a key liaison between attorneys and the Marketing Department, collaborating with colleagues across business development, communications, events, and business intelligence to support practice and firmwide priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Partner with practice chairs and working group leaders to develop and execute business development strategies for select transactional practice areas.
• Identify market trends, client opportunities, and cross-selling initiatives across practices and industry groups.
• Drive collaboration among attorneys and practices to deepen existing client relationships and pursue new business opportunities.

Pitches, Proposals & Client Engagement

• Lead the development of client-focused pitches, proposals, and RFP responses that effectively communicate the firm's value proposition.
• Coach attorneys on business development best practices and prepare them for client meetings and presentations.
• Develop and maintain business plans supporting individual attorney and practice growth objectives.

Marketing & Profile-Raising Initiatives

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of practice descriptions, marketing collateral, and client-facing materials.
• Manage league tables and experience databases for transactional practices.
• Coordinate webinars, client events, and other thought leadership initiatives.
• Lead strategy and execution for legal directory and award submissions, including Chambers rankings.
• Identify opportunities for sponsorships, conferences, speaking engagements, and client presentations.
• Collaborate with Media Relations to promote noteworthy matters and attorney achievements.

Lateral Integration & Client Development

• Support the successful integration of lateral partners through targeted client planning and coordinated business development efforts.

Data, Reporting & Budget Management

• Develop and manage practice group budgets and evaluate return on investment for business development initiatives.
• Utilize CRM and related tools to support client targeting, relationship management, and strategic decision-making.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor assigned business development professionals.
• Provide coverage and support across practice groups as needed.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing team culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of six years of marketing and business development experience.
• Prior law firm, professional services, financial services, or investment banking experience preferred.
• Experience supporting corporate, finance, restructuring, tax, or related transactional practices strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of law firm and professional services business development.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects and competing priorities.
• Ability to build credibility and strong working relationships with partners and senior stakeholders.
• Experience supervising and mentoring team members.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with CRM platforms, Foundation, and other marketing or financial databases is preferred.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $128,000 to $180,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

The firm may provide a discretionary bonus annually.