Business Development Manager - White Collar Litigation & Investigations

Covington & Burling LLP; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 249,000; Full time

Job summary

Covington & Burling LLP is seeking a strategic Business Development professional to lead BD plans for assigned practice groups, manage budgets, and drive client‑centric proposals. You will collaborate with leadership, coordinate RFPs, and guide partners on BD initiatives in a hybrid work environment.

The role requires a strong track record in marketing/BD within a law firm, excellent communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with high attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Proven marketing and business development experience; law firm experience preferred.
• Experience supporting white collar and investigations is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, proactivity, and sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high‑quality work under deadlines.
• Experience supervising direct reports a plus.
• Experience using marketing/BD technologies, including CRM systems and CMS; Foundation/Salesforce a plus.
• Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Strong collaboration with partners and cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Consult with practice group leadership to develop business development plans and initiatives; manage execution and report progress.
• Lead budget development and manage approved budgets, including forecasting and variance analysis.
• Act as a primary BD contact for practice group leadership and provide guidance.
• Attend practice group meetings and report on BD activities, metrics, and market trends.
• Direct end-to-end RFP/pitch processes with client-centric materials and track win/loss trends.
• Contribute to projects to drive new business and cross-sell opportunities; advise leadership on strategy.
• Support BD events and targeted marketing campaigns aligned with objectives.
• Assist with integration of lateral attorneys into groups.
• Counsel lawyers on BD goals and coaching; share intelligence with Research.
• Serve as BD lead for key client relationships and report progress.
• Coordinate submissions to rankings and media opportunities with PR.
• Coordinate updates to website content and brochures with Content Team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Leadership

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing/communications or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Foundation

Salesforce

Job description

Duties & Responsibilities

• Consult with practice group leadership to develop business development plans for assigned groups and individuals, including fiscal year plans and strategic initiatives; manage execution, track progress, and report on performance against defined goals and metrics.
• Lead the budget development process for assigned groups and manage approved budgets throughout the year, including forecasting and variance analysis.

Business Development

• Act as a primary point of contact for practice group leadership and provide strategic business development support and guidance.
• Attend regular practice group meetings with the firm’s Management Committee; coordinate preparation with practice leadership, reporting on business development activities and progress against business plans, including financial performance, pipeline, matter activity, and market trends.
• Direct the end-to-end response process for RFP/pitch opportunities, including the development of customized, client‑centric pitch materials; track opportunity pipeline and report on win/loss trends to inform ongoing efforts.
• Contribute to the development of projects and initiatives to drive new business, expand existing client relationships, and identify cross‑selling opportunities; provide strategic advice to leadership and partners on execution.
• Provide strategic support for business development events (e.g., seminars, webinars, client programs), ensuring alignment with practice priorities and coordinating follow‑up.
• Plan and support targeted marketing campaigns aligned with specific business development objectives (e.g., market penetration, industry expansion, cross‑selling).
• Support the integration of lateral attorneys within assigned practice groups.
• Counsel lawyers on personal business development goals, including coaching on targeting, messaging, and follow‑through.
• Provide client, industry, and competitive intelligence, in coordination with the Research team, to inform strategy and targeted outreach.
• Serve as BD lead for select key client relationships (e.g., Relationship Manager program), tracking activity and reporting on progress.

Actively manage and participate in related practice

• Manage submissions to Chambers and other rankings, surveys, and award nominations, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Work closely with the Public Relations team to identify and leverage media opportunities that align with practice priorities.

Marketing

• Identify and research profile‑raising opportunities (e.g., sponsorships, speaking engagements), and make recommendations aligned with strategic priorities and budget.
• Coordinate the systematic tracking of practice experience and successes for use in pitches, proposals, website content, and attorney biographies.
• Manage and coordinate updates to website content, brochures, and other external communications in collaboration with the Content team, ensuring consistency and accuracy across channels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold high standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity, particularly with respect to all sensitive and/or confidential firm and client information to which this position will have access.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record of success in marketing and business development; law firm experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting white collar and investigations is a significant plus.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, proactivity, and sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and accountability for delivering high‑quality work under tight deadlines and competing priorities.
• Experience supervising direct reports or mentoring junior team members is a plus.
• Experience using marketing and business development technologies, including CRM systems and content management platforms; experience with Foundation, Salesforce, or similar systems is a plus.
• Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel is required.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with partners, senior stakeholders, and cross‑functional teams.

Status: Exempt

Reports to: Assistant Director of Business Development - Regulatory

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Salary range is $190,000 - $249,000 dependent on experience level and varies based on

Covington & Burling LLP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any aspect of employment, including hiring, salary, promotion, discipline, termination, and benefits, on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, disability (including physical handicap), or any other improper criterion.

Covington will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with applicable laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.