Business Development & Marketing Associate Director - Disputes

Clifford Chance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 290,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Clifford Chance US LLP is seeking a senior Business Development leader to drive the Global Disputes product group, collaborating with partners, lawyers and business professionals to deliver strategic BD plans and revenue growth.

You will oversee a global BD team, shape the BD operating model, and lead initiatives across regions, working closely with BC&PA and K&T to position the firm’s BD offerings and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in business development, preferably in professional services.
• Proven track record of developing and executing BD and marketing strategies.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with partners and clients.
• Exceptional communication and presentation abilities, written and verbal.
• Strong technical proficiency and familiarity with CRM tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee BD strategy and marketing plans aligned with firm goals.
• Line-manage a global BD team supporting the product group across regions.
• Support BD Operating Model alignment with teams, roadmap, and transition plans.
• Lead client targeting, market analyses, and cross-selling initiatives across regions.
• Coordinate BD campaigns with Brand, Communications and Public Affairs and Knowledge & Training teams.

Skills

BD experience

Relationship-building

Communication & presentation

Strategic marketing

CRM familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing/law

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Tools

CRM

Job description

As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.

Our culture is collaborative and inclusive — where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.

We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.

We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.

Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.

Job Description

The role

Clifford Chance has an ambitious global strategy which puts clients at the very heart of everything the firm does. The Business Development ("BD") function is pivotal in making the firm's strategy a reality. BD teams collaborate strategically with partners, lawyers and other business professional functions to drive sustainable growth. The BD function supports conversion of key client and market opportunities through the development and delivery of targeted business development and marketing plans.

This role is part of a global BD product team supporting the Global Disputes product group.

This is a hands-on and proactive role where you will operate as the primary point person for partner stakeholders in their capacity as Global Product Group Leaders and lead a product-aligned global BD team and collaborate with other relevant product stakeholders within the firm to support on the execution of wider BD strategy.

This role presents an excellent opportunity to be pivotal in shaping and driving the growth strategy for the firm's Disputes product offering, working closely with multiple stakeholders, to deliver tangible results as part of a global Business Development team.

Who you will work with

You will work directly to support key stakeholders on their client and market development initiatives and support the implementation of BD strategy.

This role collaborates closely with the fee-earning population globally to support identification, pursuit and winning of revenue generating opportunities. It connects partners and lawyers to the full spectrum of BD services and expertise available across the global function.

This role works alongside relevant counterparts globally, and with BD colleagues in other product groups, as well as being a key member of the BD community globally.

What you will be responsible for

Strategy and implementation

• Establish and oversee the development and implementation of business development and marketing plans, ensuring alignment with firmwide strategy.
• Track progress against plans and refine approach accordingly to achieve over-arching goals, focusing on ROI on a periodic basis.
• Oversee in-depth research initiatives on global/regional product and market trends, clients, prospects, and competitors to inform strategic marketing decisions.
• Oversee and manage the quality of output, ensuring partner expectations are being met.
• Work closely with key stakeholders to plan, execute and implement lateral hiring strategy for the product group.
• Act as the primary contact for information about the product offering and related global and regional BD and marketing activities and campaigns.
• Assist the relevant product group to define and implement its BD plan.
• Advise relevant stakeholders on the creation and development of BD product offerings and initiatives.
• Facilitate the flow of information to drive collaboration and cross-selling of client relationships and products in region and globally.
• Position and promote BD offerings and initiatives within the product group and the firm more widely.
• Proactively spot market trends and opportunities for the product group across the region and globally.
• Support cross-product panel RFPs including facilitating "go/no-go" decisions (working with our Global Proposals Team), and work on must-win cross border proposals (as needed).

Reputation management and marketing communications (working with Brand, Communications and Public Affairs (BC&PA) and Knowledge & Training (K&T))

• Oversee initiatives to identify opportunities to position and raise the profile of the product group and its individual lawyers.
• Oversee the organisation of relevant BD client events, seminars and conferences, sponsorships, PR, etc.
• Oversee multiple marketing communications projects, including the delivery of relevant directory/awards submissions.
• Work closely with partners, the BC&PA and K&T team to identify and build successful marketing campaigns and thought leadership pieces.

Client and market development

• Oversee client targeting exercises and maintain oversight of priority clients and prospects.
• Embed a strong culture around client-listening.
• Ensure relevant global marketing materials (standard pitch content, master capability statements etc.) are up to date and fit for purpose.
• Facilitate the flow of information to drive collaboration and cross-selling to support firmwide client and sector programmes.
• Conduct competitor, client and marketplace analysis to identify new and emerging client and sector opportunities.

Business Development function

• Line management responsibility for a global BD team that supports the above product group in each region.
• Responsibility for people development and talent management for a global BD team that supports the above product group in each region.
• Support the implementation of the BD Operating Model by assisting with the alignment of activity to teams (within and outside of BD), in line with technology roadmaps and transition plans.

Qualifications

Your experience

• Extensive experience in business development, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Proven track-record of developing and executing successful business development and marketing strategies and initiatives.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, in particular ability to develop advisory relationships with partners.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong technical proficiency and familiarity with tools like CRM.
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, law, or related field. An MBA or similar advanced degree is preferred.

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package. The salary range for this role is $290,000 - $350,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Additional Information

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we forge an inclusive culture, where all perspectives are recognised and valued. It’s a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and succeed, irrespective of background. We are guided by our values-based Code, which sets high standards of conduct and has a principle focused on being inclusive.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide consideration to all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We comply with the law and regulations in every location where we operate and across all aspects of employment, from recruitment and selection to development, progression, and day-to-day working life.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here