Business Development & Marketing Manager (AmLaw200)

Plona Partners; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Plona Partners in Washington, DC is seeking a Manager / Senior Manager, Business Development for Litigation. The role sits at the center of firm-wide growth, advising practice leaders and senior attorneys to shape strategy and drive revenue through market insights, competitive analysis, and strategic BD initiatives.

You will own practice & industry strategy and lead RFPs, pitches, and client development, partnering with attorneys to pursue opportunities, while building scalable systems for

Qualifications

• 5+ years of law firm business development experience.
• Strong understanding of litigation practices and workflows.
• Experience leading RFPs, pitches, and client development strategy.
• Ability to operate independently with senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and project ownership.

Responsibilities

• Lead BD strategy for litigation (core practice) and key industry groups.
• Drive RFP responses, pitch development, and go-to-market execution.
• Partner with attorneys to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Conduct market research, docket tracking, and competitor analysis.
• Translate litigation activity and trends into actionable BD strategy.
• Maintain and evolve marketing collateral aligned with real-time outcomes.
• Serve as the BD lead for major office locations, partnering with leadership.
• Build and track office-specific growth plans and budgets.
• Support individual attorney BD efforts and initiatives.
• Work cross-functionally with marketing, events, and communications.
• Lead events, sponsorships, and association engagement strategies.
• Build scalable systems for repeatable BD success.

Skills

BD strategy

Litigation BD

RFPs & pitches

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Tools

Lex Machina

CourtLink

CRM platforms

Job description

Manager / Senior Manager, Business Development, Litigation

Washington, DC (Hybrid – 3 days onsite)

A nationally recognized, AmLaw-ranked law firm is seeking a Business Development Manager / Senior Manager to drive strategy and execution across litigation, key industry groups, and flagship offices. This is a high-visibility, partner-facing role where you’ll operate as a true advisor—not just a support role—helping shape how a top-tier firm wins work, positions itself in the market, and grows revenue.

The Opportunity

You will sit at the center of firmwide growth initiatives, working directly with practice leaders and senior attorneys to build and execute a business development strategy.

This role is ideal for someone who understands:

• How legal services are sold
• How litigation practices grow
• And how to turn strategy into tangible revenue outcomes

What You’ll Own

Practice & Industry Strategy

• Lead BD strategy for litigation (core practice) and key industry groups
• Drive RFP responses, pitch development, and go-to-market execution
• Partner with attorneys to identify and pursue new business opportunities
• Conduct market research, docket tracking, and competitor analysis
• Translate litigation activity and trends into actionable BD strategy
• Maintain and evolve marketing collateral aligned with real-time outcomes

Office-Level Growth

• Serve as the BD lead for major office locations, partnering with leadership
• Build and track office-specific growth plans and budgets
• Support individual attorney BD efforts and initiatives
• Work cross-functionally with marketing, events, and communications
• Lead events, sponsorships, and association engagement strategies
• Build scalable systems for repeatable BD success

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of law firm business development experience
• Strong understanding of litigation practices and workflows
• Experience leading RFPs, pitches, and client development strategy
• Ability to operate independently with senior stakeholders
• Exceptional writing, communication, and project ownership

Bonus Points:

• Exposure to environmental, energy, or regulatory practices
• Experience with litigation analytics tools (Lex Machina, CourtLink, etc.)
• Familiarity with CRM / experience management platforms

Why This Role Stands Out

• Direct exposure to practice leaders and firm leadership
• Real ownership of revenue-driving initiatives
• Opportunity to shape BD strategy for a top-tier litigation practice
• Collaborative, high-performing environment where BD is valued, not sidelined