Business Development Specialist (Transactional)

WilmerHale; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Schedule

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Job summary

WilmerHale in Washington, DC, is seeking a Business Development Specialist to support revenue-generating marketing initiatives for practice and industry groups. You will help prepare pitch materials, coordinate events, conduct research on clients and markets, and collaborate with Marketing, PR and Digital teams to promote deal activity and visibility.

The role requires 3–5+ years in legal or professional services marketing, a BA/BS, and a proactive, collaborative mindset with a keen eye for

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven experience in a dynamic environment with high expectations for client service, attention to detail, and quality.
• Thrives in a collegial team environment with a flexible mindset and continuous improvement.
• Strong time management to meet deadlines.
• Research skills to turn data into concise deliverables for lawyers.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Prepares sophisticated, persuasive pitch materials, including RFP responses and tailored marketing collateral.
• Supports and, where required, leads planning and execution of firm events with targeted invitation lists and RSVP tracking.
• Supports sponsorships and annual memberships to leverage benefits.
• Conducts research on companies, industries, and competitors; communicates insights to lawyers.
• Gathers intelligence on legal industry trends to position the firm strategically.
• Contributes to market recognition efforts, including legal directory submissions.

Skills

Excellent communication

Client service

Team collaboration

Time management

Research skills

Independence

AI adaptability

Education

BA/BS required

Job description

Job Description

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located throughout 12 offices in the United States and Europe. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology and business, and we remain committed to our guiding principles of providing quality, excellent legal and client services; developing diversity among our lawyers and staff and cultivating an environment that promotes an ambitious spirit, collaboration and collegiality by drawing on the extraordinary talents and dynamic experience of our lawyers. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice.

Job Description

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located throughout 12 offices in the United States and Europe. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology and business, and we remain committed to our guiding principles of providing quality, excellent legal and client services; developing diversity among our lawyers and staff and cultivating an environment that promotes an ambitious spirit, collaboration and collegiality by drawing on the extraordinary talents and dynamic experience of our lawyers. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice.

About The Role

As the Business Development Specialist, you will work closely with the Transactional Business Development Manager and team on a wide variety of initiatives supporting revenue-generating and general marketing and visibility opportunities for practice and industry groups including Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring, Corporate, Labor & Employment, Life Sciences, Real Estate, Tax and Technology.

Specific areas of focus will include support for pitches and RFPs, research, market visibility and recognition efforts, marketing content development and experience management, events and sponsorships, general business development activities and more. The Specialist assists in strategic planning and tactical execution and completes research and analysis in support of Department objectives.

What You Will Be Doing

• Prepares sophisticated, thoughtful and persuasive pitch materials, including RFP responses and tailored marketing collateral.
• Supports and, where required, leads the planning and execution of firm events including seminars, webinars, client entertainment and receptions, in collaboration with the firm’s Operations department. For firm events, leads audience development by developing targeted invitation lists, tracking RSVPs, attendee engagement and follow-up efforts.
• Supports and coordinates sponsorships and annual memberships to fully leverage benefits.
• In collaboration with the Library, reviews and conducts research on companies, industries, marketplaces and competitors related to pitches and other strategic initiatives; develops insights and communicates recommendations and applicable information to lawyers.
• Gathers intelligence on legal industry trends to provide attorneys with an understanding of the competitive landscape and to position the firm for increased effectiveness in winning new business.
• Contributes to market recognition efforts, including leading the development of legal directory submissions (Chambers USA, Legal 500, etc.).
• In collaboration with the Public Relations, Communications and Digital Marketing teams, contributes to the internal and external promotion of corporate deals,, matters, client news and other lawyer and practice highlights.
• Supports the activities related to onboarding lateral and/or new partners, including executing individual business development plans and preparing lateral partner for client meetings through research deliverables.
• Helps maintain the firm’s experience and content management database (Foundation) and performs queries and generates reports as needed.
• Acts in conjunction with Communications and Digital Marketing teams to propose and support marketing communications-related activities, such as website updates, improvements to attorney biographies and online profiles including LinkedIn.
• Performs special projects as requested by Business Development leadership team.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to professionalism, delivering high-quality service, and maintaining a positive, solution-oriented ("can-do") approach. Effectively supports internal departments, external clients, and vendors through clear, courteous communication via electronic correspondence, telephone, and in-person interactions.

Required Skills

What You Will Bring To This Position

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven experience in a dynamic environment with high expectations for superior client service, attention to detail and quality.
• Thrives in a collegial team environment with a flexible mindset, eye towards continuous improvement, and willingness to collaborate and lend support where needed.
• Strong time management skills to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
• Research skills and reasoning ability to turn data into succinct and useful deliverable for lawyers.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Remains open to technological change as generative AI becomes more integrated into the firm’s practice, actively develop comfort with new tools, and adapt how work is performed to support efficiency and innovation.

Experience

Required Experience

• 3-5+ years of experience in legal environment or professional services marketing and business development role preferred.

Education

• BA/BS required.

Why Join Us?

• A values-driven firm that fosters collaboration and respect.
• The hiring range for this position is $86,640-108,300 annually, with final compensation based on experience, qualifications and internal equity.
• This position is eligible for a Hybrid Schedule.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match and profit-sharing options.
• Paid time off and holidays

Our Commitment

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran, or any other protected status under applicable law. WilmerHale will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and otherwise as required by applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in the position. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for positions. The firm reserves the right at all times, in its sole discretion, to add or subtract duties and responsibilities, as it deems necessary.