Client Development Manager

Illinois Defense Counsel; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Arnold & Porter is seeking a Client Development Manager to help grow the firm’s strategic client relationships and revenue. This role may be based in New York, Washington, DC, or San Francisco and will partner with Client Team Leaders and senior partners to deepen engagement and deliver value.

You will design annual client development plans, coordinate cross-practice collaboration, and provide data-driven insights to guide leadership decisions, ensuring high-quality client service and cross-firm

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or JD preferred.
• 6+ years of experience in business or client development within legal marketing.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong project management and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, practices, and geographies.
• Service-oriented mindset with flexibility, initiative, and the ability to perform under pressure.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders in a partnership environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of strategic client accounts, supporting initiatives that drive growth, collaboration, and high-quality service delivery.
• Partner with Client Team Leaders to develop and implement client strategies focused on expanding relationships, increasing engagement, and driving profitable revenue.
• Help create and execute annual client development plans with clear goals, timelines, and accountability.
• Identify growth opportunities, facilitate cross-practice collaboration, and coordinate introductions to expand service offerings.
• Organize and participate in client team meetings, including preparing agendas, capturing key takeaways, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Gather and analyze client intelligence, including business priorities, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and key decision-makers.
• Maintain and enhance client dashboards by integrating internal and external data to provide insights into relationship health and growth opportunities.
• Prepare internal and client-facing reports on financial performance, key matters, and business development activity.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Marketing Operations, and Events teams to deliver targeted client initiatives, proposals, and programs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams—including Pricing, Client Service, Innovation, Alumni Relations, and Pro Bono—to enhance client value and strengthen relationships.
• Support structured client feedback processes, including relationship reviews, leadership visits, and post-matter evaluations.
• Maintain and contribute to client development resources such as relationship maps, plans, presentations, and reporting tools.
• Share best practices and promote successful client development strategies across the firm.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Communication

Project management

Organizational skills

Collaboration across teams

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Results oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or JD preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Business development processes

Job description

Arnold & Porter is a global law firm with offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. We advise 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 Client Development Manager to help drive the growth and expansion of the firm’s most strategic client relationships. This role may be based in our New York, Washington, DC, or San Francisco office.

In this role, you will partner closely with Client Team Leaders and senior partners to strengthen client engagement, identify new opportunities, and support revenue growth. You will play a key role in advancing the firm’s global growth strategy by helping to institutionalize client relationships, promote cross-practice collaboration, and deliver data-driven insights that guide decision-making.

Serving as a central link between client teams and the Marketing Department, you will collaborate with firm leadership to design and execute initiatives that deepen relationships and enhance client value.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of strategic client accounts, supporting initiatives that drive growth, collaboration, and high-quality service delivery.
• Partner with Client Team Leaders to develop and implement client strategies focused on expanding relationships, increasing engagement, and driving profitable revenue.
• Help create and execute annual client development plans with clear goals, timelines, and accountability.
• Identify growth opportunities, facilitate cross-practice collaboration, and coordinate introductions to expand service offerings.
• Organize and participate in client team meetings, including preparing agendas, capturing key takeaways, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Gather and analyze client intelligence, including business priorities, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and key decision-makers.
• Maintain and enhance client dashboards by integrating internal and external data to provide insights into relationship health and growth opportunities.
• Prepare internal and client-facing reports on financial performance, key matters, and business development activity.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Marketing Operations, and Events teams to deliver targeted client initiatives, proposals, and programs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams—including Pricing, Client Service, Innovation, Alumni Relations, and Pro Bono—to enhance client value and strengthen relationships.
• Support structured client feedback processes, including relationship reviews, leadership visits, and post-matter evaluations.
• Maintain and contribute to client development resources such as relationship maps, plans, presentations, and reporting tools.
• Share best practices and promote successful client development strategies across the firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or JD preferred.
• 6+ years of experience in business or client development within legal marketing.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong project management and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, practices, and geographies.
• Service-oriented mindset with flexibility, initiative, and the ability to perform under pressure.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders in a partnership environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels.
• Results-driven, self‑motivated, and able to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Advanced stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Experience working in matrixed organizations and balancing competing priorities.
• Strong teamwork and knowledge‑sharing orientation.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, business development processes, and tools that support client growth.
• Ability to think analytically and operate effectively under pressure.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $150,000 to $200,000. 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.

Arnold & Porter is an equal opportunityemployer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy and childbirth (including breastfeeding and related medical conditions), age, marital or partnership status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family leave status, citizenship status, immigration status, ancestry, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. Our Firm's equal opportunity policy applies to all employment practices and terms and conditions, including, without limitation, recruitment, employment, assignment, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, disciplinary action and terminations. For purposes of the firm's Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policies, the term "race" includes, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, and twists.

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