Manager, Business Development, Corporate - M&A

White & Case LLP; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

White & Case LLP is seeking a Manager, Business Development to lead core BD activities within the practice group. You will ensure high-quality delivery, manage BD systems and processes, and support partners and BD leadership in growth and client engagement.

You will apply expertise in pitching, client planning, CRM usage, and market analysis to support relationship management and new business. Collaborate with Senior Managers to align with firm priorities and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; relevant professional qualifications an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience delivering a wide range of operational and tactical business development activities within a professional services environment.
• Strong technical expertise in business development methodologies, processes, systems, and best practices (e.g., pitching, client planning, CRM, market analysis).
• Experience managing coordinators and/or specialists, including workflow allocation, quality control, coaching, and day-to-day supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and insights to optimize processes and improve BD delivery.
• Good commercial awareness and understanding of market and client dynamics, applied pragmatically to support BD initiatives.
• Clear and effective communication skills, enabling collaboration with partners, BD colleagues, and other business services teams.
• This role has formal management responsibility for business development coordinators and/or specialists, including day-to-day supervision, work allocation, coaching, performance feedback, and support for professional development.

Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and client cultivation: Manage research, client mapping, and market analysis to identify new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with partners, RSHs, and BD teams to develop and implement client plans and track engagement.
• Provide insights to improve client targeting, segmentation, and outreach effectiveness.
• Proposals and pitch excellence: Lead preparation and coordination of client proposals, pitches, and capability statements.
• Coordinate input from stakeholders and ensure timely delivery of high-quality proposals.
• Positioning Practices & Partners: Support thought leadership, market positioning, and external engagement activities.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop content, track rankings, and organize events to raise the profile of the practice and its partners.
• Cross-Practice & Stakeholder Collaboration: Ensure alignment and consistency in BD activities across groups.

Skills

BD methodologies

Pitching

Client planning

CRM usage

Market analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Team supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Our Business Development & Marketing team plays a critical role in enhancing the Firm's reputation, expanding its client base and driving revenue growth. This team develops and implements strategic marketing plans to promote the Firm's legal services, leveraging digital and traditional marketing channels to reach target audiences. They conduct market research to identify industry trends and client needs, positioning the Firm competitively within the legal marketplace. The team also manages client relationships, orchestrates business development initiatives, and seeks opportunities for partnerships and networking. Through compelling content creation, event planning and public relations efforts, they ensure that the Firm maintains a strong market presence and continues to attract and retain clients.

Position Summary

The Manager, Business Development is a business development process expert and operational leader responsible for the effective execution of core BD activities within the practice group. The role ensures high-quality delivery of business development work, manages key BD systems and processes, and supports partners, client teams, and BD leadership in driving growth, client engagement, and market positioning.

The Manager applies strong technical expertise across BD disciplines - such as pitching, client planning, CRM usage, and market analysis - to support client relationship management and new business generation. Working closely with Senior Managers and Associate Directors, the role contributes to the execution of agreed BD strategies and ensures alignment with firm standards, priorities, and ways of working.

The Manager leads day-to-day BD operations within their area, manages coordinators and specialists, drives process improvement, and ensures BD activity is delivered efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with firm policies.

Duties and Accountabilities

The roles and responsibilities of this job include:

Strategic planning and client cultivation

• Support the execution of client and business development strategies by managing research, client mapping, and market analysis to identify and qualify new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with partners, RSHs, and BD teams to develop and implement client plans, track engagement, and support client relationship management initiatives.
• Provide practical insights and recommendations to improve client targeting, segmentation, and outreach effectiveness.

Proposals and pitch excellence

• Lead the preparation and coordination of client proposals, pitches, and capability statements, ensuring content is tailored, accurate, and aligned with client needs and firm strategy.
• Manage the collection and organization of deal lists, credentials, and supporting materials for pitches.
• Coordinate input from stakeholders and ensures timely delivery of high-quality proposals.

Positioning Practices & Partners

• Support the delivery of thought leadership, market positioning, and external engagement activities for the practice group.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to develop content, track rankings, and organize events that raise the profile of the practice and its partners.

Cross-Practice & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with BD leadership, partners, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and consistency in BD activities.
• Facilitate information sharing and collaboration across practice groups, industry teams, and business services functions.
• Act as a key point of contact for the coordination of BD projects and initiatives.

Contributor capacity

• Manage workflow and resource allocation for junior team members (coordinators, specialists), providing guidance, feedback, and support to ensure high standards of delivery.
• Act as a role model for professional conduct, operational excellence, and collaborative teamwork.
• Provide technical and process expertise to support the development of the BD team.

Performance and impact

• Monitor and report on BD activity, tracking key metrics and analyzing results to inform continuous improvement.
• Implement process improvements and best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of BD operations.
• Ensure compliance with firm policies, procedures, and data quality standards in all BD activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; relevant professional qualifications an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience delivering a wide range of operational and tactical business development activities within a professional services environment.
• Strong technical expertise in business development methodologies, processes, systems, and best practices (e.g., pitching, client planning, CRM, market analysis), with the ability to resolve complex operational issues within scope.
• Experience managing coordinators and/or specialists, including workflow allocation, quality control, coaching, and day-to-day supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and insights to optimize processes and improve BD delivery.
• Good commercial awareness and understanding of market and client dynamics, applied pragmatically to support BD initiatives.
• Clear and effective communication skills, enabling collaboration with partners, BD colleagues, and other business services teams.
• This role has formal management responsibility for business development coordinators and/or specialists, including day-to-day supervision, work allocation, coaching, performance feedback, and support for professional development.

This role reports to

Associate Director, Business Development, Corporate - M&A

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm's policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.
If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email us. We will be happy to work with you.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business-specific to the relevant office-before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.