Manager - Business Development (Litigation)

Lathrop GPM LLP; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lathrop GPM LLP seeks a Manager - Business Development to drive revenue growth for Litigation and other assigned practice groups. The role collaborates with the CCO and Director of Business Development to shape strategy and oversee pitches, content development, and pricing collaboration to win new business.

The position requires 7–10 years in marketing or business development within professional services and a Bachelor’s degree.

Qualifications

• Experience leading marketing or business development initiatives for professional services.
• Strong project management and client service skills.
• Strategic thinker with ability to align practice group goals with firm strategy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pitches, proposals, and RFPs for assigned groups, coordinating with pricing teams.
• Maintain understanding of supported practice groups to communicate experience and identify cross-sell opportunities.
• Ensure marketing content accurately reflects group experience and guides targets to hire the firm.
• Stay current on legal and industry trends to identify differentiation opportunities and support cross-marketing efforts.
• Provide training and coaching to attorneys and other staff on business development practices.
• Manage relationships with industry groups and support client interview processes with data and ROI analysis.

Skills

Management experience

Project management

Client service

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Description

Lathrop GPM, one of the nation's leading law firms, has an immediate opening for a Manager - Business Development in our Kansas City, MO or Minneapolis, MN locations. Reporting to the Director of Business Development, the Business Development Manager (“BDM”) is essential to Lathrop GPM’s strategic growth. The BDM plays a critical role in evolving the firm’s business development strategy, working proactively with assigned practice groups to develop and support initiatives that drive new business from existing clients and prospects. The BDM collaborates with other managers to adopt best practices across all supported groups and serves as a key member of the Client Innovation Leadership Team, working closely with the Chief Client Officer (“CCO”), Practice Group Leaders, Directors of Practice Management (“DPM”), the Director of Business Development, Director of Marketing Operations, and Sr. Manager – Pricing.

Assigned Areas

Practice Group(s): Litigation and another practice group to be assigned.

Strategic Planning & Revenue Growth

• Partner with the CCO and Director of Business Development to identify and support opportunities for revenue growth from existing and prospective clients, maximizing referral source value.
• Serve as a key member of the department’s Revenue Growth Opportunity initiative.
• Collaborate with the Director of Practice Management and Practice Group Leader to develop annual business plans for assigned groups that align with the firm’s strategic plan.
• Guide Partners and Counsel in developing Individual Performance Plans to support practice group goals.

Business Development Execution

• Oversee all pitches, proposals, and RFPs for assigned groups, ensuring the firm presents its best experience and pricing proposals. Draft content as needed and partner with the pricing team.
• Maintain a robust understanding of supported practice groups, including their products and services, to effectively communicate experience and identify synergies for other clients and prospects.
• Ensure all marketing and business development content accurately reflects group experience and effectively guides targets to hire the firm.
• Stay current on legal and industry trends to identify differentiation opportunities and new niche areas for the firm. Support cross-marketing efforts through regular communication with other business development professionals.

Content & Communication

• Ensure attorney-developed content is leveraged across all distribution channels, working with Graphic Design, Communications, and Public Relations resources to tailor information for different audiences.
• Participate in awards and nominations opportunities, leading Chambers USA, Global, and High Net Worth submissions for aligned practice areas and advising communications/PR on candidates for nomination.

Training & Coaching

• With the Director of Business Development and CCO, develop and support business development training programs across all firm levels. Provide one-on-one coaching to attorneys as needed.

Relationship Management

• Own industry/practice group relationships (e.g., IFA, ACC, ACG, BIO), identifying and leveraging benefits, judging ROI, and reporting on budgeting requirements.
• Support the firm’s client interview process by supplying historical, internal, and external data on clients targeted for interviews and suggesting clients for interviews.

Event & List Management

• Collaborate with the Events Team to identify and plan client seminars, attorney speaking engagements, and other marketing events and sponsorships.
• Maintain ultimate ownership of mailing lists for supported groups, ensuring accuracy and strategic use for business development initiatives. Act as an ambassador for CRM’s importance to business development.

Evaluation & Advisory

• Continuously evaluate existing marketing and business development plans, tracking ROI on all initiatives.
• Act as a general advisor for all marketing and business development activities, including identifying opportunities with new and existing clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Intellectual Curiosity: Demonstrated interest in how lawyers support the firm’s clients.
• Motivation & Creativity: Ability to innovate and help the firm stand out and grow.
• Management: 7–10 years of marketing or business development experience, with significant project management experience.
• Client Service: Ability to manage multiple projects, respond quickly to inquiries, and motivate attorneys while prioritizing workload.
• Budgetary: Proven experience managing project-based and contributing to longer-term marketing and communications budgets.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to leverage established tone and messaging for all externally facing materials.
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in marketing, communications, or a related field. Law firm or professional services experience preferred but not required.

Current anticipated salary range for applicants in MN and CO as required by applicable state laws is $100,000 - $130,000. Actual salary will vary and may be above or below the range. Full comprehensive benefit plan including health care, retirement plan and paid days off, including PTO, parental leave, and short/long term disability.

The application window is anticipated to close on or after November 9, 2026.

We celebrate and support diversity and the benefits it brings to our workplaces, clients and communities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. It is the employment policy and practice of Lathrop GPM to recruit and hire employees without discrimination because of race, color, sex, gender, religion, age, national origin, military status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by applicable law.

Lathrop GPM LLP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a professional, challenging, yet comfortable working environment. Lathrop GPM does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Lathrop GPM without prior approval from an HR Manager will be considered unsolicited and the property of Lathrop GPM.

EOE/M/F/D/V NO PHONE CALLS

- Hybrid