Manager, Client Development

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is seeking a high-impact Manager, Client Development in Chicago to support the Firm’s private equity client development strategy. You will partner with senior attorneys and the CDE team to deepen client relationships, drive growth, and coordinate cross-practice initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

The role focuses on developing client strategies, managing pitches, and overseeing a junior BD team while leveraging AI tools to enhance efficiency and insight

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant business development experience.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services, or financial services environment preferred.
• Familiarity with private equity industry desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop pitches, proposals, and responses to RFPs for Private Equity and related practices.
• Coordinate with attorneys, the CDE team, and client teams to create client strategies and materials.
• Maintain and ensure integrity of engagement databases, experience lists, and attorney bios across channels.
• Anticipate business development needs of practice leaders and senior partners.
• Manage directory submissions and surveys for directories and publications.
• Direct management of junior BD team members; onboard and train staff; oversee project workstreams.

Skills

Business development

Project management

Communication

Research & analysis

Independent work

Discretion & diplomacy

Leadership / mentoring

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM system

MS Office (Outlook/Word/Excel)

Content Pilot / Foundation

Job description

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has approximately 2,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Palo Alto, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe.

Many of the world’s largest organizations have turned to Simpson Thacher for smart solutions to critical commercial challenges, including the world’s most successful and innovative private equity firms. This role is a high-impact opportunity to support the Firm’s Private Equity client development strategy in Chicago, working closely with senior attorneys and the Client Development & Engagement (CDE) team to deepen client relationships, strengthen market position, and drive strategic growth across the Firm’s global private equity platform.

The Manager, Client Development, operates with initiative and sound judgment, contributing to pitches, client intelligence, coordination of projects, and supports implementation efforts of strategic plans to ensure successful growth and consistency regarding the Firm’s key business initiatives, and cross-practice coordination in a fast-paced, demanding environment. The role reports to the Associate Director, CDE, located in the Chicago office.

Client Development Growth Initiatives

• Develop pitches, proposals, and responses to RFPs for Private Equity and related practices, exercising strong judgment on positioning, messaging, and prioritization
• Partner with attorneys, the CDE team, and select client teams to develop tailored client strategies, opportunity pipelines, and client-facing materials
• Maintain and ensure the integrity of the Firm’s engagement database, experience lists, attorney biographies, and other core Client Development information across all channels.
• Anticipate and proactively address the business development and client engagement needs of practice leaders and senior partners.
• Prepare or oversee preparation and management of directory submissions and survey responses for various legal and business directories and publications.

Market Intelligence & Insight

• Provide research and analysis on clients, prospects, competitors, markets, and industry trends relevant to the Private Equity practice and Chicago market
• Translate market and competitive developments into actionable insights for partners and Client Development leadership
• Stay current on private equity industry trends, transactions, and key players to anticipate partner and client needs proactively

Cross-Practice Coordination & Execution

• Work with the Client Development & Engagement team to ensure consistent communication of key initiatives and cross-practice opportunities
• Maintain website content, practice group descriptions, and other Client Development materials across relevant channels
• Collaborate with communications, events, and other CDE team members to deliver cohesive, high-impact initiatives
• Support Client Development projects and other Firm initiatives as needed
• Team Management
• Direct management of junior BD team members; participate in onboarding and training of junior BD team members; project management and review various workstreams; mentor and help to set goals and professional milestones
• Model senior-level judgment, accountability, and partnership with attorneys and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree

Preferred

• Prior experience in a law firm, professional services, or financial services environment
• Familiarity with private equity industry

Skills & Experience

Required

• Minimum 10 years of relevant business development experience

• Must actively leverage AI tools and technologies to drive efficiency, insight generation, and innovation in the role
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and excellent research and analytical abilities

• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects concurrently

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly competitive and demanding environment

• Strong attention to detail and self-motivated to produce accurate, timely, and complete work product

• Ability to build professional relationships and engage partners and senior clients with discretion and diplomacy
• Demonstrated business development skillset with strong learning aptitude

Preferred

• Familiarity with Content Pilot, Foundation, or another experience database
• Demonstrated experience using a CRM system
• Proficiency in MS Office programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Salary Information

IL Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $170,000 to $210,000 at the time of posting.

The actual 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. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Privacy Notice

For information about how Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP collects and processes your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Notice available at https://www.stblaw.com/other/privacy-notice.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is committed to a collegial work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. The Firm prohibits discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other legally protected status. This Policy pertains to every aspect of an individual’s relationship with the Firm, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training and development, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.