Senior Business Development Manager - Intellectual Property

Honigman LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare & life insurance

401K & profit sharing

All Purpose Leave

Well-being programs

Learning & development

Job summary

Honigman LLP is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager – Intellectual Property to lead BD and marketing strategy for its IP and Life Sciences groups in the Chicago office. You will drive client growth, cross-selling, and market visibility through targeted programs, events, and thought leadership.

The role requires entrepreneurial leadership, relationship building, and a proactive approach to identify opportunities and execute growth initiatives that align with the firm’s objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing (or related discipline); J.D. or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of five years of relevant industry experience in marketing or business development supporting intellectual property practices in a law firm or other professional services firm preferred.
• Strong understanding of all facets of intellectual property including nuances of patents, trade secrets, litigation and prosecution.
• Experience participating in industry teams and providing leadership in advancing sector-based initiatives desired.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted advisor and primary point of contact for business development and marketing support, strategy, collateral, communications, and programs.
• Collaborate with department leaders and partners to implement BD strategies for client retention, cross-selling, and market expansion.
• Lead integration of business plans with firm objectives and measure progress.
• Identify growth opportunities within Intellectual Property and Life Sciences sectors.
• Maintain marketing collateral catalog and firm capabilities for opportunities.
• Lead proposal activities with department teams for pitches and RFPs.
• Conduct market research and monitor trends to guide strategy.
• Advise on conferences and networking engagements to maximize ROI.
• Mentor and develop BD/marketing team members.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of materials and digital content.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Business development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related discipline

J.D. or MBA preferred

Tools

InterAction CRM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Honigman is a premier business law firm, based in Michigan with an international practice. Honigman is consistently recognized as one of the 101 Best and Brightest Places to Work, we earned this recognition by recruiting attorneys and staff members with outstanding credentials. Currently, we are looking for a Senior Business Development Manager - Intellectual Property in our Detroit, Washington D.C., or Chicago office. In addition to our Detroit and Chicago offices, we have offices in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, and Kalamazoo. With more than 350 attorneys working in 60 different areas of concentration, Honigman provides timely and cost-effective counsel to clients in numerous industries.

The Senior Business Development Manager – Intellectual Property leads business development and marketing strategy for the IP Department, including patent, trademark, and litigation practices, while serving as the marketing and business development lead for the firm's Life Sciences industry group. As a strategic advisor to department and firm leadership, this role drives client growth, cross-selling, and market visibility through targeted business development initiatives, marketing programs, events, and thought leadership. The position requires a proactive, entrepreneurial leader who can identify opportunities, build relationships, and execute strategies that advance the firm's growth objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as trusted advisor and as primary point of contact for initiating, directing, and providing business development and marketing support, strategic guidance and proactive recommendations for the development, implementation, and management of business development and marketing plans, development of collateral and marketing content, communications, and client and industry programs.
• Collaborate closely with Department Leaders, Practice Group Leaders (PGLs), partners, and cross-functional teams to develop and implement comprehensive business development strategies focused on client retention, cross-selling, and market expansion initiatives.
• Lead and influence the integration of business plans with broader firm objectives, ensuring measurable progress and results.
• Identify and pursue strategic new growth opportunities within Intellectual Property and when relevant for the Life Sciences industry group, leveraging market insights.
• Collect and maintain robust marketing collateral catalog, relevant experience, and firm capabilities for marketing and business development opportunities.
• Lead and collaborate with department proposal team and colleagues for pitch and proposal needs.
• Conduct market research, analyze trends, and monitor competitors to identify growth opportunities and guide strategy.
• Maintain expertise on relevant legal and regulatory developments impacting client industries, advising teams on market implications.
• Oversee comprehensive tracking, reporting, and analysis of business development activities, client acquisition, and marketing program effectiveness, providing insights and recommendations to Department Chairs and PGLs.
• Identify cross-selling, networking events, and thought leadership opportunities to elevate the profile and market presence of assigned practice groups.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with lead attorneys and business colleagues to ensure alignment and execution of strategic goals.
• Develop a robust understanding of related practice areas to foster cross-practice collaboration and integrated client solutions.
• Assess and advise on conference and networking engagements, assisting attorneys in strategy development and execution to maximize ROI.
• Manage, mentor, and develop business development and marketing team members, fostering a high-performance culture focused on growth and professional development.
• Ensure the accuracy, relevance, and timeliness of all materials and digital content associated with assigned attorneys and practice groups.
• Participate in marketing or business development professional association and networking programs.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing (or related discipline), J.D. or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of five years of relevant industry experience in marketing or business development supporting intellectual property practices in a law firm or other professional services firm preferred.
• Keen understanding of all facets of intellectual property including nuances of patents, trade secrets, litigation and prosecution.
• Understanding of life sciences and the role of intellectual property in the sector is preferred.
• Experience participating in industry teams and providing leadership in advancing sector-based initiatives desired.
• Knowledge of industry trends and a keen understanding of market dynamics.
• Mastery of business development competencies.
• Strong strategic and critical thinking skills and proven experience driving results as a business advisor and partner.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills. Must be persuasive and demonstrate active listening skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to lead, set priorities and deliver results.
• Must have a strong client service orientation.
• Ability to effectively work within our environment and engage the departments, practice groups and individual attorneys to increase the value delivered to clients and the firm.
• Knowledge of business planning and targeting programs at the department, practice group and individual partner level.
• Must be a problem solver, willing to work and think energetically and independently and to accept responsibility for producing work that is consistently complete, timely, effective and accurate.
• Strong professional presence and ability to work with individuals at all levels of the firm.
• Must demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to new ideas and to new approaches.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with appropriate level of discretion.
• Experience with marketing information systems and use of technology driven communication experience. Social media experience is highly desirable.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and InterAction CRM. Must have strong overall technology skills and demonstrate a willingness to learn new applications as they become commercially available.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Range and Compensation Package

Honigman provides a generous total compensation package, which includes comprehensive health and well-being benefits, as well as 401k and profit sharing. The anticipated annual pay range for this role is $160,000 to $200,000 (exempt). The actual offered pay rate will be determined based on various factors, including qualifications, experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will enjoy an exceptional career opportunity within a welcoming environment. Eligible employees can also take advantage of Honigman’s comprehensive benefits program, highlights of which are below:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• 401K and profit sharing
• Generous All Purpose Leave (APL) program that increases with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g., mental health services, medical resources, and more)
• Learning and development programs

For more information, click on “Our Benefits” when you visit: https://www.honigman.com/careers-business-professionals

Honigman is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or any other category prohibited by applicable local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, and termination.