Senior Business Development Manager - Litigation

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 162,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is seeking an experienced Business Development professional in Chicago to advance strategy and opportunities across client relationships and markets. You will coordinate pitches, research, and cross-department initiatives to support growth and client service.

You will partner with leadership, coach attorneys, and manage CRM-driven pipelines to deliver measurable outcomes. A strong background in professional services and senior-level relationship management is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications or related field; JD or MBA a plus.
• Ten+ years of progressively responsible business development or marketing experience; strongly preferred in a law firm or professional-services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate with attorneys, firm leaders, and professionals across offices.
• Working knowledge of business development planning, pitches, proposals, client and market research, and relationship-management practices.

Responsibilities

• Partner with practice group and department leaders to develop practical business development strategy aligned with firm priorities and client needs.
• Help attorneys identify opportunities within existing client relationships, prospective clients, referral networks, and target markets.
• Coordinate planning discussions and convert ideas into actionable steps with owners, timelines, and measurable objectives.
• Manage strategy through pipelines; prepare pitches, proposals, RFP responses, and presentations with relevant differentiators and messaging.
• Provide market, industry, client, and competitive research to inform client planning and opportunity assessment.
• Coach attorneys one-on-one and in small groups for client conversations, meetings, and relationship-building activities.
• Collaborate with communications, events, digital, and other departments to align thought leadership and programs with business objectives.
• Maintain accurate opportunity and relationship data in CRM and promote adoption of shared processes.

Skills

Relationship building

Presentation skills

Written and verbal communication

Strategic planning

CRM familiarity

MS Office proficiency

Independent work

Cross-office collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications

JD or MBA a plus

Tools

CRM software

Proposal management

Market research tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Dinsmore, our strength comes from our people. With more than 750 attorneys across 30+ offices nationwide, we are dedicated to building a dynamic, client-focused Firm recognized for excellence. Together we work to build a strong market profile, highlighting our capabilities to clients and attracting talented attorneys and business professionals who seek a supportive environment where they can thrive. Discover how you can grow with us at www.dinsmore.com.

Responsibilities

• Partner with practice group and department leaders to develop practical business development strategy with firm priorities and client needs
• Help attorneys identify and prioritize opportunities within existing client relationships, prospective clients, referral networks, and target markets
• Facilitate planning discussions and convert ideas into clear next steps, owners, timelines, and measurable objectives
• Coordinate strategic pitches, proposals, RFP responses and presentations, bringing together relevant experience, differentiators, and persuasive messaging
• Prepare market, industry, client and competitive research to inform client planning, opportunity assessment, and positioning
• Provide one-on-one and small-group coaching to help attorneys prepare for client conversations, meetings, presentations, and relationship-building activities
• Collaborate with communications, events, digital, creative, and other internal departments to align thought leadership, sponsorships, and programs with defined business objectives
• Maintain accurate opportunity and relationship information in the firm’s CRM and related systems and encourage practical adoption of shared processes
• Collaborate to develop pipeline monitoring, progress and outcomes; develop concise reports and insights that help leaders make informed decisions and refine priorities
• Build strong relationships across offices and practices, identify opportunities for cross-selling, and connect attorneys whose capabilities can address broader client needs
• Manage multiple projects and stakeholders with sound judgment, responsiveness, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellent internal client service
• Contribute to the continued improvement of business development tools, templates, processes, and team best practices
• Perform other duties and support firmwide initiatives as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent relevant experience required; JD or MBA a plus
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible business development or marketing experience; experience in a law firm or other professional-services environment is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively with attorneys, firm leaders, and business professionals across offices and functions
• Working knowledge of business development planning, pitches and proposals, client and market research, and relationship-management practices
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, persuasive, and practical recommendations
• Sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and a client-service mindset, with the confidence to ask thoughtful questions and guide projects toward completion
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with CRM, proposal-management, research, or related business development systems
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Flexibility to occasionally work outside regular business hours and travel as business needs require

Salary

• Up to 180k

Equal Opportunity Employer