Senior Manager: Business Development (Private Equity / M&A)

Mayer Brown LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayer Brown LLP seeks a Senior Manager: Business Development (M&A/Private Equity) in a hybrid Chicago/New York setting. You will shape go-to-market strategies, lead client campaigns, and drive cross-practice collaboration across M&A and PE to expand market position.

The role requires strategic thinking, execution, and significant BD/marketing leadership, with a strong emphasis on client growth and revenue impact. Competitive compensation is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Eight or more years of demonstrated success in business development, marketing, or related roles within the legal or professional services industries, with a strong preference for candidates with experience supporting M&A, private equity, or transactional practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple practice groups and stakeholders, with experience coordinating complex, cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads annual marketing and business development planning focused on priorities outlined by M&A and PE practice leadership, including thought leadership platforms, communications, and client outreach that translate market developments and deal activity into client engagement opportunities.
• Partners with Business Development & Marketing department leadership and M&A/PE practice leaders to develop annual budgets and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with firmwide priorities and cross-practice objectives.
• Provides senior-level leadership to ensure that M&A and PE business development activities are coordinated across related practices and aligned with the firm’s overall strategic efforts.
• Support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers.
• Develops and drives implementation of strategic BD initiatives, including priority client targeting and campaigns, coordinated client outreach, thought leadership campaigns, client seminars, roadshows, and networking events designed to maximize market impact across M&A, PE, and related practices.

Skills

Business development

Marketing

Cross-functional collaboration

M&A knowledge

Private equity

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment that values exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, we invite you to consider joining our Commercial department in our New York, or Chicago office as a Senior Manager: Business Development (M&A/Private Equity).

The Senior Manager: Business Development serves as a strategic advisor and growth partner to Mayer Brown’s M&A and Private Equity practices, helping drive market position, client expansion, and revenue growth across two of the firm’s most significant practice areas. Working closely with practice and BD leadership, the Senior Manager develops and executes go-to-market strategies, identifies high-value opportunities, and leads strategic pursuits involving private equity sponsors, corporate acquirers, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, infrastructure funds, hedge funds, family offices, and other institutional investors.

The role leads sophisticated pitches, client development initiatives, thought leadership campaigns, and market-facing programs that strengthen client relationships and enhance the firm’s profile. As a key connector across practices, industry groups, and regions, the Senior Manager drives collaboration, cross-selling, and integrated client solutions that leverage the full breadth of Mayer Brown’s capabilities. Success in this role requires strong commercial acumen, deep knowledge of M&A and private equity markets, and the ability to influence stakeholders across a complex organization. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with hands‑on execution and a results‑oriented mindset focused on converting market opportunities into measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Business Plans & Infrastructure

• Develops and leads annual marketing and business development planning focused on priorities outlined by M&A and PE practice leadership, including thought leadership platforms, communications, and client outreach that translate market developments and deal activity into client engagement opportunities
• Partners with Business Development & Marketing department leadership and M&A/PE practice leaders to develop annual budgets and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with firmwide priorities and cross-practice objectives
• Provides senior-level leadership to ensure that M&A and PE business development activities are coordinated across related practices (including funds, capital markets, banking & finance, tax, and other transactional groups) and aligned with the firm’s overall strategic efforts
• Support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers

Business Development & Profile-Raising Initiatives

• Develops and drives implementation of strategic BD initiatives, including priority client targeting and campaigns, coordinated client outreach, thought leadership campaigns, client seminars, roadshows, and networking events designed to maximize market impact across M&A, PE, and related practices
• Monitors and analyzes M&A and PE market trends, deal activity, and competitive intelligence to identify emerging opportunities and client engagement strategies, positioning the firm’s lawyers as thought leaders on timely topics
• Drives cross-selling efforts and creates stronger integration among related practices and industries by identifying opportunities for collaboration and presenting a unified market strategy to clients
• Support the collection and maintenance of CRM-based contact and other data for marketing planning and for mailing lists
• Support in the collection and reporting of matter experience
• Partners with BD&M colleagues to facilitate the completion of directory submissions; regional surveys; league table/industry survey content; specific lawyer and practice awards and accolades; and other profile-raising initiatives on behalf of the industry group
• Support coordination of business development training for lawyers
• Serves as a key liaison between M&A/PE practices, other transactional groups, and industry/client teams to ensure coordinated market coverage and client service delivery

Pitches & Proposals & Marketing Materials

• Manages responses to RFPs, and pitch, presentation, and other opportunities via the development of written proposal and presentation materials for the practice group and liaise with others when relevant
• Develop new marketing brochures and edit and refine existing ones; maintain practice descriptions in BD&M-shared systems
• Periodically review and consult with lawyers regarding their bios and practice descriptions to ensure that they are current

Local Office Support

• When relevant, provide support for seminars, sponsorships, and other events and initiatives pursued by the firm in the local office
• When relevant, support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers

Other

• Assist with the supervision and training of more junior team members
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Qualifications, Experience and Personal Attributes

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field Professional Experience:
• Eight or more years of demonstrated success in business development, marketing, or related roles within the legal or professional services industries, with a strong preference for candidates with experience supporting M&A, private equity, or transactional practices
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple practice groups and stakeholders, with experience coordinating complex, cross-functional initiatives

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products

Performance Traits:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to articulate a cohesive narrative around the firm’s M&A and PE capabilities while understanding the nuances of transactional practice and how it connects to broader client needs
• Familiarity with accepted research techniques and databases typically used for competitive intelligence in a professional services company
• Demonstrated good judgment, a team-first orientation, meticulous and results driven
• Exercises senior-level judgment and influence to coordinate stakeholders across practices and present unified market strategies

Management Accountabilities:

• Demonstrates leadership and supervisory experience including managing projects and workflows, effectively leveraging BD&M team support as needed
• Manages processes for direct reports in relation to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counseling
• Leads by example, providing guidance, coaching, and mentorship to BD&M team members
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations
• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner
• Analysis of staffing levels and requests for assistance
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations

Physical Requirements:

• May require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs.
• May require travel to other offices as needed

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

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

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request an accommodation related to the application process or interview, please email [e-mail]. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mayer Brown works with select external search firms that have been vetted against our standards. Firms without a contract or agreement with Mayer Brown are not authorized to represent that they are working with the Firm, nor are they entitled to placement fees. Mayer Brown does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruiters. Submission of an unsolicited CV to Mayer Brown or any of its Partners or employees will not establish any right of priority for the submitting agency.

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Posted Pay Range

The typical pay scale for this position is between USD $150,000.00/Yr. and USD $198,000.00/Yr., although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate's education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified.