Business Development Manager - Disputes

About us

As a global law firm, our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages—and so do our people. Our culture is collaborative and inclusive, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses across every critical moment. We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients, offering forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team, unlocking opportunities for clients across borders, cultures, legal, and commercial disciplines.

About the role

Clifford Chance has an ambitious global strategy that puts clients at the very heart of everything the firm does. The Business Development ("BD") function is pivotal in making this strategy a reality. BD teams collaborate strategically with partners, lawyers, and other business professional functions to drive sustainable growth. This role supports the conversion of key client and market opportunities through the development and delivery of targeted business development and marketing plans.

This role is part of a global BD team with primary responsibility for supporting our Americas Disputes product team across sub-product areas including Litigation, Arbitration, and Investigations. It is a hands-on and proactive role where you will work alongside a core BD team in the region, collaborating directly with regional Disputes team members and acting as a key point of contact for relevant product stakeholders within the firm.

Purpose of the role

You will support key stakeholders on their client and market business development initiatives and help implement BD strategy. This role collaborates closely with fee-earning professionals in the region and globally to identify, pursue, and win revenue-generating opportunities. It connects partners and lawyers to the full spectrum of BD services and expertise available across the global function.

Responsibilities

• Strategy and implementation
  • Support the implementation of BD and marketing plans, ensuring alignment with firmwide strategy.
  • Track progress against plans to achieve over-arching goals, focusing on ROI on a periodic basis.
  • Support research initiatives on regional product and market trends, clients, prospects, and competitors to inform strategic marketing decisions.
  • Manage the quality of output, ensuring partner expectations are met.
• Revenue generation
  • Support the relevant product group in implementing its BD plan.
  • Work with stakeholders to develop and shape BD product offerings and initiatives.
  • Promote BD offerings and initiatives within the product group and the firm more widely.
  • Proactively spot market trends and opportunities for the product group across the region and globally.
  • Provide tailored input into significant product pitches and update and maintain capability statements.
• Reputation management and marketing communications
  • Assist in identifying opportunities to position and raise the profile of the product group and its individual lawyers.
  • Organize relevant BD client events, seminars, conferences, sponsorships, and PR activities.
  • Support multiple marketing communications projects, including the delivery of relevant directory/awards submissions.
  • Support the creation and distribution of thought leadership material.
• Client and market development
  • Apply depth of product knowledge to support firmwide client and sector programmes.
  • Use competitor, client, and marketplace analysis to identify new and emerging opportunities.
• Business Development function
  • Work closely with key stakeholders to execute strategically important BD function projects.
  • Support the implementation of the BD Operating Model by assisting with alignment of activity to teams (within and outside of BD), in line with technology roadmaps and transition plans.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in professional services business development (preferably in a law firm).
• A strong interest in and understanding of the work type(s) relevant to this role.
• Sound commercial awareness of legal market development, particularly in relation to relevant work types.
• The ability to develop advisory relationships with partners.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and with lawyers of all seniority levels.
• Commitment to quality and attention to detail.
• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $160,000 - $180,000. The actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Benefits

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package.