Special Advisor, Client Development - Transactional

Baker Botts is a leading international law firm recognized for its deep understanding of the industries it serves. With offices across major global markets, the firm delivers sophisticated legal services while cultivating a collaborative, inclusive culture where both attorneys and professional staff contribute to client success and organizational excellence.

About the role

Baker Botts is seeking a Special Advisor, Client Development – Transactional to join our Client Development team in our Dallas or Houston office. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned business development leader with deep experience advising senior executives and partners on complex, high-value client pursuits to contribute meaningfully to accelerating revenue growth across the Firm’s highest-priority clients, sectors, and transactional practices, including M&A, Corporate, Private Equity, Finance, and Project Finance.

In this role, you will work closely with relationship partners and practice leaders to enable and amplify partner-led business development through strategic collaboration, market intelligence, and differentiated client positioning. As Special Advisor, this individual will serve as a trusted strategic partner to the Firm's leading relationship partners, helping them identify, pursue, and convert high-value business opportunities while transforming how Baker Botts positions its capabilities in the marketplace.

The strongest candidates will bring a blend of three capabilities: sales instincts backed by a well-cultivated network; analytical rigor; and a strategic marketing sensibility to help map and execute a best-in-class client growth strategy.

This is a full-time, hybrid, exempt position reporting to the Chief Client Officer.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic growth partner to the Firm’s leading relationship partners and practice leaders, developing and executing tailored growth plans for priority clients and prospects.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities and whitespace within existing client relationships, coordinating executive-level engagement strategies to expand practice penetration.
• Lead the creation of executive-level pitch materials, opportunity briefs, and client presentations that position Baker Botts as a strategic business advisor rather than solely legal counsel.
• Establish disciplined pipeline management processes to track strategic opportunities from identification through engagement, providing visibility into pursuit progress and revenue impact.
• Leverage CRM platforms, deal databases, and market intelligence tools to identify high-probability opportunities and inform business development priorities.

New Client/Matter Acquisition

• Identify and qualify prospective clients aligned with the Firm's strategic priorities, focusing pursuit efforts on the highest-value opportunities.
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with business leaders, legal executives, bankers, private equity professionals, board members, and other key influencers who can open doors to new client relationships.
• Generate introductions and meetings for Firm lawyers, converting relationships into tangible business development opportunities.
• Develop and execute targeted pursuit strategies for priority prospects, tailoring outreach and positioning to each opportunity's dynamics.
• Advance opportunities from initial relationship through engagement, applying a consultative approach that builds trust and demonstrates the Firm's value.
• Maintain a well-cultivated personal network that serves as an ongoing source of introductions, market intelligence, and new business opportunities for the Firm.

Additional Responsibilities

• Coach partners and client teams on consultative selling techniques, executive storytelling, and value-based messaging for C-suite executives, boards, and private equity sponsors.
• Monitor market developments, investment activity, and competitive dynamics across key sectors, including technology, AI, energy, infrastructure, private equity, and capital markets, to identify emerging opportunities.
• Partner with Firm leadership on strategic planning initiatives, client investment decisions, and firmwide growth priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD and/or MBA is desirable.
• 15+ years of experience in business development, professional services, investment banking, consulting, corporate development, or a related commercial leadership role.
• Extensive experience leveraging CRM platforms, deal databases, and market intelligence and data analytics tools to inform client targeting and growth strategies.
• Exceptional executive presence and the proven ability to build credibility with partners, C-suite executives, boards of directors, general counsel, and investors.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential client and firm strategic information with sound judgment and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within a law firm or other sophisticated professional services organization.
• Strong understanding of corporate transactions, M&A, private equity, finance, capital markets, and related industries.

Success in this role

A successful Special Advisor will quickly build credibility with the Firm’s leading relationship partners and become a trusted resource for shaping and advancing their highest-priority client pursuits. Within the first 6–12 months, success looks like a disciplined, visible pipeline of strategic opportunities across priority clients and sectors, partner adoption of more consultative, insight-driven pursuit materials, and measurable progress converting whitespace and cross-selling opportunities into new engagements.

Schedule

Full-time, standard business hours, with flexibility to accommodate client meetings and travel as needed.

Work Model

Hybrid; based in the Dallas or Houston office with regular in-office presence expected to support partner and client engagement.

Physical Requirements

Routine office environment. Must be able to sit at a computer for extended periods. Occasional lifting of files and materials up to approximately 10 lbs.