Business Development Manager - Litigation

Job Description Summary

Fenwick is seeking a Business Development Manager (BDM) who will lead business development and profile-raising initiatives for all areas within Fenwick’s Litigation practice, including IP Litigation, Complex Commercial Litigation, Securities Litigation and Employment. The BDM will:

1. Create and lead internal business analysis, market research and competitive intelligence to identify promising opportunities for short-term and longer-term growth across the Litigation practice areas;
2. Work with the practice leadership and lawyers to develop, coordinate and implement client relationship management efforts, sales materials and experience management efforts;
3. Collaborate with Litigation partners and business development colleagues to identify cross-selling opportunities and pursue new engagements;
4. Be primarily responsible for high-profile RFPs and profile-raising efforts;
5. Recommend overall improvements to the firm’s business development functions.

This position also requires mentorship and management of junior BD colleagues and includes periodic travel to the firm’s different offices. This position can be based in any of our U.S. office locations.

Job Description

• Practice group support. Work with practice group leaders to assess business development ("BD") needs related to overall strategic plan implementation. Attend key practice group meetings. Proactively identify opportunities for cross marketing and execute.
• Individual partner support. Meet with partners in key practices to develop and implement client relationship management efforts. Monitor and support BD activities of those partners, including identifying targets, developing pursuit strategies and monitoring and supporting pursuit efforts.
• Sales material messaging. Work with other BD team members to ensure that sales materials, pitches and proposals highlight the attributes of the firm and its key practices.
• Idea generation. Initiate and implement ideas to improve the department’s BD services and the firm’s business development efforts.
• Events management and content development. Develop strategies and content for (and drive forward) targeted events, sponsorship involvement, speaking engagements and thought leadership.
• Lateral integration. Collaborate with Recruiting and Practice Development teams to create and implement lateral integration plans and ensure successful onboarding of lateral partners, including integration of their clients into the firm.
• Metrics and reporting. Develop and maintain meaningful metrics that focus BD behavior, improve the efficiency of the firm’s business development efforts and demonstrate the value of the firm’s BD program.
• Staff management and mentoring. Work with the BD team members to improve the efficiency of the department’s BD services, support professional development of BD team and promote a positive work environment.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Exemplary communication skills, both verbal and written, with a keen ability to capture, distill and accurately describe the firm’s services.
• A desire to continually learn and grow, both with best practices in law firm business development and with the firm’s legal practices, business practices and the industries and technologies of our clients.
• Affinity for technology, which is germane to our clients, as well as internally to support innovative marketing and business development efforts.
• Strong problem-solving skills including the ability to anticipate problems as well as suggest and execute on solutions.
• Ability to prioritize ongoing tasks and significant projects for yourself and team members, as well as manage expectations of attorneys in relation to these projects.
• Strong customer service ethic and outstanding interpersonal skills, capable of working seamlessly with high level partners and professional staff.
• Highly organized, efficient and extremely detailed oriented, with superior proofreading and fact checking skills.
• Capable of staying productive and accurate under pressure with tight deadlines (a sense of humor helps, too).
• Ability to write about complex legal and technical topics.
• Advanced search, data collection and reporting skills, including use of CRM tools and proprietary research databases.
• Advanced Excel skill and proficiency in remaining MS Office suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
• Self-motivated, takes initiative and can work independently.

Reporting to the Director of Business Development, the ideal candidate will have 7+ years of professional services business development experience and an intermediate to advanced understanding of the business and operational needs of companies in the technology industries (software, mobile, life sciences, cleantech, etc.) and their corresponding legal services (venture capital, securities, IP litigation, etc.). Bachelors required; M.B.A. or J.D. preferred.

Benefits And Compensation Details

At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing.

The Anticipated Range For This Position Is

$142,000 - $188,500

Depending on the role, the actual base salary offered may depend upon a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

A discretionary bonus for eligible employees may also be available based on performance. Additional information about employee eligibility for benefits and discretionary bonus will be made available upon request.