Business Development Manager - (Hybrid Schedule)

Company: Reed Smith LLP
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 9, 2025

Job Description:

US Job Description

Make your application after reading the following skill and qualification requirements for this position.


Firm Information

Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters.

Our team of 3,000 people (including more than 1,600 lawyers) across more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, operate as one global partnership to drive progress for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities.

Position Summary

The Business Development (BD) Manager will drive and implement the business development tactics for the firm's Global Commercial Disputes Group across the U.S., with the assistance of colleagues across the Reed Smith U.S. offices and those based outside the U.S. Working within the larger Marketing Department, this role will liaise across other practice groups, industry groups and task forces with a primary focus on enhancing the firm's profile, strengthening relationships with key clients, and creating opportunities for collaboration across groups. This position will also support various disputes initiatives, including but not limited to, Trials and Class Actions. While this is a US-based role, the successful candidate will work with peers throughout the globe, liaising with both BD colleagues and partners worldwide.



This highly detailed and organized professional will provide strategic and tactical support to drive revenue through a full spectrum of marketing and BD efforts. The successful candidate will consult key partners on their vision for initiatives, thought-leadership activity, campaigns and campaign components. This individual will carry through with project planning and ROI measurement, staying close to market trends and maintaining an awareness of competitors. This role includes supervision of one BD Coordinator

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Interact with group leaders and other key attorneys on firmwide BD activities; develop strong working relationships and maintain a high level of day-to-day interaction with lawyers.
Prepare tailored, compelling pitches and responses for new business opportunities and requests for information and proposals. Develop practice-related pitch materials, such as profiles, experience lists, and case studies. Ensure follow up is sought from client post pitch; track and act on actions which arise; assess how feedback can be used to enhance win rate.
Drive strategy for brand positioning efforts, including the management of strategic conference sponsorships, client presentations, seminars and webinars.
Using internal and external databases, conduct market research and client analysis to identify industry trends, new business opportunities, and synergies with other practice and/or industry areas.
Liaise with Client Intelligence to prepare research to support cross-selling efforts for existing and prospective clients as well as relationship reports, relationship maps, and targeting plans.
Maintain contributions and input related to attorney experience and client information into business development systems including CRM and Foundation.
Draft and edit marketing collateral, including practice area descriptions and attorney biographies; facilitate posting updates to firm website and intranet as needed.
Manage submissions for major awards and legal directories to further the awareness and positioning of the group; maintain repositories of group accolades and awards.
Ensure all marketing communications channels are exploited to convey consistent messages about the group and its experience, including the use of social media in consultation with the digital team. Work with our communications and media staff to identify and pursue PR opportunities in key legal trade and industry publications and industry surveys.
Onboard lateral attorneys.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: The candidate will need to have good legal industry and substantive BD knowledge including experience in a law firm environment, and have good commercial understanding of the business world and legal trends that impact firm clients. The candidate should have a minimum of 5-8 years experience in a marketing or business development position involving extensive interaction with partners, with at least some experience in a law firm. Experience of client-facing activity preferable. Experience of working across borders is preferable although not essential.

Skills:

Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Technologically savvy and able to quickly learn new database systems.
Extremely detail oriented, proactive and self-directed with ability to independently manage and appropriately prioritize multiple projects and competing priorities under tight deadlines, sometimes with minimal oversight.
Able to demonstrate sound professional judgment and a high degree of poise and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts.
Comfortable establishing effective firmwide working relationships with individuals at all levels.
Possess, and be willing to continue to develop, strong organizational, project management and problem-solving skills.
Able to work independently as well as part of a team and be flexible in approach.

Other

Supervisory Responsibilities: There is currently no supervisory component for this role.

Equipment To Be Used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, fax, machine, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential Job Functions:

Requires strong organizational skills, time management, initiative, focus on service delivery and excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform under pressure.

Must be able to communicate well, with excellent oral and written skills. They will be a natural internal networker who uncovers opportunities through engaging informally with partners and colleagues, as well as externally with clients.

Keen problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities and solutions-oriented thinking.

Must be able to travel for meetings and events as required.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to utilize technology, including computers and telecommunication devices. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office is also essential.

Flexibility and adaptability; ability to multi-task, stay organised and manage competing priorities

Ability to exercise sound judgment to recommend and effectuate decisions.

Ability to use independent judgment and discretion and adapt to changing work situations.

Ability to have a customer-focused mindset and deliver high-quality service or solutions to internal or external stakeholders.

Must have Flexibility and adaptability to navigate changes, unexpected challenges, and evolving priorities.

Working Conditions: You will be required to work in the office at minimum 3 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay Ranges:

This represents the presently-anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith's pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

Dallas: $119,000 - $147,000
Chicago: $138,000 - $157,000

Overview:

401k Plan
Medical
Health Savings Account
Virtual Health
Dental
Vision
Accident Insurance
Hospital Indemnity
Critical Illness Insurance
Life Insurance
Short-Term Disability
Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt Staff)
College Savings Plan
Transportation Benefit
Back-up Child Care
College Coach
Pet Insurance
Paid Sick Time (all exempt roles)
Paid Time Off (all full time staff, exempt and non-exempt. Does not include temporary full time work)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401 (k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.

Reed Smith provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.
Remote working/work at home options are available for this role.

Keywords: Reed Smith LLP, Chicago , Business Development Manager - (Hybrid Schedule), Executive , Chicago, Illinois