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About the Role

The Associate Director, Business Development is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and driving business development strategy for their practice group, with a strong cross-practice and cross-functional lens. This role designs and leads high-impact initiatives to advance growth, strengthen client relationships, and align with the firm’s long-term objectives. The Associate Director provides strategic counsel on client acquisition, account growth, and retention, translating market insight into actionable recommendations. They lead the development and execution of priority business development programs and complex pursuits, ensuring innovation and alignment with client needs and firm priorities. This role champions collaboration across practice groups and teams to deliver integrated, client-focused solutions and drives continuous improvement of business development standards and processes.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of client-specific strategies in partnership with practice and industry leaders.
Utilize market intelligence, client mapping, and competitive analysis to identify and pursue high-value client opportunities.
Deepen relationships with strategic clients.
Guide teams in the creation of business plans and ensures BD efforts are integrated with broader firm strategy.
Oversee the design and delivery of highly tailored, innovative, and priority-aligned proposals and pitches for key matters.
Collaborate across practices and functions to bring the best of the firm to each opportunity.
Leverage client and industry insights to secure high-impact work.
Champion best practices in pitch development and ensures consistency in firm positioning.
Develop and lead thought leadership initiatives and external positioning efforts.
Develop and execute strategies to showcase the firm’s expertise, drive business growth, and strengthen the reputation of the practice group and its partners.
Ensure alignment of thought leadership, legal rankings, and external events with firm strategy and growth priorities.
Foster cross-practice alignment and collaboration with PG/Regional marketers, strategic client teams, and industry BD teams.
Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, including executive committee members, regional section heads, and partners.
Develop, lead and execute impactful major projects and/or teams, providing direction, coaching, and oversight.
Drive continuous improvement and ensures the BD function delivers maximum value to the firm.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
Significant experience in business development (or closely aligned commercial/marketing roles) within a complex professional services environment.
Legal sector experience preferred.
Deep expertise in core BD disciplines (e.g., client strategy and planning, pitching and pursuit management, market positioning and thought leadership).
Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives from design through execution.
Strong understanding of the legal market, client buying dynamics, and competitor positioning.
Ability to translate external insight into clear BD priorities and differentiated strategies.
Demonstrated ability to operate cross-functionally and cross-practice, influencing senior stakeholders and aligning diverse teams in a matrix environment.
Proven commercial acumen and analytical capability.
Able to use data, judgment, and market insight to diagnose issues, develop solutions, and advise leadership.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
Able to build consensus, manage sensitive conversations, and represent the practice group professionally.
Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement in standards, processes, and ways of working.
Experience leading teams and/or major projects, including coaching and developing colleagues and driving high performance.

Skills

Business Development
Marketing
Strategic Planning
Client Cultivation
Market Intelligence
Competitive Analysis
Proposal Development
Pitch Management
Thought Leadership
External Positioning
Stakeholder Management
Negotiation
Commercial Acumen
Analytical Capability
Data Analysis
Problem-Solving
Collaboration
Team Leadership
Coaching

Location

Global

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Associate Director
Senior

Education Level

Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
Professional certification(s) a plus

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Disability coverage
401(k) retirement savings
Vacation time
Leave programs (including parental leave)
Performance bonus eligible

About the Company

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide.
With a long history as an international firm, we are well-positioned to help clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may arise.
Operating across six continents and working in virtually every country, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality, full-service practice that competes at the top of the market.
We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in key financial markets and our expertise in handling complex cross-border work.
Our people and clients value our collaboration across geographic and practice boundaries, which is why we attract and retain significant cross-border work.
Representing multiple nationalities from across the world and speaking a vast array of languages, our lawyers and Business Services professionals are globally minded, enterprising, and committed to excellence.

Equal Opportunity

White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace.
It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact talent.acquisition@whitecase.com.