Ropes & Gray LLP
Business Development Manager – Industry
Ropes & Gray LLP
About Ropes & Gray Ropes & Gray is a preeminent global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top three on
The American Lawyer's
prestigious A-List for eight consecutive years and #1 on
Law.com's
UK A-List twice in the past three years – rankings that honor the "best of the best" law firms. The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring. Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.
Overview Business Development Department’s commercial objective is to grow firm revenue and take market share, in collaboration with partners, attorneys and business colleagues, by leveraging and generating the firm’s offering.
Grow existing client relationships via industry and practice group business development efforts and client teams.
Develop identified new client pursuits.
Business development is part of a broader business support organization in a collaborative work environment. The team specializes in new business pursuit, key account management, business development skills & coaching, pitches and proposals (including RFPs), and client feedback.
Responsibilities
Develop and execute business development and marketing efforts designed to generate new business and improve market visibility for industry groups and cross‑practice initiatives.
Collaborate with practice group partners and global teams to develop and implement business and client development plans for target clients, including budget planning, expense monitoring, and identifying joint initiatives to grow revenue and relationships.
Establish and maintain effective internal reporting and communication frameworks to track progress, share outcomes, and support management reporting across practice groups and affiliated teams.
Manage and drive the development of existing client relationships and the pursuit of new engagements in collaboration with other business support colleagues, including:
Organizing, participating in, and maintaining internal business development meetings – responsible for agendas, action steps, follow‑up, and connecting with global colleagues.
Develop expertise in industry groups and other initiatives, including commissioning and conducting business research to keep abreast of industry/market intelligence and to support BD strategy.
Project manage the delivery of client, market and competitor research, tailoring data for partner or client consumption and sharing insights from other PGs and offices for collaborative initiatives.
Monitor and identify market opportunities, industry trends and themes for client engagement.
Drive pitching and new business generation by:
Project managing and executing large pitches, proposals, and RFPs, leading a team to develop a winning strategy, differentiating from the competition, and helping write aspects of the pitch.
Working with finance to develop compelling fee arrangements.
Maintaining accountability for timely and accurate completion and submission of RFPs or pitches, ensuring proper document storage and tracking, and establishing follow‑up action steps post‑submission.
Maintaining up‑to‑date pitch content, practice materials, client information and experience tracking.
Promoting best practices and knowledge sharing across global BD and marketing teams.
Acting as trusted advisor to attorney teams to scope, prepare for in‑person meetings and pitches, and provide post‑pitch client and target feedback.
Building a strong working knowledge of practice group services and a clear understanding of the relevant group's strategy, priorities and clients.
Working with marketing and business support colleagues to identify opportunities to create and implement integrated branding and profile‑raising campaigns, assess market conference opportunities, advise lawyers on selection, participation and execution, and identify appropriate client and market targets for knowledge marketing.
Support the development of attorney‑facing BD training.
Manage and develop junior members of the business development team, fostering teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, professionalism, and integrity.
Qualifications
Superior client service skills.
Able to quickly establish credibility with lead partners and key stakeholders by balancing a confident, measured, and persistent approach.
Work effectively as a team player with enthusiasm for developing relationships and supporting colleagues and stakeholders across all aspects of the business.
Confident leader and self‑starter in a dynamic environment.
Commercially minded and solutions oriented.
Excellent organization, communication, and project management skills.
Attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of the role.
Effective oral and written communication with all levels of attorneys and business professionals.
Experience writing in a professional services environment.
Able to set clear goals and priorities, multi‑task and meet multiple deadlines.
Creative and flexible when managing individual and team workloads and priorities, responding quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities.
Able to demonstrate creativity and initiative by continuously looking for areas to improve and ways to implement positive change.
Ability to thrive in a challenging and dynamic environment.
Education & Experience Required
Bachelor's degree.
MBA or JD helpful but not required.
Professional experience, including management of direct reports.
Minimum of eight years of experience in business development within a professional services firm or corporate environment.
Experience working in a cross‑practice role within professional services preferred.
Compensation & Total Rewards Package Ropes & Gray offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package, health and well‑being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities, and a collegial culture. Anticipated pay range (initial salary) and discretionary bonus based on performance will vary by location:
Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C.: $142,500 – $228,050
New York: $149,300 – $238,900
San Francisco: $156,100 – $249,750
Working Conditions This position requires hybrid on‑site presence as an essential function. Consistent and predictable on‑site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Business Development and Sales
Industries Law Practice
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About Ropes & Gray Ropes & Gray is a preeminent global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top three on
The American Lawyer's
prestigious A-List for eight consecutive years and #1 on
Law.com's
UK A-List twice in the past three years – rankings that honor the "best of the best" law firms. The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring. Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.
Overview Business Development Department’s commercial objective is to grow firm revenue and take market share, in collaboration with partners, attorneys and business colleagues, by leveraging and generating the firm’s offering.
Grow existing client relationships via industry and practice group business development efforts and client teams.
Develop identified new client pursuits.
Business development is part of a broader business support organization in a collaborative work environment. The team specializes in new business pursuit, key account management, business development skills & coaching, pitches and proposals (including RFPs), and client feedback.
Responsibilities
Develop and execute business development and marketing efforts designed to generate new business and improve market visibility for industry groups and cross‑practice initiatives.
Collaborate with practice group partners and global teams to develop and implement business and client development plans for target clients, including budget planning, expense monitoring, and identifying joint initiatives to grow revenue and relationships.
Establish and maintain effective internal reporting and communication frameworks to track progress, share outcomes, and support management reporting across practice groups and affiliated teams.
Manage and drive the development of existing client relationships and the pursuit of new engagements in collaboration with other business support colleagues, including:
Organizing, participating in, and maintaining internal business development meetings – responsible for agendas, action steps, follow‑up, and connecting with global colleagues.
Develop expertise in industry groups and other initiatives, including commissioning and conducting business research to keep abreast of industry/market intelligence and to support BD strategy.
Project manage the delivery of client, market and competitor research, tailoring data for partner or client consumption and sharing insights from other PGs and offices for collaborative initiatives.
Monitor and identify market opportunities, industry trends and themes for client engagement.
Drive pitching and new business generation by:
Project managing and executing large pitches, proposals, and RFPs, leading a team to develop a winning strategy, differentiating from the competition, and helping write aspects of the pitch.
Working with finance to develop compelling fee arrangements.
Maintaining accountability for timely and accurate completion and submission of RFPs or pitches, ensuring proper document storage and tracking, and establishing follow‑up action steps post‑submission.
Maintaining up‑to‑date pitch content, practice materials, client information and experience tracking.
Promoting best practices and knowledge sharing across global BD and marketing teams.
Acting as trusted advisor to attorney teams to scope, prepare for in‑person meetings and pitches, and provide post‑pitch client and target feedback.
Building a strong working knowledge of practice group services and a clear understanding of the relevant group's strategy, priorities and clients.
Working with marketing and business support colleagues to identify opportunities to create and implement integrated branding and profile‑raising campaigns, assess market conference opportunities, advise lawyers on selection, participation and execution, and identify appropriate client and market targets for knowledge marketing.
Support the development of attorney‑facing BD training.
Manage and develop junior members of the business development team, fostering teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, professionalism, and integrity.
Qualifications
Superior client service skills.
Able to quickly establish credibility with lead partners and key stakeholders by balancing a confident, measured, and persistent approach.
Work effectively as a team player with enthusiasm for developing relationships and supporting colleagues and stakeholders across all aspects of the business.
Confident leader and self‑starter in a dynamic environment.
Commercially minded and solutions oriented.
Excellent organization, communication, and project management skills.
Attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of the role.
Effective oral and written communication with all levels of attorneys and business professionals.
Experience writing in a professional services environment.
Able to set clear goals and priorities, multi‑task and meet multiple deadlines.
Creative and flexible when managing individual and team workloads and priorities, responding quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities.
Able to demonstrate creativity and initiative by continuously looking for areas to improve and ways to implement positive change.
Ability to thrive in a challenging and dynamic environment.
Education & Experience Required
Bachelor's degree.
MBA or JD helpful but not required.
Professional experience, including management of direct reports.
Minimum of eight years of experience in business development within a professional services firm or corporate environment.
Experience working in a cross‑practice role within professional services preferred.
Compensation & Total Rewards Package Ropes & Gray offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package, health and well‑being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities, and a collegial culture. Anticipated pay range (initial salary) and discretionary bonus based on performance will vary by location:
Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C.: $142,500 – $228,050
New York: $149,300 – $238,900
San Francisco: $156,100 – $249,750
Working Conditions This position requires hybrid on‑site presence as an essential function. Consistent and predictable on‑site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Business Development and Sales
Industries Law Practice
#J-18808-Ljbffr