Assistant Director: Business Development; Transactions

Overview

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do. We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Business Development and Marketing department in our Chicago office, as an Assistant Director:
Business Development.

The Assistant Director:
Business Development – Products is a growth catalyst for the firm’s Transactional practices, with a primary focus on Corporate and Real Estate. In close partnership with practice group leaders and the Director of Business Development, this role designs and executes high-impact strategies and market-facing initiatives that accelerate revenue, deepen client relationships, and elevate the firm’s competitive position. Centered on proactive, data-informed cross-selling and client expansion, the Assistant Director leads product and practice growth programs, drives client development plans from strategy through execution, and builds industry-specific campaigns that enhance engagement and unlock new opportunities.

This is a visible, outcomes-oriented role that translates market insight into measurable growth and positions the firm for sustained success.

Essential Functions:

• Business Plans & Infrastructure
  • Leads the development and implementation of annual business development & marketing business plan development focused on priorities outlined by firm leaders and/or assigned teams, including thought leadership platforms, communications, and client outreach
  • Collaborates with Business Development & Marketing department leadership and group leaders to develop and regularly review annual budgets to support initiatives outlined in business plan(s) or as outlined by leadership, including specifying key strategic and tactical objectives and means to achieve annual goals
  • Oversee day-to-day responsibilities of the team to ensure that assignments and projects are properly managed and in alignment with the firm’s overall strategic efforts, and that service to clients is exceptional
  • Provides tactical input and direction on the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers
• Business Development & Profile Raising Initiatives
  • Leads the development and implementation of key BD initiatives, including priority client targeting and campaigns, client satisfaction, client seminars and networking events, as well as other initiatives to enhance business development efforts
  • Develop and lead the approach to research and analysis and competitive intelligence-gathering
  • Directs the collection and maintenance of CRM-based contact and other data for marketing planning and for mailing lists
  • Directs the collection and reporting of matter experience
  • Manages BD&M colleagues to facilitate best completion of directory submissions; regional surveys; league table/industry survey content; specific lawyer and practice awards and accolades; and other profile-raising initiatives on behalf of the industry group
  • Assists in the strategic approach and implementation of business development training for lawyers
• Pitches, Proposals & Marketing Materials
  • Provides sophisticated strategy and support for responses to RFPs, and pitch, presentation, and other opportunities via the development of written proposal and presentation materials for the industry group and liaise with others when…