Associate Director of Client Development, Industries & Markets

About Us For Business Professionals, Winston & Strawn presents an exciting opportunity to be a part of a leading global law firm. With our commitment to excellence, diversity, a collaborative work environment, and an emphasis on professional growth, Winston offers a platform for individuals seeking to advance their careers in a dynamic and rewarding environment. Winston is known for its collaborative and collegial culture.

We believe teamwork is an essential component in providing high-quality legal services and we value the talents and skills of our entire business professional team.

Winston & Strawn is seeking an Associate Director of Client Development to support the firm’s Industries & Markets strategy. This role will partner closely with industry leaders, practice group leadership, and firm management to drive coordinated, market-facing growth initiatives across priority sectors and geographies. The Associate Director will play a critical role in translating firm strategy into actionable business development plans, strengthening client relationships, and positioning Winston & Strawn as a leading firm in targeted industries and markets.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of how sophisticated clients buy legal services, experience operating in a matrixed law firm environment, and the credibility to work effectively with senior partners and firm leadership.

• Lead the corporate vertical within the client development team and own line management, oversight of workflows and outputs, and expectation and goal setting for team members.
• Create synergies across additional client development verticals and share best practices to strategically grow the department’s approach to scaling and expanding client relationships.
• Identify and nurture growth opportunities for team members, setting stretch goals and ensuring that roles are consistently monitored for performance management and that talent gaps are identified and rectified.

• Serve as the senior most business development advisor to connect across industry groups and market teams.
• Partner with industry and market leaders to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with firmwide growth priorities.
• Conduct market, client, and competitive analyses to identify opportunities for expansion, client penetration, and differentiation within priority industries and geographies.

• Support team members in developing and implementing account plans for key industry and market-aligned clients.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships through cross-practice collaboration and integrated client solutions.
• Oversee preparation of client briefings, relationship reviews, and market intelligence to inform partner outreach and engagement strategies.

• Oversee team leading and managing pitches, proposals, and RFPs tied to industry and market initiatives, ensuring strategic positioning and high-quality execution.
• Work closely with partners to articulate compelling value propositions, relevant experience, and sector-specific insights tailored to client needs.
• Coordinate with pricing, finance, knowledge management, communications, and marketing teams to support opportunity development.

• Oversee team collaborating with industry leaders and communications colleagues to identify and promote thought leadership, speaking engagements, client programs, and sponsor ships aligned with priority sectors.
• Drive the development of industry-focused marketing content and campaigns that enhance the firm’s visibility and credibility in the market.

• Leverage CRM and related systems to track opportunities, client activity, and industry initiatives.
• Analyze performance metrics, pipeline data, and market trends to assess effectiveness and inform strategic adjustments.
• Contribute to reporting for firm leadership on industry and market business development efforts.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, or…