Manager: Business Development (Structured Finance and Global Trade Finance)

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 Commercial department in our New York, or Chicago office, as a Manager: Business Development.

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to help shape and accelerate strategic growth across our market-leading Structured Finance and Global Trade Finance practices. Based in New York or Chicago, this highly visible role sits at the intersection of client strategy, market intelligence, and revenue generation, supporting lawyers on some of the most complex and innovative transactions across asset-backed finance, CLOs, structured credit, derivatives, private capital markets, and global trade finance.

Working closely with practice leadership and senior lawyers, the Business Development Manager will proactively develop and execute go-to-market strategies, identify high-value client opportunities, and lead strategic pursuits that deepen relationships with leading financial institutions, sponsors, and investors. The role spans the full lifecycle of business development—from proactive client targeting, cross-practice initiatives, and market planning to leading complex pitches, thought leadership campaigns, and client engagement programs that reinforce the firm's position at the forefront of structured finance and trade finance innovation.

This is not a traditional support role. The Business Development Manager will operate across jurisdictions and practices, influence senior stakeholders, and contribute directly to revenue growth in a fast-moving, highly competitive market. Success requires a strong understanding of structured finance and global trade finance markets, a combination of strategic insight and hands-on execution capabilities, and a proactive, commercially driven mindset focused on converting opportunities into tangible results.

Essential Functions: 

• Business Plans & Infrastructure
  • Develops and supports annual marketing and business development business plan development focused on priorities outlined by firm leaders and/or assigned teams, including thought leadership platforms, communications, and client outreach
  • Collaborate with Business Development & Marketing department leadership and group leaders to develop 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
  • Manage day-to-day responsibilities 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
  • Support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers

• Business Development & Profile Raising Initiatives
  • Develop and support the 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
  • Engage in research and analysis and competitive intelligence-gathering
  • Support the collection and maintenance of CRM-based contact and other data for marketing planning and for mailing lists
  • Support in the collection and reporting of matter experience
  • Partners with BD&M colleagues to facilitate the 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
  • Support coordination of business development training for lawyers

• Pitches & Proposals & Marketing Materials
  • Manages 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 relevant
  • Develop new marketing brochures and edit and refine existing ones; maintain practice descriptions in BD&M-shared systems
  • Periodically review and consult with lawyers regarding their bios and practice descriptions to ensure that they are current

• Local Office Support
  • When relevant, provide support for seminars, sponsorships, and other events and initiatives pursued by the firm in your local office
  • When relevant, support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers

• Other
  • Assist with the supervision and training of more junior team members
  • Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Professional Experience:

• Six or more years of demonstrated success in a marketing, research, management, and/or communications-related field, either in the professional services (g., law, accounting, or consulting) or in a comparable position(s) in the corporate, trade association, or academic sectors

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products

Performance Traits:

• Must be a proactive self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with accepted research techniques and databases typically used for competitive intelligence in a professional services company
• Demonstrated good judgment, a team-first orientation, meticulous and results driven.

Management Accountabilities:

• Manages processes for direct reports in relation to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counselling
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations
• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner
• Analysis of staffing levels and requests for assistance
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations

Physical Requirements:

• May require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs.
• May require travel to other offices as needed

This description is not exhaustive, and the Firm may modify it at any time at its sole discretion; nothing herein creates an employment contract or alters the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request an accommodation related to the application process or interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mayer Brown works with select external search firms that have been vetted against our standards. Firms without a contract or agreement with Mayer Brown are not authorized to represent that they are working with the Firm, nor are they entitled to placement fees. Mayer Brown does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruiters. Submission of an unsolicited CV to Mayer Brown or any of its Partners or employees will not establish any right of priority for the submitting agency.

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