Business Development Director - Investment Management Practice

Morgan Lewis•Philadelphia, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, a leading global law firm, is seeking a Business Development Director to support its Investment Management practice. This role involves leading business development strategy and execution, collaborating with practice leadership and lawyers to drive growth, strengthen client relationships, identify new business opportunities, and expand the practice's capabilities. The Director will act as a strategic advisor, bringing a deep understanding of the investment management industry, its clients, competitive landscape, and market/regulatory environment. Responsibilities include translating insights into actionable opportunities, driving strategic initiatives, collaborating with Business Development, Marketing, and other firm functions to advance client targeting, cross-practice and cross-office collaboration, thought leadership, and market visibility. The role also involves driving practice strategic priorities and operating rhythm, and overseeing a team of Business Development professionals. The position requires an in-office presence and can be based in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, DC, with a hybrid work arrangement of three days per week in the office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university required.
Minimum 10 years of relevant business development, strategy, client development, management consulting, or related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Significant experience developing and executing growth strategies in a sophisticated professional-services environment strongly preferred.
Experience working with investment management, asset management, private funds, financial services, or related industries strongly preferred; law firm or other professional-services experience preferred.
Prior experience managing and developing business development or other professional staff preferred.
Strong strategic and commercial orientation, with the ability to synthesize market, client, competitive, financial, legal, and regulatory information and translate insights into practical recommendations and opportunities.
Proven success building credibility with, advising, and influencing senior leaders and professionals in a collaborative, highly matrixed environment.
Demonstrated leadership and people-management skills, including setting priorities, developing talent, providing effective feedback, and leading through direct management and influence.
Excellent planning, organizational, analytical, and project-management skills, with a track record of moving complex initiatives from strategy through execution while managing competing priorities.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills, along with strong interpersonal skills and a client-service orientation.
Sound judgment, discretion, adaptability, and a proactive, results-oriented approach when managing changing priorities and confidential or sensitive business and client information.

Nice To Haves

MBA, other advanced degree, or equivalent experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead business development for the Investment Management practice, partnering with practice leadership to establish growth priorities and execute plans aligned with firm objectives.
Serve as a strategic advisor to practice leadership and lawyers on client development, market positioning, competitive differentiation, and growth opportunities.
Develop a deep understanding of the practice’s clients, capabilities, competitive position, and priority markets and lead targeting and relationship-development initiatives that grow existing relationships, develop new clients, and expand work across practices and geographies.
Monitor investment management industry developments and analyze client, financial, pipeline, matter, and market data to identify opportunities and translate insights into actionable business development and go-to-market strategies.
Drive priority opportunities and initiatives from identification through execution, establishing clear objectives, responsibilities, timelines, and follow-up.
Develop executive-level reports, presentations, analyses, and recommendations addressing performance, key metrics, strategic priorities, client and pipeline activity, and relevant market developments.
Identify and advance thought leadership, events, sponsorships, communications, campaigns, and other profile-raising activities in partnership with Marketing and other firm functions.
Collaborate with Business Development colleagues across practices, industries, clients, and geographies to identify cross-selling and cross-collaboration opportunities and align practice priorities with broader firm objectives.
Drive key practice leadership meetings, working groups, and special projects, identifying strategic topics and opportunities and ensuring appropriate follow-up and accountability.
Lead and develop a team of Business Development professionals, setting priorities, allocating workloads, providing coaching and feedback, evaluating performance, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team.
Manage applicable budgets and resources and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.