Business Development Specialist - Startup

Fenwick & West • Boston, MA

1d • $84,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Fenwick is seeking a creative, detail-oriented and collaborative Business Development Specialist to join our Marketing and Business Development team, supporting our nationally recognized Startup and Emerging Companies Practice. We’re not your typical law firm — and our clients aren’t typical either. From startup disruptors to Fortune 100 companies, we partner with the world’s most innovative tech and life sciences businesses, helping them navigate every part of the lifecycle. Our startup attorneys are business advisors as much as they are lawyers, and this role supports their efforts to win new work, stay visible in the market, and drive strategic growth. As a Business Development Specialist, you’ll play a key role in helping shape the group’s external presence, supporting pitches and proposals, developing impactful content, and coordinating high-value profile-raising activities. You’ll work with lawyers across the startup group and collaborate with a high-performing marketing and BD team that values creativity, initiative, and follow-through. This position can be based in our New York (NY), Boston (MA), Santa Monica (CA), San Francisco (CA), or Seattle (WA) office locations and offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing you to work both from home and at your designated Fenwick office. The frequency of in-office work will be determined by business needs and guided by your department's directives.

Requirements

• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to work on multiple projects and deadlines.
• A proactive, collaborative mindset and the ability to work independently.
• Strong attention to detail and a high standard for accuracy and professionalism.
• Possess a general understanding of marketing databases.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).
• Possess a high degree of self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and a clear, courteous and professional manner when dealing with business professionals.
• Reporting to the Sr. Business Development Manager for Emerging Companies, the ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in a business development capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Responsibilities

• Pitch and Proposal Support Assist with drafting, formatting, and coordinating client pitches, proposals, and panel submissions in collaboration with BD leadership.
• Help develop and maintain marketing content, including representative matters, experience summaries, and practice descriptions.
• Data entry of pre and post pitch activities to our CRM database.
• Content Development and Thought Leadership Assist with managing the full lifecycle of client alerts, newsletters, and other group-related content.
• Support the planning and execution of webinars, CLEs, panels, and client-facing events.
• Coordinate with PR and Communications teams on external promotion and coverage.
• Rankings, Directories, and Awards Coordinate the submission process for key rankings such as Chambers, Legal 500, and other directories.
• Collaborate with attorneys and Communications to prepare materials, coordinate interviews, and ensure timelines are met.
• Assist with tracking outcomes and in building a long-term rankings strategy.
• Experience Management and Practice Support Assist in tracking and updating representative experience for use in pitches, rankings, and practice materials.
• Support the collection of client wins, speaking engagements, and major initiatives for internal and external reporting.
• Events and Contact Intelligence Assist in tracking and maintaining information on client and prospect participation in firm events, conferences, and external industry gatherings.
• Help capture and organize contact intelligence — including client relationships, touchpoints, and engagement activity — in the firm’s CRM and analytics tools.
• Partner with BD and Marketing team members to use event data and contact insights to identify cross-selling and client expansion opportunities.
• Support post-event follow-up efforts, including attendee summaries, outreach lists, and impact tracking.
• Strategic Initiatives and Practice Growth Collaborate with BD Managers to help implement the group’s strategic business development goals.
• Help prepare client development briefings, target lists, and competitor research as needed.

Benefits

• At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program.
• We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing.
• Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level