Manager, Business Development, Disputes – Litigation

Team Summary

Position Summary

The Manager, Business Development is a business development process expert and operational leader responsible for the effective execution of core BD activities within the practice group. The role ensures high-quality delivery of business development work, manages key BD systems and processes, and supports partners, client teams, and BD leadership in driving growth, client engagement, and market positioning.

The Manager applies strong technical expertise across BD disciplines—such as pitching, client planning, CRM usage, and market analysis—to support client relationship management and new business generation. Working closely with Senior Managers and Associate Directors, the role contributes to the execution of agreed BD strategies and ensures alignment with firm standards, priorities, and ways of working.

The Manager leads day-to-day BD operations within their area, manages coordinators and specialists, drives process improvement, and ensures BD activity is delivered efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with firm policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic planning and client cultivation

• Support the execution of client and business development strategies by managing research, client mapping, and market analysis to identify and qualify new business opportunities.

• Collaborate with partners, RSHs, and BD teams to develop and implement client plans, track engagement, and support client relationship management initiatives.

• Provide practical insights and recommendations to improve client targeting, segmentation, and outreach effectiveness.

Proposals and pitch excellence

• Lead the preparation and coordination of client proposals, pitches, and capability statements, ensuring content is tailored, accurate, and aligned with client needs and firm strategy.

• Manage the collection and organization of matter lists, credentials, and supporting materials for pitches.

• Coordinate input from stakeholders and ensures timely delivery of high-quality proposals.

Positioning Practices & Partners

• Support the delivery of thought leadership, market positioning, and external engagement activities for the practice group.

• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to develop content, track rankings, and organize events that raise the profile of the practice and its partners.

• Maintain awareness of industry trends and competitor positioning to inform BD initiatives.

Cross-Practice & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with BD leadership, partners, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and consistency in BD activities.

• Facilitate information sharing and collaboration across practice groups, industry teams, and business services functions.

• Act as a key point of contact for the coordination of BD projects and initiatives.

Contributor capacity

• Manage workflow and resource allocation for junior team members (coordinators, specialists), providing guidance, feedback, and support to ensure high standards of delivery.

• Act as a role model for professional conduct, operational excellence, and collaborative teamwork.

• Provide technical and process expertise to support the development of the BD team.

Performance and impact

• Monitor and report on BD activity, tracking key metrics and analyzing results to inform continuous improvement.

• Implement process improvements and best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of BD operations.

• Ensure compliance with firm policies, procedures, and data quality standards in all BD activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; relevant professional qualifications an advantage.

• Familiarity with disputes practices.

• Demonstrated experience delivering a wide range of operational and tactical business development activities within a professional services environment.

• Strong technical expertise in business development methodologies, processes, systems, and best practices (e.g., pitching, client planning, CRM, market analysis), with the ability to resolve complex operational issues within scope.

• Experience managing coordinators and/or specialists, including workflow allocation, quality control, coaching, and day-to-day supervision.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and insights to optimize processes and improve BD delivery.

• Good commercial awareness and understanding of market and client dynamics, applied pragmatically to support BD initiatives.

• Clear and effective communication skills, enabling collaboration with partners, BD colleagues, and other business services teams.

Location

• This role is based in London.

• Our standard office hours are 09:30-18:00, with a requirement for 4 days (Monday – Thursday) in the office per week. 

What We Offer

When you join us, you’ll be working directly with partners, business leaders and many other inspiring colleagues across our global network of offices. We live by our values - to be pioneering, united and human - and we believe that you’ll experience them from your first day. We will give you the support and development opportunities that will help you achieve your potential. We believe that consistent high performance merits reward and support. Our compensation package reflects your calibre as a business development professional, and our benefits are designed to support your changing needs and priorities across different life stages.

Firm Benefits 

We offer a flexible range of benefits, services and programmes designed to help support your lifestyle requirements. Some of the benefits currently available include: 

• Private medical insurance 

• Pension plan with matched employer contribution up to 7.5% 

• Yearly wellbeing fund 

• Income protection 

• Life insurance 

• Critical Illness insurance 

• Private GP services 

• Travel insurance

• Dental coverage 

• Cycle to work 

• Holiday purchase (available during annual enrolment) 

This role reports to

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email us. We will be happy to work with you.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. With a long history as an international firm, we are well-positioned to help clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may arise.

Operating across six continents and working in virtually every country, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality, full-service practice that competes at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in key financial markets and our expertise in handling complex cross-border work.

What sets us apart is not just our global network of offices but the interconnectedness of our Firm. Our people and clients value our collaboration across geographic and practice boundaries, which is why we attract and retain significant cross-border work.

Representing multiple nationalities from across the world and speaking a vast array of languages, our lawyers and Business Services professionals are globally minded, enterprising, and committed to excellence.