Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Director of Business Development, Corporate

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati$208K — $281K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • College degree required; JD, MBA, or relevant advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of marketing/client development experience, with at least 5 years in BigLaw.
  • Ability to quickly build trust with firm leaders and rainmakers.
  • Strong commercial acumen for revenue generation and profile-building.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for leading meetings and presentations.
  • Collaborative team player with a strong work ethic and good sense of humor.
  • Self-starter who can manage multiple high-visibility projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with the Corporate Department chair and practice leaders on strategic initiatives.
  • Oversee marketing and business development planning for the department and its practices.
  • Implement tactics to enhance the department's visibility through various channels.
  • Build relationships with organizations and vendors to drive client development efforts.
  • Direct development of go-to-market content and materials for new business.
  • Manage a team leading marketing and business development at the practice level.
  • Analyze market intelligence to identify opportunities and assist attorney preparation.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work schedule available.
  • Highly competitive salary and benefits package.
  • Discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance.
Full Job Description
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's Corporate Department seeks an experienced Director of Business Development to lead marketing and business development strategy and execution across all practices within the firm's global Corporate Department. This is a high-profile, high-autonomy role reporting directly to the Chief Business Development Officer. The ideal candidate brings proven success building and managing business development teams in BigLaw environments, deep knowledge of corporate practices, and an ability to work as a strategic partner to department and practice group leadership. The successful candidate will combine commercial acumen with operational excellence and will thrive in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.

This role is available on a hybrid work schedule.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Work closely with the chair of the Corporate Department and many of the department's practice leaders and senior partners on an array of strategic and tactical initiatives
  • Oversee marketing and business development planning for the department overall as well as its practices and areas of focus
  • Drive tactics and programs that raise the department's internal/external visibility through events, sponsorships, public relations, and social media
  • Build and maintain relationships with appropriate organizations and vendors to maximize engagement and client development efforts
  • Direct the development of go-to-market content and materials that help drive new business
  • Oversee multiple direct reports who are responsible for leading marketing and business development strategy and tactical execution at the practice level
  • Provide business intelligence on markets, clients, prospects, competitors and individuals to identify opportunities, highlight points of differentiation, and help attorneys prepare for key activities
  • Lead the development and management of AI-driven solutions that help optimize the team's efficiency, work product, and value
  • Advise attorneys in all stages of marketing and business development, from vetting sponsorship opportunities to preparing attorney teams for major client development opportunities
  • Identify cross-practice and cross-region opportunities and collaborate with attorneys and marketing colleagues to develop and drive marketing and business development plans to exploit those opportunities
  • Develop regular internal communications highlighting the practice and key deals and trends in the marketplace
  • Partner with all functional groups in the Marketing Department and other administrative groups to plan and execute the corporate practices' key initiatives and cross-practice programs


EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
  • College degree required; JD, MBA or other relevant advanced degree strongly preferred
  • 10+ years marketing/client development experience required, with at least five of those years in BigLaw
  • Skilled at quickly building trust and gaining the confidence of firm leaders and rainmakers
  • Learned instincts to immediately understand the needs of attorneys and consistently strive to exceed their expectations
  • Strong commercial sense to figure out how to facilitate and drive revenue generation and profile-building regardless of the context
  • Keen ability to connect dots, draw conclusions, assess implications, make recommendations
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a practiced ability to confidently lead meetings and present via video and in-person
  • Fits seamlessly into a team that prizes collaboration, collegiality, hard work, and a good sense of humor
  • Must be a self-starter who thrives on juggling numerous high-visibility projects all on tight deadlines
  • Comfortable as a senior doer who will own their own projects where appropriate
  • Ability to travel frequently, work extended hours as needed, and attend key events
  • Position is ideally based in San Francisco, Palo Alto, or New York City


The primary location for this job posting is in Palo Alto, but other locations may be listed. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate's qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows:

Palo Alto, New York, San Francisco: $208,250 - $281,750 per year.

The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits information can be found here.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR) is a law firm that specializes in technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises. The firm provides legal services in the areas of corporate law, litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory affairs. WSGR has offices in the United States, China, and Europe. The firm was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Learn more about Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1961

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