Business Development Manager, MENA Practice

The primary responsibility of this role is to carry out business development activities for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) practice, working with partners mainly based in Abu Dhabi, London, and the U.S.

Purpose

The Business Development Manager will:

• Manage and proactively execute the MENA practice strategy plan
• Support initiatives around sovereign wealth funds
• Identify and communicate new business opportunities
• Analyze and track key clients and targets
• Work closely with BD colleagues around the network to support cross-selling
• Draft credentials and pitches
• Manage a number of global key clients and lead on client feedback
• Create products and touchpoints to be used with clients

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Practice Support

• Develop and execute MENA BD plan
• Develop and maintain key messages, marketing materials standard slides, credentials, and pitch materials for the region and key practices
• Proactively track client news and trends, engage with market research and news to identify revenue generation opportunities, and drive those opportunities to their ultimate conclusion
• Support cross-selling efforts
• Organize and attend partner meetings; facilitate practice group calls; and create agendas, document actions, and follow-up on actions
• Work with the Marketing Communications team on profile raising and thought-leadership initiatives

Client Relationship Management

• Develop an in-depth understanding of key clients, including their strategy and key challenges
• Analyze and track key clients and targets and develop/maintain BD plans for priority clients
• Undertake research and analysis on markets and sectors
• Manage data held on key clients, especially on Microsoft Dynamics
• Drive the client planning, review, and feedback process for our key clients in region, in particular sovereign wealth funds
• Manage the production of client-related business analysis including: revenue and profitability (including gap analysis), relationship mapping, market share, competitor activity, and client needs analysis

Pitch Support

• Prepare credentials and pitches, tailoring materials for individual clients and the region
• Develop and maintain standard pitch content
• Monitor the outcome of pitches and handle pitch feedback
• Track, store, and produce standard text and materials for pitches
• Ensure consistency of pitch materials and seek improvements in quality
• Support client presentations

Skills and Competencies

Education/Experience

• Educated up to degree level or equivalent
• Minimum 3 years business development experience in an international law firm or professional services organization
• Good understanding of the Middle East region and M&A/Corporate/PE practices

• Fluent in English. Arabic would be advantageous, but is not essential
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Excellent analytical and research skills
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Ability to deliver high quality work product and attention to detail
• Team player
• Ability to build credibility and trust with partners
• Ability to effectively communicate, interact, and build relationships at all levels of the firm
• Excellent project management skills – ability to manage multiple responsibilities amid competing priorities, tight deadlines, and changing business demands and opportunities
• Coaching abilities
• Organized and methodical
• Flexible and adaptable to work cross-functionally and across borders

About our MENA Practice

Cleary Gottlieb has been active in the Middle East for several decades. We represent sovereign and corporate clients in some of the largest matters in the region, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital markets, real estate finance and workouts, project finance and infrastructure, international litigation and arbitration, and restructuring. Our practice has more than 20 partners and counsel based primarily in Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, New York, and Frankfurt.

If you are interested in applying, please submit a CV and short cover letter to the London Human Resources Team, LON-HR@cgsh.com.