Specialist, Business Development, Disputes - International Arbitration

Our Business Development & Marketing team plays a critical role in enhancing the Firm’s reputation, expanding its client base and driving revenue growth. This team develops and implements strategic marketing plans to promote the Firm’s legal services, leveraging digital and traditional marketing channels to reach target audiences. They conduct market research to identify industry trends and client needs, positioning the Firm competitively within the legal marketplace. The team also manages client relationships, orchestrates business development initiatives, and seeks opportunities for partnerships and networking. Through compelling content creation, event planning and public relations efforts, they ensure that the Firm maintains a strong market presence and continues to attract and retain clients.

Position Summary

The Specialist, Business Development is a professional support resource within the BD team, responsible for delivering high-quality research, analysis, and process support across core business development activities. The role plays a key part in supporting BD Managers and teams with pitches and proposals, market and client research, and the effective operation of BD processes and systems.

The Specialist applies specialist knowledge of BD methodologies, tools, and best practices to support the execution of business development initiatives at a tactical level. Working closely with Managers, Senior Managers, and Coordinators, the role ensures that BD outputs are accurate, insightful, timely, and aligned with firm standards and priorities.

The Specialist contributes to continuous improvement of BD processes, supports data tracking and reporting, and provides technical guidance and informal mentoring to less experienced colleagues, helping to maintain consistency, quality, and efficiency across BD operations.

Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic planning and client cultivation

• Support the identification and qualification of new business opportunities by conducting research, analyzing market and client data, and preparing background materials for BD initiatives.
• Assist with client relationship mapping, tracking engagement, and providing insights to help inform client cultivation strategies.
  
  

Proposals and pitch excellence

• Contribute to the preparation and development of client pitches, proposals, and capability statements, ensuring materials are accurate, relevant, and aligned with client needs and firm priorities.
• Maintain and update pitch-related content, such as deal lists, lawyer bios, and case studies, and ensures consistency across BD outputs.
  
  

Positioning Practices & Partners

• Support the execution of thought leadership and market positioning activities by conducting research on industry trends, competitor activity, and client interests.
• Assist in the development and distribution of content for rankings, awards, and external events, helping to raise the profile of the practice and its partners.
  
  

Cross-Practice & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with BD managers, coordinators, and other business services teams to gather information, share insights, and support the delivery of integrated BD initiatives.
• Act as a key resource for data collection, analysis, and reporting, supporting cross-functional projects and process improvements.
  
  

Contributor capacity

• Provide technical, domain and / or process expertise to support the BD team, offering guidance on best practices and contributing to the continuous improvement of BD operations.
• May mentor or provide informal guidance to junior team members, supporting their development and knowledge of BD processes.
• Conduct detailed analysis and investigations to identify opportunities for process improvement and increased BD effectiveness.
• Track and report on BD activities, ensuring data accuracy and supporting the measurement of BD performance against key metrics.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; professional certification an advantage where appropriate.
• Specialist technical expertise in business development disciplines (e.g., research, pitching support, market analysis, CRM, reporting), with strong knowledge of BD tools, methodologies, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct detailed research and analysis, investigate issues, and develop practical solutions within defined scope and guidance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills, ensuring accuracy and consistency in BD outputs.
• Good understanding of how BD activities support practice group and firm objectives, and how BD collaborates with other business services.
• Clear and effective communication skills, enabling collaboration with BD colleagues and accurate information sharing with stakeholders as required.
• Ability to manage workload effectively, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively in a team-based, fast-paced environment.
• Preference for candidates with fluency in one or more additional European languages, particularly French, German or Spanish.
  
  

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

Manager, Business Development, Disputes - International Arbitration

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.