Clifford Chance
Business Development & Marketing Associate Director - Disputes

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Company Description
Who we are
As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.
Our culture is collaborative and inclusive — where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.
We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.
We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.
You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.
Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.
Job Description
The role
Clifford Chance has an ambitious global strategy which puts clients at the very heart of everything the firm does. The Business Development ("BD") function is pivotal in making the firm's strategy a reality. BD teams collaborate strategically with partners, lawyers and other business professional functions to drive sustainable growth. The BD function supports conversion of key client and market opportunities through the development and delivery of targeted business development and marketing plans.
This role is part of a global BD product team supporting the Global Disputes product group.
This is a hands-on and proactive role where you will operate as the primary point person for partner stakeholders in their capacity as Global Product Group Leaders and lead a product-aligned global BD team and collaborate with other relevant product stakeholders within the firm to support on the execution of wider BD strategy.
This role presents an excellent opportunity to be pivotal in shaping and driving the growth strategy for the firm's Disputes product offering, working closely with multiple stakeholders, to deliver tangible results as part of a global Business Development team.
Who you will work with
You will work directly to support key stakeholders on their client and market development initiatives and support the implementation of BD strategy.
This role collaborates closely with the fee-earning population globally to support identification, pursuit and winning of revenue generating opportunities. It connects partners and lawyers to the full spectrum of BD services and expertise available across the global function.
This role works alongside relevant counterparts globally, and with BD colleagues in other product groups, as well as being a key member of the BD community globally.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What you will be responsible for
Strategy and implementation
- Establish and oversee the development and implementation of business development and marketing plans, ensuring alignment with firmwide strategy.
- Track progress against plans and refine approach accordingly to achieve over-arching goals, focusing on ROI on a periodic basis.
- Oversee in-depth research initiatives on global/regional product and market trends, clients, prospects, and competitors to inform strategic marketing decisions.
- Oversee and manage the quality of output, ensuring partner expectations are being met.
- Work closely with key stakeholders to plan, execute and implement lateral hiring strategy for the product group.
Revenue generation
- Act as the primary contact for information about the product offering and related global and regional BD and marketing activities and campaigns.
- Assist the relevant product group to define and implement its BD plan.
- Advise relevant stakeholders on the creation and development of BD product offerings and initiatives.
- Facilitate the flow of information to drive collaboration and cross-selling of client relationships and products in region and globally.
- Position and promote BD offerings and initiatives within the product group and the firm more widely.
- Proactively spot market trends and opportunities for the product group across the region and globally.
- Support cross-product panel RFPs including facilitating "go/no-go" decisions (working with our Global Proposals Team), and work on must-win cross border proposals (as needed).
Reputation management and marketing communications (working with Brand, Communications and Public Affairs (BC&PA) and Knowledge & Training (K&T))
- Oversee initiatives to identify opportunities to position and raise the profile of the product group and its individual lawyers.
- Oversee the organisation of relevant BD client events, seminars and conferences, sponsorships, PR, etc.
- Oversee multiple marketing communications projects, including the delivery of relevant directory/awards submissions.
- Work closely with partners, the BC&PA and K&T team to identify and build successful marketing campaigns and thought leadership pieces.
Client and market development
- Oversee client targeting exercises and maintain oversight of priority clients and prospects.
- Embed a strong culture around client-listening.
- Ensure relevant global marketing materials (standard pitch content, master capability statements etc.) are up to date and fit for purpose.
- Facilitate the flow of information to drive collaboration and cross-selling to support firmwide client and sector programmes.
- Conduct competitor, client and marketplace analysis to identify new and emerging client and sector opportunities.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Business Development function
- Line management responsibility for a global BD team that supports the above product group in each region.
- Responsibility for people development and talent management for a global BD team that supports the above product group in each region.
- Support the implementation of the BD Operating Model by assisting with the alignment of activity to teams (within and outside of BD), in line with technology roadmaps and transition plans.
Qualifications
Your experience
- Extensive experience in business development, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
- Proven track-record of developing and executing successful business development and marketing strategies and initiatives.
- Excellent relationship-building skills, in particular ability to develop advisory relationships with partners.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong technical proficiency and familiarity with tools like CRM.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, law, or related field. An MBA or similar advanced degree is preferred.
Additional Information
How we will support you
From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your expertise and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to technical and personal development skills-based training.
Hybrid working
This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way in line with the hybrid working policy.
Equal opportunities
At Clifford Chance, we forge an inclusive culture, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. It’s a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and succeed. We are guided by our values-based Code, which sets high standards of conduct and has a principle focused on being inclusive.
We comply with the law and regulations in every location where we operate and we are committed to delivering fair and equal access to all applicants and employees irrespective of background. This applies across all aspects of employment from recruitment and selection to development, progression, and day-to-day working life.
Our global network of affinity, faith and support groups are open to all. These communities help to create an environment where everyone at the firm can feel they belong and can reach their full potential.
Find out more about our inclusive culture here.
Address: 10 Upper Bank St Canary Wharf London E14 5JJ
City: London
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London