Associate Director of Business Development (Debt Finance

We've partnered with a top-tier global law firm in its search for an Associate Director, Business Development to support its market-leading Debt Finance practice. This is a high-profile opportunity for an experienced business development professional to work closely with senior partners on strategic growth initiatives across a sophisticated global finance platform.

In this role, you will serve as a strategic advisor to practice leadership, driving business development initiatives that strengthen client relationships, enhance market positioning, and support the continued growth of the Debt Finance group. You'll lead complex pitches and proposals, develop client engagement strategies, and collaborate across practices and regions to deliver integrated, client-focused business development solutions.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and executing the practice's commercial strategy, leveraging market intelligence, competitive insights, and client data to identify opportunities for growth and deepen relationships with key financial institution and sponsor clients. This position also offers the opportunity to lead and mentor senior BD professionals while helping drive operational excellence across the wider BD function.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of strategic business development initiatives for the Debt Finance practice
• Partner with practice and industry leaders to create and implement client-specific growth strategies
• Utilize market intelligence, competitive analysis, and client mapping to identify high-value opportunities and support relationship expansion
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of sophisticated pitches, proposals, and client presentations for strategic opportunities
• Collaborate cross-functionally with partners, industry teams, and regional marketing colleagues to deliver integrated business development solutions
• Support market positioning and profile-raising initiatives, including thought leadership and client outreach campaigns
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of BD initiatives through performance metrics, client engagement data, and market feedback
• Drive continuous improvement across business development processes, standards, and operational efficiencies
• Mentor and develop members of the BD team while fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture

The ideal candidate will have substantial senior-level business development experience within a leading law firm or professional services environment, with strong exposure to finance, banking, leveraged finance, or broader transactional practices. You will possess excellent commercial judgment, outstanding stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed global environment.

This is a full-time opportunity based in New York, offering the chance to join one of the legal market's premier global finance practices.

For more details, feel free to reach out to Nikhita Kumar.