Director, Business Development - Litigation & Compliance

FGS Global is seeking a highly organized and strategic Director - Business Development, Compliance and Litigation to support our Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice leadership. This individual will play a critical operational and strategic role in driving the practice forward by raising its profile in the legal community, with particular emphasis on building and maintaining relationships with law firms, general counsel, corporate directors and other important referral partners and key stakeholders in the litigation ecosystem.

This is a non-client-facing role focused on growing and managing our most important referral network, helping define how the practice goes to market and enabling our senior litigation partners to maximize their business development impact. The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of the legal industry and litigation trends, exceptional organizational capabilities, and the ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable roadmaps and compelling marketing, thought leadership and new business materials. They will also be leveraging strong networking experience and interpersonal skills.

You will join a growing global team of Business Development professionals reporting into the Global Chief Growth Officer, tasked with identifying new growth opportunities, helping develop existing client relationships and raising the firm's profile across its main practice areas: Strategy & Reputation, Global Public Affairs, Transactions & Financial Communications, Crisis & Issues Management. You will work closely with your counterpart in our Transactions & Financial Communications group and members of other sub-practices within the Crisis & Issues Management Practice to ensure a coordinated approach to and follow-through on law firm outreach.

- Law Firm Engagement Strategy & Execution 

• →Serve as the primary driver of our law firm engagement strategy
• →Develop and manage a rolling 12-month roadmap of law firm meetings and other engagements for Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice leaders
• →Arrange meetings for Compliance and Litigation practice leaders and drive meeting preparation (provision of background information, discussion topics, strategic talking points and updated and tailored marketing materials) and follow up (incl. leveraging our CRM system), ensuring seamless execution and greatest impact
• →Consistently collect, analyze, and circulate intelligence on key law firms, their leading litigators, their strategic priorities, as well as the marketing activities of our key competitors in litigation communications

- Additional Stakeholder Relationship Management

• →Extend law firm engagement model to general counsel, boards of directors and litigation funders
• →Develop and drive targeted outreach strategies for each stakeholder group, incl. systematic tracking of all stakeholder interactions and opportunities

- Thought Leadership & Market Positioning 

• →Identify trending topics and emerging issues in the legal marketplace for positioning and thought leadership opportunities
• →In collaboration with Marketing, develop and execute thought leadership initiatives and events (e.g. including but not limited to hosted dinners, salons and panels) that positions our firm as the go-to, sophisticated advisor in litigation communications

- Conference & Events Management 

• →Strategize and coordinate presence at legal conferences and industry events, incl. high-value speaking opportunities and panel placements
• →Manage conference logistics, preparation materials, and follow-up activities
• →Develop post-conference engagement strategies to capitalize on connections made

- Materials & Knowledge Management

• →Oversee the Compliance and Litigation materials subcommittee
• →Ensure all pitch materials, case studies, and marketing collateral remain current and compelling
• →Help lead the preparation and submission process for annual Chambers litigation rankings and other awards
• →Maintain a centralized repository of practice capabilities, credentials, and competitive intelligence
• →Develop and refine standard briefing templates and preparation materials

Practice Operations Support 

• →Track business development metrics and provide regular reporting on pipeline development
• →Identify process improvements and implement systems that enhance business development efficiency
• →Maintain a regularly updated referral partner relationship database to track and prioritize outreach and engagement activities

We are seeking a candidate who embodies the following qualifications and attributes:

- Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• 5-10 years of experience in law firm business development (BD) or a BD-role at a professional services organization with significant legal sector exposure
• Alternative backgrounds may include experience as a law firm attorney with litigation and business development experience; or as a business development professional at another professional services organization  

- Legal Industry Knowledge

• Deep familiarity with the litigation landscape, including key practice areas (white-collar, employment, mass tort, antitrust, intellectual property etc.)
• Understanding of how law firm litigators evaluate and select strategic communications partners
• Knowledge of legal industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging challenges
• Established network within the legal community is a plus

- Core Competencies 

• Exceptional Organizational Skills: Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with meticulous attention to detail
• Strategic Thinking: Can translate high-level objectives into actionable plans and systematic execution
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, prioritize effectively and meet deadlines
• Research & Analysis: Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize market intelligence and competitive information
• Communication Skills: High EQ; excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare compelling briefing materials
• Relationship Building: Professional presence and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with senior partners and external stakeholders
• Discretion & Judgment: High level of professionalism, integrity, and ability to handle confidential information

 - Personal Attributes 

• Self-starter with strong initiative, entrepreneurial mindset and competitive spirit
• Proactive problem-solver who anticipates needs and proactively addresses challenges before they arise
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across teams and geographies
• Resourceful and adaptable in fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Comfortable working independently while keeping leadership informed

The role will be based in New York or Washington, D.C. The work will mostly relate to driving the North American Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice forward, but you will work with teams across the globe. The role is hybrid, with an expectation of at least three days per week in the office. You will:

• Report to the Chief Global Growth Officer, based in Zurich, with a dotted line to the leadership team of the Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice
• Closely cooperate with Business Development and Marketing colleagues across the firm's other practice groups and geographies
• Work in close partnership with Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice partners to enable their business development activities

Introduction to FGS Global & The Role
FGS Global is the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, with approximately 1,500 professionals around the world advising clients in navigating critical issues and reputational challenges. FGS offers board-level and C-suite counsel in all aspects of stakeholder strategy — including corporate reputation, crisis management, and public affairs — and is the leading force in transaction and financial communications worldwide.

As part of its ambitious growth strategy, FGS Global is building a global Growth team under the leadership of the Chief Growth Officer. The team will combine Business Development and Marketing and, as such, will play a key role in supercharging the firm’s growth. It will comprise individuals embedded in and responsible for FGS Practice Areas, Sector Teams and Regions, as well as other Business Development specialists.

Legal challenges affect reputation and value and influence the court of public opinion. Our Compliance and Litigation Sub-Practice, part of the firm’s Crisis & Issues Management practice, partners with senior executives and law firms during investigations and enforcement actions from the government and lawsuits from competitors to support their legal objectives and help them succeed inside and outside the courtroom. Our strategic communications counsel keeps the focus where it needs to be — on telling the story and tirelessly pressing the case with the audiences that matter. Working hand-in-hand with legal counsel throughout the investigation and litigation life cycle, we map reputational threats and audiences, develop strategies, and build communications infrastructure and capacity to help our clients navigate high-stakes legal, oversight, and compliance challenges.