Manager - Business Development - Legal Advisory

We are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager - Legal Advisory Sales to drive business development and market coverage across South India. The role will focus on building and strengthening senior-level client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, providing market intelligence, and supporting targeted client engagement across the region.

The ideal candidate will have experience in business development, advisory sales, management consulting, investment banking, or professional services, with strong client-facing and stakeholder-management capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive business development and market coverage across key markets in South India.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Identify potential clients, business opportunities, and areas for account expansion.
• Develop a strong understanding of client businesses, industry dynamics, strategic priorities, and emerging requirements.
• Provide market and client intelligence to support business development and account-planning activities.
• Identify relevant opportunities and support targeted engagement with prospective and existing clients.
• Work with senior leadership and internal advisory teams to develop business development strategies and account plans.
• Support preparation for client meetings, pitches, proposals, presentations, and other business development initiatives.
• Coordinate with consulting and advisory teams to align client requirements with relevant solutions and capabilities.
• Track business development pipelines, engagement activities, opportunities, and client interactions.
• Support client retention and relationship-development initiatives across existing accounts.
• Identify opportunities for cross-selling and expanding advisory engagements within existing client relationships.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and sector developments to identify potential growth opportunities.
• Represent the organization in relevant client meetings, industry interactions, and business development forums.
• Maintain regular engagement with key accounts and ensure a strong understanding of evolving client needs.

Required Skills & Experience:

Experience: 10 - 13 years of experience in overall client-facing Business Development, Advisory Sales, Client Development, Investment Banking, Management Consulting, Professional Services, or a related field.

• Experience in client-facing business development or advisory sales is essential.

Senior decision-maker access: Demonstrated ability to secure meetings with CFOs, CXOs, General Counsel and promoters.

Professional services background: Experience in a large consulting, Big Four advisory, investment banking, consulting or PE/VC coverage or professional services organization is preferred.

Transaction and regulatory fluency: Working familiarity with M&A, banking and finance, restructuring/IBC, private equity transactions and regulatory developments.

Multi-sector opportunity identification: Ability to connect client triggers - fundraising, financial stress, acquisitions or regulatory change - to relevant practice areas and advisory opportunities.

• Good understanding of relevant industry sectors and business dynamics, particularly across South India.

Partner collaboration: Ability to engage partners, prepare focused pre-meeting briefs and drive disciplined follow-up towards mandate conversion.

Education:

• MBA preferred, particularly in Marketing, Finance, Strategy, or a related discipline.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline required.