Business Development Manager – Disputes & Investigations (D&I)

Your role

At Allens, our business teams are specialists in their field, using their unique knowledge and expertise to solve critical client and business challenges.

Allens’ Disputes & Investigations practice is a market‑leading team advising clients on complex, high‑value disputes, investigations and regulatory matters. Combining deep litigation expertise, regulatory and enforcement capability, and commercial insight, the team helps clients manage risk, protect value and achieve strategic outcomes in critical situations.

The Business Development Manager for D&I plays a strategic, partner‑facing role that drives revenue growth, deepens client relationships, elevates market presence, and strengthens the firm’s BD culture. You will act as a trusted adviser to partners —shaping strategy, challenging thinking, and embedding future‑fit BD habits aligned to practice and firm priorities.

The role requires exceptional commercial judgement, the ability to translate strategy into focused partner action, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders in high‑stakes, fast‑moving environments. You will help the practice anticipate market issues, win the most meaningful work, and build deeper, more enduring client relationships.

This is a hands‑on, practice‑embedded role suited to a BD professional who enjoys working closely with partners, managing pursuits, and delivering high‑quality BD support in a fast‑paced environment. You will build strong relationships across the practice, develop your commercial judgement, and continue to deepen your exposure to partner‑facing work with support and mentoring from senior colleagues.

You will:

• Co‑create and deliver the Disputes & Investigations practice BD plan with partners, and develop and review personal BD plans with partners and managing associates to drive focus on priority clients, opportunities and pipeline actions.

• Identify and share market, client and competitor insights to surface prospecting and growth opportunities, and suggest practical next steps such as outreach emails, conversation prompts or meeting preparation.

• Manage and coordinate tenders and pursuits, contributing to pursuit strategy, value propositions, written materials and pitch preparation.

• Engage directly with clients to understand their experience, coordinate client feedback discussions where appropriate, and ensure agreed actions are followed through with partners and the BD team.

• Work with Marketing and Communications to ensure campaigns, thought leadership and events are focused on priority clients, sectors and opportunities for the practice, with clear objectives and follow‑up actions.

• Use BD systems, tools and frameworks effectively and collaborate with BD colleagues across practices and central teams to deliver a consistent, high‑quality and client‑focused BD approach.

This is a permanent, full-time position although we will consider candidates looking to work a 9 day fortnight or 4 day a week. Hybrid working (60% in the office) is how we work, however flexibility matters at Allens, so if you are seeking hybrid working or looking for flexibility in your work, we would be happy to discuss what arrangements would work best for you.

About you

BD & Client Growth Expertise

• Experience in business development within a professional services environment, with exposure to partner‑facing work and practice‑embedded roles.

• A strong client‑centric mindset, with the ability to translate insight into clear, practical actions that support growth and deepen relationships.

• Hands‑on experience delivering tenders and pursuits and contributing to strategy.

• Comfortable contributing ideas on prospecting and growth opportunities and supporting outreach and client engagement activity.

• Interest in building BD capability in others through hands‑on support in pursuits, client engagement and day‑to‑day BD activity.

Core Skills & Behaviours

• Strong organisation and judgement, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on agreed actions.

• Confident communicator who can work effectively with partners, lawyers and BD colleagues, and contribute constructively to discussions.

• Collaborative working style, bringing people together around shared goals and contributing positively to team culture.

• Comfortable using BD systems and tools, including CRM and pursuit processes, and keen to continue developing technical and commercial capability.

• A growth‑oriented mindset, demonstrating curiosity, resilience and a willingness to learn and develop.

Your development

In joining Allens, you will receive unparalleled learning and development opportunities. You will be challenged, supported and guided as you learn and develop, and will be encouraged to grow. We foster greatness, and will coach and support you to meet your goals and aspirations.

Our unique Career Deal allows you to take control of your career and provides a transparent approach to career development. Our international alliance with Linklaters means we are able to support secondments all over the world.

Our perks

Our benefits include:

• Financial: market competitive fixed remuneration, employee recruitment referral program, discounts at hundreds of suppliers including retail outlets, health and travel insurance, charity matched funding program.

• Health and wellbeing: fully subsidised gym memberships, annual flu vaccinations, skin checks, in-house snacks and catered meals, subsidised sporting and social activities, Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling, wellbeing coaching and financial coaching for employees and their families.

• Flexibility: hybrid and flexible working arrangements to support you in your work and life commitments and passions, equipment to support working from home.

• Leave: ability to purchase additional annual leave, access to an enhanced, inclusive and flexible parental leave policy – 26 weeks paid parental leave with no minimum service for permanent employees and high quality executive coaching to support the transition.

• Recognition: team based recognition including social activities and contribution based recognition activities, and annual Allens Values Awards to nominate and recognise the incredible contributions of our people.

Allens is also proud to invest in our communities, giving you the opportunity to make a difference through our work on reconciliation, the environment and other social justice issues as well as our workplace giving and volunteering programs.

How to apply?

We'd love to hear from you so please click "apply now"! If you would like to find out more, please visit "This is Allens" or listen to our Allens Confidential podcast to hear real stories from real people about life at Allens. Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please phone James Watts on 0451 237 417.

At Allens, our culture is made up of unique backgrounds and varying life experiences. We celebrate our people's differences across gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, cultural backgrounds, First Nations communities, and family and caring arrangements. If you require adjustments to fully participate in our application process, please contact us at [email protected]. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align, please express your interest by emailing us at [email protected]. The right role for you might be just around the corner!