Baker McKenzie

About the role

The Business Development Manager, Asia Pacific Tax Practice Group will plan and execute the overall BD strategy and related BD/marketing initiatives for the AP Tax Practice Group. The role holder will work closely with the AP Tax Practice Group Leaders, Steering Committee, Business Manager, Knowledge Lead, in-market partner leads, fee earners, and AOA and in-market BDMC colleagues to drive revenue-generating activities, profile-raising initiatives and client development opportunities for the Firm in this practice area.

Main Responsibilities:

• Work with the AP Tax Practice Group Leaders, Steering Committee, fee earners, Expert Functions and Global End-to-End Services to proactively plan and deliver a compelling regional BDMC strategy for the AP Tax Practice Group, grounded in AP market needs and dynamics.
• Develop business development and marketing strategies to grow Tax revenues and promote the Firm's Tax capabilities in Asia Pacific, including thought leadership campaigns, publications, client events, roadshows, profile-raising initiatives and industry or cross-practice collaborations. 
• Plan, organize and deliver high-quality cross-border client events and campaigns targeting selected existing key clients and priority prospects, with a strong focus on ROI tracking, profitable revenue generation and brand profile.
• Coordinate with global, regional and in-market BDMC colleagues, Global BDMC teams and business professional peers to roll out and execute agreed Tax priorities consistently across AP offices.
• Collaborate with Knowledge Management, Regional Client Managers and relevant industry/practice colleagues to identify commercial and client trends, translate them into client-facing opportunities and equip partners with timely talking points.
• Actively collaborate with the cross-regional BD, Business Management and Knowledge teams in the strategic planning and delivery of business development priorities to grow Tax revenues and promote the Firm's Tax capabilities globally.
• Work with the AP Proposals team, Pitch Excellence & Pursuits and other BD colleagues to deliver winning major cross-border Tax pitches and proposals, including go/no-go input, positioning, pricing and value proposition development.
• Drive revenue opportunities by deploying cross-practice products, prioritized industry group initiatives and client solutions, ensuring appropriate Tax clients are targeted and outcomes are monitored through robust ROI tracking.
• Support client account management for priority Tax client(s) by working with partners, client teams and Key Client Management colleagues to develop account plans, identify cross-border opportunities, track relationship activity and monitor progress against agreed growth objectives.
• Support regular activity planning and review with the AP Tax Practice Group leadership, including analyses of activity versus plan, budget/spend tracking, fee and pipeline reporting, and value-add reporting for key initiatives.
• Focus on growing PG-specific work from key clients and contribute proactively to client development strategies, identifying growth opportunities across AP jurisdictions and working closely with client teams and client managers.
• Partner closely with expert BDMC functions, including Key Client Management, Communications, Pitch Excellence & Pursuits, Pricing Excellence, Marketing Services, Directories/Awards/League Tables and Events, to align regional execution with global best practice.
• Guide internal and external communications for Tax practice development across AP, including local and regional profile-raising, social media, intranet updates and the promotion of strategically consistent messaging.
• Ensure regular sharing of best practices, success stories and regional priorities with PG and in-market BD colleagues, actively encouraging collaboration and alignment across AP offices.
• Provide line management, coaching and oversight for a Senior BD Coordinator in in delivering regional priorities of the Tax PG.

Reports to: Head of Markets & Practices - Asia Pacific

Direct reports: Senior BD Coordinator

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel to AP offices, regional PG meetings / training, and AP Partner Meeting

About the candidate:

• Degree in business, finance, economics, communications, marketing or a related subject; postgraduate or commercial qualifications are advantageous.
• Strong experience in legal business development or comparable professional services marketing/business development environment, ideally with regional or cross-border practice group exposure.
• Excellent English language skills, both verbal and written, and confidence communicating in a multi-cultural, multi-level environment.
• High level of commercial acumen, business curiosity and ability to spot growth opportunities from client, market, competitor and industry intelligence.
• Strong critical thinking, analysis and judgement, with the ability to make well-reasoned strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent project management skills, with high attention to detail and ability to deliver complex cross-border projects on time.
• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to manage stakeholder expectations and drive strong return on investment.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities.
• Self-motivated, proactive and independent with excellent time management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Strong word processing and spreadsheet skills; experience in or willingness to learn document automation and other legal tech.
• Comfortable working across multiple cultures and time zones in a matrixed regional organization. 
• Knowledge of tax concepts, market dynamics and related client issues is desirable.

Baker McKenzie empowers clients to compete in the global economy. We provide comprehensive and practical legal advice that cuts through complexity with clear, actionable guidance. Our people represent diverse cultures and jurisdictions, combining local know-how with international expertise to ensure your business thrives across borders.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.