Business Development Jobs

Explore Business Development jobs within leading law firms — from BD managers to client strategy roles — and take the next step in your legal sector career.

Business Development Jobs in Dubai and the Middle East

If you work in Business Development in an international law firm in the Middle East, you already understand how competitive and relationship-driven this market is. The best BD roles are often filled quietly, quickly and through networks built over years. That is exactly how we work.


Barratt Galvin has been placing BD professionals into international law firms across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha since 2007. We have deep relationships with CMOs and Heads of BD across the region and we are often the first call a firm makes when a BD role opens up. The best time to register with us is before you are actively looking. Every time a new job comes in, the first place we look is our existing network. If we already know you, we are giving you first access to roles that are not even advertised.

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Why Register With Barratt Galvin

BD careers in international law firms move fast and the market is smaller than it looks. Firms talk to each other, candidates become known by reputation and the best opportunities tend to go to the people who are already in the right conversations. Registering with Barratt Galvin puts you in those conversations.


We work directly with CMOs and Heads of BD at international law firms across the region. When a firm comes to us with a BD brief, whether that is a coordinator role in a growing Abu Dhabi office or a senior manager position in Dubai, we go straight to the people we already know and trust. If you are in our network, you are in that first conversation. If you are not, you may miss out on a job that is perfect for you.


We understand BD careers at every level. We know what a step up from advisor to manager actually involves in a law firm context, what firms genuinely value in a senior BD hire and where the market is heading across the region. When we sit down with you, we are not just collecting your CV. We are thinking about where you are now, where you want to go and how to position you well for the move that makes sense.


When we put your name forward to a firm, you are someone we know, someone we have spoken with at length and someone we are prepared to stand behind and advocate for throughout the process. Every candidate we present is accompanied by a thorough brief covering your BD experience, the depth of your legal sector knowledge, your working style and why we believe you are the right fit for that specific role and firm.

Are You the Right Fit

Experience in a law firm or professional services BD environment is the foundation we build on. The BD professionals who thrive in international law firms in the Middle East bring a specific combination of commercial sharpness, legal sector knowledge and the personal qualities to work effectively in a partner-led environment. If the following sounds like you, we would love to talk.


You understand the business of law, not just the practice of it. You are confident working alongside senior partners, influencing without authority and delivering high-quality work under real time pressure. You are organised, commercially curious and genuinely motivated by helping a firm grow its client relationships and revenue. And you have the communication skills and the professional polish that international firm life demands.


At coordinator and executive level, we look for people who are proactive, eager to learn the sector deeply and ready to develop their BD skills in a structured international firm environment. At manager and advisor level, we want to see real experience in pitches and proposals, client development and BD planning. At senior manager, director and head of function level, we are looking for strategic thinkers who can lead, build and earn the genuine respect of the partnership.

Business Development Roles in International Law Firms

Roles We Place

We recruit across the full range of BD roles for international law firms, including:

BD Assistant

BD Coordinator

BD Executive

BD Advisor

BD Manager

Pitches and Proposals Manager

Senior BD Manager

BD Director

Head of Business Development

We also place candidates in combined BD and Marketing roles, which reflect the reality of how most international law firms in the Middle East structure their teams.

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Where the Roles Are

We recruit for international law firms across the Middle East, with the strongest volume of roles in:

  • Dubai, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
  • Abu Dhabi, including Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
  • Riyadh
  • Doha

We also place BD professionals in Australia and London for candidates who are considering a move or returning home. If you are open to more than one market, let us know and we will keep you in mind across all of them.

Considering a Move to the Middle East

If you are based in Australia or the UK and you are thinking about a move to the Middle East, we are happy to hear from you. The BD market in international law firms across Dubai and Abu Dhabi is active and the opportunities are genuine.


We will be honest with you from the outset: firms in the region are selective about international hires and the candidates who make successful moves tend to have solid BD experience within an international or top-tier law firm. Strong references, a genuine commitment to the region and realistic expectations about the move itself all matter. If that describes you, the conversation is absolutely worth having.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does the process work when I register with Barratt Galvin?

    The first step is a meeting with us via Microsoft Teams. Once you get in touch and share your CV, we will arrange a time to connect properly. We want to understand your BD experience, the sectors and practice areas you have worked across, what you are looking for in your next role and what your timeline looks like. From there, we will brief you on any live roles that may be a match, or keep you in mind as new jobs come in. We will never put your name forward without speaking to you first.

  • Do you only work with candidates who already have Middle East experience?

    Not exclusively, but regional experience is a real advantage for most roles. Firms value candidates who already understand the culture and pace of working in an international law firm in the Gulf. If you do not have Middle East experience but you have strong BD credentials within an international or top-tier law firm elsewhere, it is worth getting in touch. We will give you a straight read on how your profile sits in the current market.

  • I work in a combined BD and Marketing role at a law firm. Can you help me find my next role?

    Absolutely. Combined BD and Marketing roles are actually the most common structure in international law firms across the Middle East, and it is a profile we place regularly. If your remit spans both functions, that is not a complication. It is often exactly what firms are looking for.

  • What level of BD roles do you place most frequently?

    The highest volume of roles we handle is at manager and advisor level, but we place across the full range from coordinator through to Head of BD and BD Director. At senior levels, searches take longer and involve more stages, but we have a strong track record and understand what those processes require. Whatever your level, it is worth being in our network.

  • What salary can I expect in a BD role in Dubai?

    BD salaries in Dubai vary considerably depending on your seniority, the scope of the role and the profile of the firm. We publish an annual salary report covering BD and legal business services roles across the Middle East. Get in touch and we will share the latest data with you.

  • Do you work with candidates looking for roles in Australia or London as well?

    Yes. While our primary focus is the Middle East, we do support candidates looking for roles in Australia and London. In Australia, we place across the major legal markets including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. If you are considering your options across more than one market, let us know and we will factor that into our conversations with you.

Ready to Explore Your Next BD Role?

Whether you are actively looking or simply keeping an eye on what is out there, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch, share your resume and let us have a conversation. We will give you an honest picture of the market, what roles might suit you and what your next move could look like.

You can upload your CV directly via the contact form on our website.